Any advice appreciated

jennand

Hi, I have OA in both shoulders, one knee & both hands/fingers, although only my R hand bothers me too much. As I'm R handed, I have difficulty doing - well most everyday things really. I had 3 operations on my shoulders 4 yrs ago & last year had an artifificial lumbar disk, & apart from not tolerating painkillers very well, I really dont want to go down that path until I absolutely have to. I have just orderd a wax bath, but does anyone have any other pain relieving advice? Sometimes, I just have to grit my teeth because its impossible to use my hand without it hurting. How on earth do you all manage things like cooking, shopping, even washing hair - & dont mention drying it. Even writing is difficult now. Thank goodness for laptops, I dont think I could manage a mouse these days.

frogmorton

Hi jenn

welcome to the forums from me

good to meet you.

I think B***terware do a hairdrying stand (wonky was it you who told me about it?) which can help a bit.

Have you got any ergonomic implements? pens kives forks etc?

If not google them and have a look also chopping boards with sikes to put the food on and hold them while you cut....


will keep thinking

Hope to see you again

Love

Toni xx

dorcas

Hi Jan and welcome to the forum

there are lots of peeps here who have hand arther too and I' sure you will get lots of support and advice.

you've had your fair share of ops and I can understand you don't want to go down that route for your hands just now.

I use the hot wax therapy too..and find it the best at relieving the pain and soothing my hands. other than that massaging the hands and sides of the wrists/ forearms with moisturiser does seem to loosen up tight tendons.
you probably have already had physio?/ OT? there are exercises specifically for hands/ wrists to strengthen and also maintain function..and also wrist splints for day use and resting splints for night use that help provide some ease too.

OT can also visit at home and assess for aids that just help with everyday tasks..lifting stick (helping hand), dressing stick (still not worked out how to use that!), kitchen aids...some of which you have to buy yourself..like electric can and jar opener, bread board (stops bread slipping), non slip matting, peeler......well you get the idea!!

It's not easy having such painful hands Jan....I've had problem wrists for years and when they got too bad eventually opted to have a left wrist fusion last year and a right wrist replacement a few weeks ago...but not everyone wants surgery!

oh! and I do my main food shopping online these days and just shop for the 'nice things' when I'm out!

I'm sure others will be along soon with more ideas.

iris xx

minky67

Welcome from me too.
I also have OA & other conditions to long to list. :roll:
I have splints for my hands from Occupational Therapist at Hospital, might be worth ask gp for a referal if you havent got any. They can also help you with things like perchiing stools (alot of us have them) Ive got a bathlift through them, rails & im waiting to hear about a stairlift again arrange by them & refered to social services.
Like Toni has said B.....ware are very good if you get it, i have just brought a tomato slicer that has a lip at the bottom so it sits on chopping board & i also use it for chopping onions. It has the gaps for the knife to go through & it cost me £3 Brilliant. I always look through this catalogue to see what other way i can use them.
Dean & smedley (chemist) Do disability products too & i believe some of the other chemist do that same sort of catalogues, so might be worth looking into that as well.

I use deep heat on my shoulders & neck.
A hot bath helps with the joints & more so the muscle stiffness i get.

I have gone on a bit sorry but i hope you get something out of this,
take care, debs

psyart

Hi - can the hospital refer you to adult social services?? I got refered and have aids to help me. got a stool, and kitchen equipment that help me cut food, undo bottles and jars, cutlery which are a god send!!

ask the doctor or hospital - they should get help for you one way or another??

louise (((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))

jennand

Oh thanks folks for quick replies. The reason I'm reluctant to take medication is that over the last 5 yrs I've had a shedful of them. I had 2 frozen shoulders ( at the same time) & NOTHING worked for that until I had the operations. Thankfully, they are OK now, but do have some stiffness there. Daily physio helps. My back has been the biggest problem, although its not arthritis, its Degenerative disk disease. Thankfully, I was a good candidate for replacement disk which was done last year. However, it was major abdominal surgery and it caused excrutiating nerve pains in my legs. At one point I was taking, morphine, dihydracodeine, paracetamol, Pregabalin ( as well as senna, movicol, bran ets) The side effects were horrendous, so much so, that I was readmitted to hospital. Eventually, I was feeling so poorly from the medication that I made a decision to take back my life. I stopped it all, went right back to the beginning of my recovery, & slowed it all down. I did eventually get back on my feet and 1 yr on the nerve pains are still there, but decreasing. So, thats why I am reluctant to start taking more painkillers. I think,now though that my pain tolerence levels have increased. I have retired early( Nurse) so I can do things more slowly but there is still an element of frustration here. Keep the advice flowing.

Kath

dorcas

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
Kath...I can well understand why you're reluctant to take more pain meds with that experience behind you. :roll: but can't imagine how to manage with not having any meds for arther pain....

do you use any alternative treatments? how did you/ do you cope with the nerve pain?

....hope you'll get some more 'good ideas' from other peeps on the forum.


Iris x

airwave

Haven't found anything good for hands yet, except not using them too much. Have found a loverly shaped pillow for Ik*A, not so much pressure on my shoulders at night now, OH says it stops me snoring as well!

We all have our little ways to ease the pain, OA and arther in general is so different for all of us but we all experience pain.

Just been cuddling my new grandson and that makes me feel good. There were rubbling noises from his nappy so time to hand him back, eh?

8) Its a grin, honest!

hileena111

Hi
Just to say welcome.....sorry cant reallyhelp...I have OA but its oin weight bearing joints
Have you seen the advert for the can opener....{JML} set it on top of the can push a button and away it goesd....looks good.
Love
Hileena

jennand

Hi Dorcas. The nerve pains have been pretty troublesome. Initially it was all the way down both legs. It due to the fact that because my (own) disk was almost none existant, I had lost height of my spine. The new disk as restored the height ( I was 3/4/in taller after the op) but it also stretched the contracted muscles and nerves. Nerves do not like being stretched. It was like a mega dose of toothache down both legs. Gradually, over time and with stretching exercises, the pains are now restricted to just my feet & sometimes, just the toes. I coped by using a foot spa, tens machine, elevating as much as possible ( leading to me thinking myself lazy) and some pretty good leg & foot massages from hubby. Occasionally I went for sports massage, but that was a bit difficult as I tended to instruct the therapist what to do & they dont like that. Now, after a year of daily stretching exercises & physio, I am now another 1/2/in taller, so all in all I've gained 1 & 1/4 in in height. Pretty impressive for 57 eh?