Swollen hands and feeling down!

woodbon
woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
edited 7. May 2010, 04:22 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi, Felling a bit under the weather today, my back really aches badly and is making my legs sort of feel funny, jelly like. My hads are very swollen and I have taken my rings off, with difficulty, as my hands are so swollen and the pain in my thumb.... Sounds silly to have a bad thumb!

Last week, when I had my ultrasound on my hands, he asked if thet felt swollen that day, and of course, they were fine! Ah well, thats the way things go.... May treat myself to a rest, not sure if I should do that or carry on with yesterdays ironing, its breeding. Sorry, its just a bit lonely here with noone to moan at!
Love Sue

Comments

  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh Sue I do so hope they get you sorted soon. Have a duvet day and a ((( ))) and a hope for you. luv Cris xx
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi sue glad you shared with us we have all been throught this and it awfull leave the ironing till your hand better my thumb swells from time to time and it awfull are you on anti inflams they do help (((hugs))) to help you trough today
    val
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I Know how you feel. My fingers have been hurting for days now. They are beautifully puffy, as are my toes. I've often wondered what I would do if my hands started going. Now I'm finding out. Take plenty of rest, try not to overdo things manually. I am going to try wrapping a bag of frozen peas in a teatowel and resting my mitts on that. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • patriciamary
    patriciamary Member Posts: 117
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sue, I can truly sympathise with you I have major problems with hands. I wear splints most of the time but that does'nt stop the pain. My right hand has started to suddenly go into a spasm, and the results to date have been quite funny. At the dinner table about three weeks ago I went to lift a piece of chicken from the serving bowl and right hand had other ideas. Result spoon went flying out of my hand and chicken landed at other side of table. Hubby got a fright but my daughter and I could not stop laughing, dont know if it was the look on his face or the stupidity of throwing the chicken. Am constantly trying to use left hand for cups of tea etc because I think its safer but being right handed its automatic to use your right. Put your feet up and get a real trashy magazine to read. Usually the stories in them make me feel "really normal" and you suddenly realise your life is not so bad. Ok we have arthur but some of these stories make you think how you actually have a wonderful life.
    Trisha
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    woodbon wrote:
    Hi, Felling a bit under the weather today, my back really aches badly and is making my legs sort of feel funny, jelly like. My hads are very swollen and I have taken my rings off, with difficulty, as my hands are so swollen and the pain in my thumb.... Sounds silly to have a bad thumb!

    Last week, when I had my ultrasound on my hands, he asked if thet felt swollen that day, and of course, they were fine! Ah well, thats the way things go.... May treat myself to a rest, not sure if I should do that or carry on with yesterdays ironing, its breeding. Sorry, its just a bit lonely here with noone to moan at!
    Love Sue

    HI Sue,

    I'm so sorry that you are finding it a struggle at the moment.
    I too have hands that feel like they belong to someone else (a prizefighting boxer maybe?!!) sometimes & it is not until then that we truly realise how much we use them is it?

    The best help for my hands has come from the Occupational Therapist (OT) & if you haven't already seen one then I can highly recommend them, especially if they are attached to the rheumatology dept as then they really know what they are dealing with.

    Some things she taught me might help you (but I'd still suggest seeing someone as everyone is different!)

    Warm up your hands before you use them with gently stretching (very slowly) from a fist to outstretched - you can do this in warm water to help but not too hot)

    only do an activity for a few minutes at a time and then change to something else. - repeated movements put strain on the muscles, ligaments & tendons much more than occasional ones.

    Rest them when you have been using them, and don't push on through the pain... however tempting!

    My OT gave me some oedema gloves (she called them her 'magic gloves') and they are helping with my swelling. they give a slight compression & it is surprising what a difference they make.

    hope that helps a bit but if not here are some wonky hugs to keep you going (((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))

    wonky xxx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sue
    Just want to send you some hugs ((((((((()))))))) you leave the ironing its not going anywhere....and go to see your gp if they dont settle down.
    Let us know how you get on
    Love Barbara xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,396
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sue,

    So sorry to hear you're a bit low at the mo. You need to rest, put your feet up and get a good magazine or a book or something else you like to do and indulge yourself.

    As for the ironing, send it round to Lynn (Collywobble) she loves ironing :shock:

    Hope you feel better very soon.

    Luv Legs :)
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • louiserichard
    louiserichard Member Posts: 52
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sue

    Leave the ironing - ironing can always wait espeically when hands are sore :) Have some chocolate and sit down in front of the tv and have a good rest!

    If however you have washing up that needs doing - do that instead... I find that by washing dishes moving my hands around in the warm water helps when i'm sore.

    Know what you mean thou about rings. I'm so swelled at the moment I can't get mine back on and I have one thats stuck and soooo tight i'm worried it may have to be cut off.

    Hope you feel a bit better soon x
  • trisher
    trisher Member Posts: 9,263
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sue

    You are not alone with your hands. Mine have been playing up for ages now. Have they tried the steroid injections into the joint in your thumb? They are supposed to work well in some peeps.

    I have fingers that are swollen some have gone over so I really do know what the hands are like.

    I do hope you feel better soon.

    love Trish xx
  • madness1985
    madness1985 Member Posts: 293
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sue,

    Sorry to hear your feeling down. I can fully sympothise with swollen hands as mine are defomed. I hope your hands settle down soon :)

    Take care

    x
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi sue!

    I'm a bit late coming on and wishing you a restful day. :roll: :oops:
    but I do hope you took some of the other peeps advice and did abandon the ironing and look after those sore hands.

    I gave up ironing quite some time ago...got no hands that work or can hold an iron :wink: it's surprising how little actually needs done if you use fabric softener, use short rinse cycle wash and smooth clothes out before you dry them. :!:

    hope you feel a wee bit better tonight? I use a hot hand wax therapy bath which is bliss for sore hands. :mrgreen:

    (((hugs)))

    Iris x
  • jane36
    jane36 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi sue, sorry ur feeling down, i had to comment on ur post as my ra was diagnoised with my thumbs... they both swelled and hurt, and my friend at work told me it cud be ra, i laughed at her when she said it, how silly did i feel??!! haha. i now have it in most of my joints, hands and feet being the worse. hope ur having a weel deserved rest and begin to feel better soon. love jayne x
    woodbon wrote:
    Hi, Felling a bit under the weather today, my back really aches badly and is making my legs sort of feel funny, jelly like. My hads are very swollen and I have taken my rings off, with difficulty, as my hands are so swollen and the pain in my thumb.... Sounds silly to have a bad thumb!

    Last week, when I had my ultrasound on my hands, he asked if thet felt swollen that day, and of course, they were fine! Ah well, thats the way things go.... May treat myself to a rest, not sure if I should do that or carry on with yesterdays ironing, its breeding. Sorry, its just a bit lonely here with noone to moan at!
    Love Sue
  • ironic
    ironic Member Posts: 2,361
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sue, Thumbs are a real bug bear. Mine swell up aswell and there is no way you can iron or even fill a kettle. As said....Hide the ironing :wink: I rub in anti flam gel which sometimes helps. Look after yourself. I x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,881
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi sue

    was wondering where you were. At least i knwo now though it's not too good for you :(

    I am sorry.

    I did some ironing yesterday and it has been breeding here too. Will need to to a bit more.

    Typical hands ok when you seeing someone then they get you the week after :roll:

    You take care

    Love

    Toni xx