hi new to this

casandra

hi I was on the intro section and just starting to post on here. Hope this is what I do?

stickywicket

Yup, this is what you do

Keep on posting and we'll keep on answering

casandra

thanks for the reply. Just wish hands would stop hurting. The swelling has gone down but they are still stiff annd painful across the palms just under finger also wrists. Any ideas would be appreciated. thanks Carol

barbara12

Hello Carol ..its good to have you on board..has for your hands I have fingerless gloves to keep my warm in the house..and splints for when I need them ..hope you can find something to help..

casandra

thanks Barbara for the welcome and advice. I really want to drive my car but some days they hurt too much. I can drive short distances but no longer than half an hour. Hope to find some relief when I see the Rhemy on the 20th. Love C. m0150

stickywicket

I hope you get some relief, and answers, too. It's a long time since I had much bother with my hands though my RA started there many years ago and gave me h*ll there for a long, long time. But I don't recall the palms being a problem. It was always the joints.

dreamdaisy

If my hands are reluctant to get moving in the morning I soak them in warm water, gently flexing the fingers as if I am playing the piano: the heat of the water helps to relax the tense muscles and ease the sticky joints. Some add Epsom salts too but I don't.

As for driving it might be worth buying a length of the honeycombed plastic gripper stuff, cutting it into narrow lengths which you can then wind and secure around your steering wheel: this will provide a better grip so you don't have to squeeze the wheel as hard to manoeuvre. Keeping your hands warm will also help matters. I have troubles sometimes because my toes, ankles, knees and hips are affected but I want to keep my independence for as long as I can (plus The Spouse is a lousy driver). DD

casandra

thanks for all your replies. I have splints and fingerless gloves and am using steroids and co-codamol 30 till I see the specialist on 20th feb. I will get the reults from all the bloods and exrays then and find out what meds I will be starting. Strange thing is I can pull a bowstring without pain except after a while thumb hurts????????????? Amazed at that. Thanks a mill Carol

dreamdaisy

When you stop and think about it, different actions use different combinations of muscles in different ways. I have recently joined a gym and the groups I use on the cross-trainer are very different from the ones I use on the treadmill or the recumbent bike even though I'm using the same limbs. The actions I do when peeling a potato are different to those involved in cutting it, lifting a casserole out of the oven is different to removing the grill pan from said place - the list goes on.

I am pleased to hear that things are reasonably good at the moment, please let us know how your appointment goes. DD