littlehud

I am sure you will find a way to quilt. Let your physical therapist know you want to and they will help you find a way. Good luck with your surgery and I will keep you in my prayers.

quiltswithdogs

You can still quilt, you just may need to accept a few changes.
I have rheumatoid arthritis which is always on both sides. Some years are really bad. It can even be different one day from the next. In times my fingers are stiff, swollen, painful, I can't bend them enough to pick up things, sometimes even hold things like a mug onehanded. I can never close my fingers to a fist so coins, buttons, pins, fall out. What I had to change permanently was to cut fabric for brief periods on days I can hold the rotary cutter or ask someone to help, to accept machine sewing only and to give myself projects with no deadline or one that's a long time off. I never know what each day will be like. I haven't been able to work on my project for the past few days, but I know the baby quilt isn't due until Oct so the only pressure on me is that I want to do it so much. I can do the July BOM whenever I can manage it. When you can't bend your fingers, you need to make everything you hold be fat and wide. I've had to cush up lots of things to accomodate my hands; you should see how I hold my fingers sticking out when leaning on my cane (bad feet/ankles), only my thumb and heel of hand are holding on.

But your first plan should be what others here said... go to a hand physical therapist and occupational therapist for the best ultimate outcome. Be clever and kind to yourself and you will still enjoy quilting!
Cathy

Pam in WV

I have RA and had some work done on my hands, but you can learn to work around it and the biggest help was PT. You will have to work hard with this and then have a home program to keep using and you should do fine, and do anything you want to do.

minstrel

I don't know the answer to your question, but wanted to thank you for posting it. I have RA and the suggestions/comments of those who've posted are really encouraging. I, too, just do my rotary cutting on days that I can. Some days I can't hold anything and small items fall out of my right hand because my fingers don't close all the way. Nice to know others have found ways to adjust and still be able to quilt. I'd hate to have to give it up.

Jeannie

I have the ole arthur in a couple of my fingers and they will not bend. Follow clues from Klue and you will be back to quilting in no time. Once a quilter always a quilter! Good luck with the surgery.

HollyJill

I, too, have RA. It is encouraging to hear how other quilters cope!

Shemjo

Good luck with the surgery! Keep using what you have and keep your skills! :lol:

jacquemoe

My toe and back have been fused and I can still quilt, LOL I hope you mean machine piecing. I have one hand that is almost useless but I manage. I've learned to do many things with my left hand. Good luck and don't fret, you may have some frustrations early on but you will get past them.

nellebelles

I have lupus and fibromyalgia, as well as some pretty severe injuries from a car accident. I broke both of my arms and lost half of my right heel. I was in PT for many months. I had radial nerve palsy in both hands(my hands were paralyzed...) for about 3 months. My hand therapist was wonderful. She got me back into shape so I could not only feed and dress myself, but write and quilt, etc. I still have problems every now and then, mostly with the lupus symptoms, but my arms ache horribly from time to time and my foot hurts all the time. If you love to quilt and you have the fortitude to stick with the physical therapy, you will be able to quilt again.
Good luck with your surgery--and my prayers are with you too!

Quilt4u

Quilters are the Mother of inventions. Good luck.