Flare up in hands

sandyI

I am type 2 diabetic with arthritis in hands, lower back and feet complicated with diabetic neuropathy and also carpal tunnel. I have overdone it in tge past week emptying and miving conents of garage and sheds. Now paying the price particularly with my hands and fingers.

Can you please advise the best way to get this back under control. I have pins and needles in left hand all the time and am now worried as no let up - painkillers (not regularly), naproxen twice day as prescribed and have strapped through the night. Guess I can only rest? Thank you

Poppyjane

Welcome @sandyI to the online community

We are a friendly group , here to offer information, friendship and support. You sound so like many of us doing too much one day and taking a few days afterwards to recover. I keep overdoing it in the garden at this time of year. I hope you are pleased with your efforts in the garage and sheds.

I attach some information about carpal tunnel syndrome and exercises for wrists and hands which I hope you will find helpful

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/ https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/exercises-for-the-fingers-hands-and-wrists/

Many of us live with pain due to our conditions and sharing our experiences in this safe community helps us feel less isolated and the tips and advice offered to each other is especially beneficial. So I hope you will look round the different categories and join in with us again soon.

Best wishes

Poppyjane

sandyI

thank you - it is nice to have people to talk to who understand!

helpline_team

Hello @sandyI and thank you for posting on the Online Community. I hope you found @Poppyjane's response and links helpful. We are a friendly and supportive space and I hope that will be your experience too. I am sorry to hear about the pain and other symptoms you are experiencing in your hands.

It does sound as if you overdid it sorting out your garage and sheds. This is so easy to do when you have always been active and just want to get things done. Pacing yourself and balancing activity with rest is an important part of managing your osteoarthritis (OA). Breaking tasks down into more manageable instalments and spreading more physically demanding activities throughout the week can be helpful.

It sounds as if it would be good to go back to your GP to review your pain medication and explore treatment options. Referral to a specialist hand clinic may be worth considering for an expert opinion and more treatment. Sometimes splints can help as well as gentle exercises, pain medication and heat or cold. NSAID gels, such as Ibuprofen or Voltarol, can help reduce the number of tablets you are taking. Naturally occurring Flexiseq cream has been shown to be effective for OA. This may also be worth considering. A healthy balanced diet and healthy weight is important too.

If you would like to have more replies to your post, you are welcome to repost on our Living with arthritis — Versus Arthritis forum which is a supportive space where you can ask questions and share experiences with others. You are welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520 weekdays 9am - 6pm if you would like to talk things through informally and in confidence.

I hope the information given below will be of some help.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/hand-and-wrist-pain/

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

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.

Best wishes,

Fiona, Helpline Advisor

sandyI

Thank you Fiona. Some useful advice. I certainly have overdone it but on holuday next week so resting but good idea to see Gp and ask for referral if no better after. I recently had tests at the hospital to confirm everything nut no referrals after and having gad op on right hand for carpal tunnel sone years ago, I don’t want the left hand operated on especially as it has also returned on right hand! What a srate! I have looked at tge exercises and will also look at the cream you suggest. Thank you 😊