Newbie has a moan!

PeterL

No, not a moan about this website, obviously, but a moan about my arthritis; and pain; and things I find I can no longer do; and world politics; and Holby City being cancelled. You know. The usual stuff.

Me? Bad hands. Painful thumb joints most of the time, aching finger joints some of the time (and different fingers on different days).

Things I can't do on bad days...

Drive my car. This is very annoying as I live in the wilds of Cornwall and 'bad hand days' means 'stuck at home days'.

Open jars and tins. No surprise there. This means someone else has to feed the dogs. And it's corollary; walk the dogs.

Worst of all.. On really bad days I can't even hold my kindle (that's not a euphemism)

Did I mention how ugly my increasingly deformed fingers are getting? Oh, the sympathy stares!

I think that's enough moaning to be getting on with.

And with a cheery goodbye...

PeterJ

Hello @PeterL and welcome to the community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that you will find that as well.

I understand that you have arthritis in your hands and on bad days it is preventing you from doing everyday things (I know that feeling well myself as it is how OA affects me too). Our website has a lot of useful information in it from details about the joints through to everyday hints and tips and I would recommend having a look at it. To help I've put a couple of links in below which may be of interest.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-hand-and-wrist/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/your-experiences/hints-and-tips/living-with-arthritis-hints-and-tips/

Please do keep posting and let us know how you are getting on and I am sure that others will connect with you to share their support and experiences as well.

With very best wishes

Peter

stickywicket

@PeterL , I can see you're not a very practised moaner. 'Could moan much better' would be my verdict😉

I can sympathise and empathise. My RA started in my hands many years ago and I'm fairly confident mine could beat yours in any ugliness competition. But let's tackle the easier options.

1. Steering wheels. Some are easier than other but, with most, there are covers of various kinds which make them easier to grip. Have a google.
2. Jars/tins - I wouldn't be able to open any without my electric jar/tin openers. Amazon, among many other sites, do lots.
3. The non-euphemistic Kindle (nice one😊). I don't have a Kindle but I do have a small tablet which I can hold. My husband has a large one (Tablet!!!) and it's far too heavy for me. Maybe a bit of experimenting? Also, I believe there are holders for them which might help. I got a device which was supposed to hold both tablets and books but my tablet slid off and I think it was designed for very slim books. Again, experimentation is required.

Have a look through any online disability shop for ideas. And also Versus Arthritis's page on aids and adaptions https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/your-home/

PeterL

Many thanks, Sticky. Lots of really good ideas.

I think it's time to get proactive and follow up on some of your suggestions, rather than just putting up with things.

Time to start googling and amazon-ing.

Ta!

stickywicket

Sometimes I think we get so used to putting up wit things we can forget that some don't have to be put up with.

In my early arthritic years all aids and adaptions looked like artifacts in the Museum of Witchcraft but now so much is mainstream. We have quite enough to put up with without going in for extra😀