Typing job and OA in thumbs

PaulaJ

Hi

I have recently been diagnosed with OA in my thumbs which is causing problems at work as my job is primarily audio typing. My company has been supportive and have put me on alternative duties at the moment but HR want to talk to me this week for an update in relation to my condition. On their advice, I have tried typing some audio recordings but it was very painful for my hands.

Am I likely to make my condition worse if I was to go back to my audio typing duties? Its painful to type so I dont think I could do it but I wanted to know if I am likely to make the condition worse. The orthopaedic surgeon I saw said I have to preserve my hands as I am only 42 but I was wondering if anybody had an experience similar to this, and any advice would be appreciated.

Best wishes

Paula xx

19smp59

Hi Paula

My job also involves a lot of typing and I have arthritis in fingers and thumb joints. Just recently my thumbs are really painful at night but to be honest I don't know if the job is making them worse, in any event I don't think I would have the choice to stop typing etc. I would be interested to know if anyone has any views as to whether the typing is likely to make the arthritis worse.

Suzanne x

elnafinn

Hi Paula

I have had oa in my thumbs for y ears and they look very unsightly now. I am 62 years old. I used to type in my place of work and found it ok. I used painkillers and anti inflammatories and had steroid injections in my thumbs which helped. Thumb arthritis of the basal joint can be helped with a splint, particularly for people who use a computer a lot but i never did. I still am ok typing and generally getting on with life ie cooking, baking, gardening, cleaning. Sometimes a screw top is difficult for me to undo. So besides my thumbs at the base looking horrible I manage fairly ok. I find anti inflams help but I do not really need the painkillers now. I think my oa has burnt out in my thumbs, leaving deformity. I did not type all the time when at work but did phone work, filing and so on so my day was varied.

I suppose typing and generally using the thumbs made it worse but if you do not use your thumbs they would more than likely cease up so I chose to carry on and am still carrying on now.

Elna x

barbara12

I suppose the voice recognition software is out of the question, like Elna I have a splint for one thumb...and have had injections and they worked very well.
But I should imagine if you carry on then your hand will go worse, x

PaulaJ

Thank you for your lovely replies. HR had a chat with me today and they said there is a possibility that the alternative duties I am doing in another office at the moment could become permanent for me as I dont feel I am able to do my original job which is great news if it works out. I will still be doing occasional typing but not the intense typing I was doing before (3-4 page medical reports) all day. I have bilateral thumb wraps which are very helpful. With the thumbs I find I am using them every day so its very hard to rest them but I just felt that the intense typing would exacerbate my condition. The orthopaedic surgeon I saw said I need to preserve my hands as I am only young, but its very difficult not to use your hands!! I take painkillers occasionally but I cant take Ibuprofen regularly as they upset my stomach!

Does anyone find any relief from the natural remedies? Someone recommended Devils Claw which I have just started taking. I am willing to try anything.

I ordered a pair of arthritis gloves which were delivered today (gloves with the tips of the fingers not covered - are these the pressure gloves?). They seem very comfortable and I am using them at the moment. I am really concerned for the future as I am only 42 .

Thank you again for your support,

Best wishes

Paula xxx

dreamdaisy

Sometimes we have to find ways around things. I'm a touchtypist and use either a forefinger or middle finger for the space bar, I started doing this when my carpal tunnel was bad not the same as OA in the thumbs, I realise that) and that habit has continued. Regarding natural remedies I've found during the course of my arthritic years that those who swear by them never had a 'proper' arthritis but for some obscure reason they like to think they did (e.g. 'One day I couldn't bend over to tie my shoelace but now look at me!' ) Yeah, right, you had arthritis and no mistake. DD

PaulaJ

I am sending the gloves back as they are very tight and seemed to cause pain after I took them off . I have received another pair of thumb support gloves which are really good so far!