Fed up with my hands!

woodbon

Hi,
Today I have really sore, swollen hands, not just the knuckles but the backs of my hands too. Also, some of the joints are red.
This last part of the week, I've felt pretty low and had a major family problem which has caused me a lot of stress. I know I have OA in my hands and quite a few other joints. The doc also thinks I have fibro, I've never had my fingers and hands look as swollen or the hands themselves so stiff.

I did do a round trip, as passenger, of 300 miles yesterday.
I'm worried I may have an inflammatory type of arthritis. My GP wants me to see a rheummy, but I've been before and made to feel a waste of time. I'm seeing my GP on Wed, I think I'll ask if she will do the referral and not keep putting it off.
Sorry to moan, just feeling down. Wonder if I'm having a flare of some sort. x:(
Love Sue

cutieclaire

Hi Jean

Not nice I know and just wanted to say, once they have found out exactly what it is I am sure the medication will help lots. We all know that stress can cause a flare, I know as I can feel my back when I get stressed.

I know its easier said than done but have a rest, try some arthritis gloves, they are amazing, pain killers and anti inflamatories.

Hope this helps, oh a a lovely warm bath can help too.

Good luck and keep us posted xxxxx


Claire

cutieclaire

Sorry I got your name wrong,

Sue.

Claire xxxxxx

woodbon

I have trouble remembering anything at the moment, even my own name!!! Thankyou for the sympathy, it does help!
Love Sue xxx

cutieclaire

Thats ok Sue,

I dont do sympathy well, just empathy lol,

I know how it feels and it must be hard with osto as well as others. With the weather change its not good either.

Love and hugs xxxxxxxx

julie47

Hi Sue

How are you this morning? Feeling a little better and a little less stressed at the moment I hope.

Hopefully the gp on wednesday can rush you a referal with a rhummy and give you something to help ease your joints while you wait.

Stress can make things worse and this time of year doesn't help with xmas fast approaching.

Take care and time to rest
Love & hugs (((((()))))) Juliepf x

(who can not wake up this morning lol)

woodbon

Thanks I think I was getting a bit uptight about my gynea appointment today, as well as everything. That was for a ultra sound on a cyst. She said its no change and is nothing to worry about, just a sac of water! I've been called some things but never that! :roll:
Anyway, my hands are a bit better, but still sore and swollen, but I feel better able to cope with that now the gyne thing is OK. Funny how mood and worry effect pain.
Love Sue xx

valval

stress does make things so much worse so glad app went to well sometimes you do not realise how much it on your mind until you get the all clear. glad hands a bit better if it was me would give rhummy a chance a different one that is your doc would not send you if they did not feel you need to go and inflimation causes joint dammage even if only to rule out things it worth it good luck val

julie47

sue it is so true that stress can give you mood swings.

My mood is up and down at the moment with the op looming :roll: keep bursting into tears (daft I know) just want it over and done with.

Its good that having had your appointment and being reassured that there is nothing to worry about, the stress has lifted alittle.
I am sure you now you will start to feel better each day.

Take care
Love Juliepf x

barbara12

Oh Sue..I have been thinking about you...all these things you have going on..and now your hands..you make sure they listen to you when you go back.....I do wish you well with everything..and dont forget we are always here xx

hileena111

Hi Sue
Are your hands any better now? Sorry I've no real advice for you.....just sending loads of ((((((((()))))))))

Love
Hileena

woodbon

Hello,
Thank you everyone for all the love and good wishes, it really does help!
Julie I can understand how you feel about surgery,whatever people say its still scary! I'm sure you'll be fine and hope it helps you. ((()))))
I think my hands are not so swollen today and they seem to be working better! It does make me cross when they play up and I start dropping everything in sight! I'm not safe to be around and I get nasty and moody and snap at everyone. x:roll:

I washed my hands in cold water and they seemed to feel a lot better for a while. I'll try the hot/cold treatment, thanks for reminding me about it. My memory is terrible at the moment, I forget everything, come home from the shops without the one thing I wanted or go upstairs and wonder what it was I wanted and open the wrong cupboard door!
The CBT seems to be helping me. I'm a lot less depressed and although I have some way to go, touch wood, the thought pattern change does help a bit. Its also nice to unload on someone who understands. Sorry I've gone on a bit!
Love Suexxxxx

valval

i buy cheep plates etc when ever i see them it the going joke in our house mum has broken another plate lol val

woodbon

The thing that I seem to break most at the moment are mugs. My fingers seem to get round the handle and when I think I've let go and bring my hand back the cup comes too and smashes on the floor. I do find that the lighter they are the better. The set of pottery mugs I had is down to 1 now and I can't use that at all, its too heavy empty let alone full. Also I never fill a cup, as thats an accident that always happens! x:roll: Had to wash a white jumper soon after putting it on after spilling tea all down the front. At least it was cold!
Off to moan to the doc tomorrow, so I hope she is feeling patient. x x:roll: Love Sue xxxxx

julie47

Woodbon I never fill a cup either, and I then laugh and appologize to any visitors that come as they only get half a cup too

You could perhaps invest of a couple of melamine cups for when your hands are bad. I have a couple, I bought them from a supermarket when they had picnic things on sale. They are light and you can drop them without em smashing.

I wish you well with your gp appointment today. I hope he/she can help.

Love & a big hug (((((((()))))))))) juliepf x

cutieclaire

Hi Sue


Best wishes for today seeing the Doctor. Hope it all goes well.

Love and hugs xxxx

jillyb1

Quick tip on the mug problem , Woodbon , I've used two handled cups and mugs for years ~ much easier to manage and less breakages ! If you look on line at disability aids shops or eb*y for two handled mugs ; their are some really attractive ones about these days made from plastics or porcelain . Thinking of you , hope things are easing . Jillyb

dotty123

Big hugs, we need our hands so much and it is so frustrating when we lose our strengh in them, I struggle with hands ( OA ) and it really gets me down. The other day I was using a really sharp knife and the next thing I had deep sliced my finger :-( I was only cutting up cucumber !!

Take care xx

suzygirl

Sue, hope you get some relief for your hands. My hubby threatens me with plastic beakers as I break so much. :shock: Broke his favourite branded pint glass, he had specially bought!! :oops: Bowls I also find hard to grip for some reason, anyway gets me out of unloading the dishwasher, have to see the bright side!!!

(((hugs)))

julie47

Hi Sue

Just popping in with more hugs (((((()))))and hoping your hands are much better

Love Juliepf x

woodbon

Hello Julie,
My hands have been better, today they are a bit sore, don't know why but seem to be unable to pick things up and its sooo frustrating, could be a lot worse though. Love Sue xxxx

cebeem

Sue my hands are very much the same.
On bad days its very demoralising...I feel quite useless, but usuall y tryy to do things resulting in the broken cup syndrome.

Mugs and cups need to have a generous space inside the handle I often hook my right hand thumb through then suppory and direct the cup with may other wrist....if you get the picture!

It has been a bad year and they have deteriorated lots but ...along with the sulpha and diclo they added Hydroxy and the combinatino has really benefited me.
TENs machine is useful to me ...cold weather... and pressure gloves do help on bad days.

Jar openers can openers have certainly made a difference too.

Glad you are having a better day.

C

cebeem

combination that should be!