Day to day

Maisie25

hi this is my first post . I have arthritis in multiple joints in my body. End of last year had my third lot of hand surgery and am now listed for a fourth. But most days I still feel like cutting my hands off. Everyday is becoming more of a struggle. And I don’t know what to do anymore ?

Ellen

Hi @Maisie25 welcome to the online community. I am so glad you have found us and hope you'll maybe get some tips form others living with similar issues to yourself. The forum can be a useful place for venting as well as distracting yourself from pain too.

It sounds as though your hands are giving you the most trouble even though you have arthritis in other joints. This is probably a bit like teaching my Grandmother to suck eggs but I'm just going to pop this in in case there is something in it which might help:

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

I don't know whether you'd find it useful to speak to a voice? Our helpline team are available to talk to:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/get-help/helpline/

My best wishes

Ellen.

frogmorton

Hi @Maisie25 nice to meet you but not that you are having such a tough time. I do hope this next had surgery helps you.

I'm also really glad you've found us because many many of us have multiple joints affected by arthritis and can sympathise and support you.

If you do feel really down (and a lot of us here do) then i would ring the helplines I have more than once and gosh how much better did I feel afterwards. Also quite a few people take antidepressants for their mental health. Living with a long-term painful condition is known for affecting our mood.

sending you some (())

Toni

oliverava

Hey, I just want to say that I hear you, and I’m really sorry you’re going through this. Living with arthritis—especially when it affects multiple joints and requires repeated surgeries—sounds absolutely overwhelming. It’s completely understandable to feel exhausted and at a loss for what to do next.

You're not alone in this. There are people who truly get it, who understand the daily struggles, and who care about what you're going through. Have you been able to talk to a doctor about pain management or any other options that might help? Sometimes, even small changes can make a difference. Tracking progress, [link removed as advertising], might help you notice patterns in pain or relief strategies that work for you.

More than anything, just know that you’re not alone in this fight. Please keep reaching out—whether it’s here, with friends, or with professionals. You deserve support and relief, and I really hope you find something that makes things even a little bit easier.

Your post has been edited as the link pointed to a postal site - not relevant and not allowed under Community Guidelines as advertising, Peter (Admin)

Arthuritis

@Maisie25 So sorry to hear, but you have come to the right place for practical survival solutions. If I may ask,

when were you diagnosed, and did you have positive serology (ACCP, RF & ANA)? Imaging?

when did the pain start getting unbearable?

Which joints are the worst?

What medications & dosage are you taking?

Have you made practical home adaptations (do it quickly if it’s a recent diagnosis)? eg

Change sink and shower taps from screw type where you turn many times to tighten, to lever type (just 1/4 turn).

Have you got bottle lid opening tools? Electric can opener?

Folding walking stick or shopping bag that eases strain on joints?

Electric salt & pepper grinders?

The important thing is to save your joints from high impact damaging activity that triggers inflammation, a normal part of wear and repair, but in our case, instead of repair further destruction occurs, so you have to treat joints gently.

Once the gold standard meds like MTX kicks in after 12 weeks things should get a bit more bearable. Mtx for the first few months is nauseating but gets better over time.