loss of strength in hands???

lupin15

This may seem like an odd question but i seem to have lost a lot of strength in my wrists...while doing cooking today with the kids at school...i filled a large pan with hot water and had to use both hands to hold it....felt pathetic.. just could not hold it with one hand... ( need to point out i do not do a lot of cooking at home hubby does it so not sure how long i have been like this :eek: :eek: :eek: ).
Is this normal??? i have been getting more pain since the weather has cooled down and the nice electric shocks has arrived back as well :sad: :sad: but that comes and goes... it was all such a shock.... it was like loosing the proper use of my hands...struggled to use the can opener as well...pretty bad when you have a 7 year old saying i can do it for you...
Anyway the tuna bake was a success and eaten by all the kids and staff..

valval

went through this before getting decent meds keep exercising hands wring warm flannel out curling and stretching fingers through out the day it scary but i was lucky the much better now val

magenta

Hi Lupin,

Glad the tuna bake was a success!

I too have reduced strength in my hands. My wrists are particularly affected and driving has became more of a struggle-even with the power steering. It's my grip as well that's got worse. I can't pick up my tablets without dropping them or 'pinging' them across the worktop. All very annoying!

Magenta x

mig

Yep my hands are like that,i have been using two hands on heavy stuff for a long time,have you thought about investing in special gloves for arthritic hands?Isotonic gloves are really good,amazon do them ,if you check out them scroll down the list ,there is a big difference in price.change in weather affects a lot of us and air pressure too.Mig

julie47

Hi Lupin, sorry about the weakness in your hands and wrists it is another twist in arthurs games. It is a big shock at first to realize you can not hold things with just the one hand and at first you do feel stupid. It has been years since I have able to hold a cup of tea or coffee with one hand, I have to use two and at first I also felt embarrased but now I don't care if people look, it can not be helped.

It was lovely of the little 7 year old to ask if he/she could help and next time instead of you struggling perhaps you could them to do it for you.
Children love to help.

I am pleased that the tuna bake was enjoyed by all.
Take care
Hugs ((((((((((())))))))))
Juliepf x

lupin15

So why do you loose the strength in your wrists...why does it happen?

julie47

Not really sure lupin but I think it is the tendons that go

hope someone else can explain

Juliepf x

lalla

Hi Lupin, if you contact your OT they may advise you to wear splints whilst working to protect your joints( they can provide) and may also advise on good exercises for you, there are lots of ways to reduce the risks of straining/ damagingjoints and prevent you getting scalded,, Let us know how you get on (((()))) take care Linda

lupin15

OT???? sorry a little tired cannot work out what that is :???: :???: :???:

valval

lupin15 wrote:

OT???? sorry a little tired cannot work out what that is :???: :???: :???:

ocupational theripist i think try docs or social services i think others have mentioned them

liesa

same here, seems daft i can type here on and off all day... but write a letter... takes days... use a phone for a long period of time (my daughter can literally talk for England) but as i told the medical assessor i cant hold saucepans when full or half full, i can just about pick up when clean and put away, i always hold a cup of tea close to my chest and tend to rest it there, i have reynaulds in my left hand but suspect its starting to affect the other hand, but with the left it shakes badly a lot of the time, i hate it when its cold cos my hand is like a block of ice....
but really dont have much upper body strength at all anymore... wasted muscle me thinks... never much there in the beginning...

woodbon

Hi, Thats one of my problems. The number of spills I've had and also I get sooo cross with myself and my husband gets cross with me for trying. Burnt my foot a little with hot water from the pan most went on the floor though, luckily! Love Sue

lupin15

delboy wrote:

It's been a while since I could rip a wet tissue :oops:

Nope i can manage that.....gone are the days of pulling huge parts of trees around

Must admit i thought i had lost muscle but i am so active how can that be??? Well thanks a lot folks must go to gp and ask some questions about this

dreamdaisy

As we age we lose strength and muscle-tone. As we have arthritis we lose strength and muscle-tone but possibly we notice this at a younger age than those who don't have arthritis. Perhaps some doubled tubigrip would support the wrists, and try to avoid lifting overly heavy things. On the more difficult days I need to use both hands to release my handbrake but so what? I release the handbrake, that's all that matters. DD

traluvie

Lupin..

I have noticed too that my strength has gone in my hands/wrists, i have to hold a cup with both hands and most other things...Can be very annoying at times, i have kind of got used to it now though.. that is after breaking so many things lol..

magenta

Hi DD,

I too have to use both hands to release my handbrake! It happened the other day when I was facing upwards on a really steep hill. I was so busy trying to release my handbrake that when I eventually did, I nearly crashed into the car behind me :eek:

Magenta x

ritwren

I wear hand splints a lot during the day and most of the day at work. They were given to me by the Occy Therapist and they do help support the wrists. My wrists and hands are painfull most of the time but I think they might be worse if I did'nt use the splints. Good luck, hope you get some answers.

lupin15

Its quite odd because i have periods of time when they are not to bad....but thinking back they play up when i do lift heavy objects....must stop trying to lift my hubby around!!!! At present it seems to be my thumbs that are my big bug bear to the point at times i ( like this weekend i have been avoiding using them when i pick up stuff because of the sharp pains i get... Good excuse to do some stuff i suppose
Well off to walk the dog in a bit.... at least these new trainers have given me some relief with my hip...HOORAY.

