Struggling with Hands and Work

limpingrider_8

Male 61 years old and at my wits end carnt cope with working and the pain anymore, I feel useless I've got osteoarthritis in my wrists and hands affecting all my hand movements, trying to get a proper diagnosis through my gp but it's taking so long. My wife is disabled herself through fibromyalgia and I care for her when not working, I'm worrying so much about what might happen I'm sure its affecting my mental health. Dont know where to turn or what to do anymore. I I carnt retire till I'm 67 but I dont think I will make retirement, my work is a manual job I need my hands , I'm ok for a little while doing things then my hands just seize up and the pain is awful. I'm sure my employer will just get rid of me soon but how do I survive on benefits that's if I'm entitled to them in the first place. Sorry I'm wittering along when I'm sure there's people far worse off than me, but what do I do, I carnt see a way out - clear

Ellen

Hi @limpingrider_8 welcome to the online community.

I am so sorry you accidentally posted to your 'wall' so this was not visible on the forum. I have copied and pasted it over here hope that's ok.

You seem to have an awful lot going on I wonder whether a telephone call to our helpline might be useful to get things straight in your mind? Hopefully some advice too about how to progress things?

tel:0800 5200 520 They are open Monday to Friday 9am till 6pm.

It might be an idea also to make yourself an appointment with citizen's advice

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

to have a good chat about financial options sooner rather than later.

Again apologies that your post did not go live last week when you originally posted.

Best wishes

Ellen.

Trish9556

@limpingrider_8

I am sorry you're going through a rough time with your hands.

You need to ask your GP to send you for an xray on your hands to confirm diagnosis then get a referral to msk or Orthopaedics.

When your hands are bad, try to keep them warm. Fingerless gloves which enable you to work are a godsend. I used them all the time while I was working as a PA.

Hot hands which are little air activated hand sized packs of magic which last about 12 hours. Other brands are available. I get mine from online selling sites as they're cheaper. Most shops sell them in a pack of two quite cheaply for you to try.

Heat therapy helps increase blood flow which helps and this can be as simple as plunging your hands into hot and cold water alternatively for a few minutes.

Wax baths are also good but expensive. A hand therapist or physio should be able to let you try one.

Egg shaped exercise balls and therapy putty both work really well. They both come in different strengths and use them as a child does with play doh. Pulling kneading stretching etc while you're sat watching TV l. Start with the softest. Not too expensive

Don't waste your money on expensive creams. It's likely that the minute you put it on you're likely to have to wash your hands sending it straight down the drain.

You can get some good splints, start with a small soft one that goes round your wrist and across to your thumb with velcro fastening. Don't wear it all the time. You need to use your hands a d kerp them moving without restraint. I kerp mine for really bad days them remove when it improves.

Good luck, please tag or message me if I can be of further help.

Trish

Moira

Trish has given brilliant advice. Do follow hers. I do all that too and really does help.

I asked my GP to see an hand specialist orthopaedic surgeon and am now awaiting a trapizectomy for my left thumb and then they will do the right. I had hand therapy and the exercises help a lot and also the correct splints. Therapy putty is great as I can work it when watching TV.

My next door neighbour had her ops done a couple of years ago and says although recovery is quite long she is fine now and is pain free.

Do ask to see a hand specialist as they can offer good advice, injections which can help and therapy.

Good luck.

alwayssewing

I know this might seem weird but olbas oil is very good for arthritis pain. It is absorbed by the skin so even with hand washing the benefits are still there. I also use neat lavender oil anywhere that I have pain. You must do a little skin test first in case you have an allergy to it.