Poppyg1rl

Hi Lupin,
I am glad the trainers are helping your hip, any relief is good I can't lift anything with my left wrist (the one I broke in March) and in the last couple of weeks i had my usual hand therapy at Mount Vernon, my physio saw it was swollen and knowing about the previous break arranged tests that showed it hadnt healed properly and arthritis was in the joint :sad: i have to wear a brace now duri g the day but, it's made such a difference! I can hold things without the ache I used to get, I don't know if it would work for you, but it might be worth a try? can you get in contact with your physio dept and ask if you could try a wrist brace? Thinking of you Lupin hugs (((()))) X

lupin15

the support thing i may have to consider ..... even if i only wear it when i need it.... will have to make appointment.... do the doctors ask you to phone physio direct...god please no you can never get through.... i have not bothered on several occasions because they never answer the phone....good old cut back!!!!!

ruthy9

Hi everyone. . I too have reduced strength in both hands together with the swelling and pain. I have been looking at hand/finger exerciser for arthritis wondering if exercising them would improve them or make them worse. Little concerned about trying. Guess I dont want to make them worse than they already are. Has anyone tried hand strengthening. There are a few pages on the internet that I have come across on hand/finger exercises for arthritis. Touching each finger to thumb and other exercises, which I seem to be able to do even though the use of my hands seems to be limited and reducing by the day.
I love all art and currently finding tree roots to bring to life fron beneath the moss and peat. I'm trying to hold onto a drill with brush attachment and have been advised to get some anti vibration gloves. I'm so determined to continue with what I love doing even though its often an impossibility. Has anyone here bought a pair of gel anti vibration gloves and if so has it helped. The only pair I have come across are about £50 so I would rather know they are beneficial before I invest in them. :-) Love Ruth xxx

stickywicket

I can't help you on the gloves front, ruthy9 but, as for the exercises, the idea behind exercises is to keep the muscles strong because that way they support the joint and so reduce pain. I've always been told, by many physios over the years, that when the joints are painful and/or flaring, it's still best to take them through the full range of movement every day in order to preserve it. However, if this is very painful, you should check with a physio.

Have you seen the AC booklet on exercise which deals with hands, among other things? If you click on the 'Publications & Resources' button at the top right of the page, you'll find it.

pal

Hi Lupin

I'm very new here - recently diagnosed with RA.

One of the probs I have is with my hands. Reduced strength due to pain.
Eg., when lifting a kettle or even a cup of tea.
I used to be the one they brought the jar with the tight lid for me to open it but I find that extrememly difficult now,sometimes impossible!
I had my first appt with the OT last week and she suggested using both hands for lifting the cup of tea, etc., and I've found it helps (when I remember! lol)......Trouble is, it's all gone bad so quickly I'm having probs getting used to it being with me - although I've had pains in joints for years, it's all deteriorated fast over the past few months.
The OT gave me splints for doing physical work, eg., gardening, cutting grass, etc. Haven't tried them yet.
Oh boy! Takes some getting used to, doesn't it?

Hope you get some relief.
Best wishes & hugs
Pal

lupin15

I must admit i am quite lucky my hands although the are weak ( can't open a jar to save my life and using a tin opener is more recent) most of the time i am fine with lighter objects like a cup etc just heavy things like saucepans with liquid in...cannot lift them one hand at all. I have OA my pain appears to be in my thumbs at times which can make picking up any objects quite interesting.... and my wrists...nice electric shocks.
I have pins and needles and numbness which is on and off but have been told that is to do with my neck. (this is also affecting my feet....really odd sensation which now after 6 months drives me nuts when i am trying to get to slepp. I am sure with time i will learn to ignore it.The thing is i can move them around ok and most of the time no or little pain it is just lifting...no doubt because i have said that it will change.

dibdab

Hi Lupin,

I also have problems with lifting pans, opening jars etc, recently started dropping stuff, and fiddly things like picking up my endless pills are something of a family joke! I've invested in bits and bobs that the OT recommended and they help-a lid gripper, electric opener etc. I've also learned to ask for help-folks seem only to glad to help, and once they know what makes me struggle they often forestall the ask by offering! At school I even have one 5yr old who offers to fasten my coat buttons if I'm wearing my splints.
Hope you get to see an OT soon. Keep your chin up-this disease is about adjusting to the changes as they come along, and getting support from all the lovely folks here who understand.

Deb x

tjt6768

Hi Lupin, sorry I have only just seen this.. I've been having so many problems with the hands and wrists these past two yrs almost. I have wrist splints and they are good. The neoprene things, they have a metal bar insert that was shaped to my hands by the OT plus some splecially moulded inserts for when I am using the ergonomic walking sticks. Those are very handy (forgive the pun, lol)...
I have been given excersises such as the tip of the finger touching the thumb as mentioned plus others.. The strength is better but the pain still the same.. Electric shock pains right down the wrist, also pains down the little finger and base of the thumb.. Elbows have joined in recently, shoulders on a morning sometimes too..
Diagnosed as Sero-Negative inflamtory arthur plus some Carpal Tunnel :roll:
Sometimes I cannot even squeaze the sponge out in the shower it hurts that much.

Hope that you manage to get through to the physio/OT team.