How do you cope with----
 

The arthritis in my hands is getting worse. I'm having difficulty pulling the needle through the fabric to do my hand quilting. I'm using a needle holder - it's a medical clamp that surgeons use to hold the needle and suture when they sew. Does anyone have any other ideas? I hate to give up my hand quilting.
Cheryl

do creams-like Myoflex help? it really helps the gentleman i care for- it is a cream in a tube- non-greasy- does not stink- it dries fairly quickly making it easy to grip your needle again.
beyond something like that you should talk to your dr. for some advice-help.

I prefer the little round rubber tips of rubber gloves...buy some inexpensive ones, cut most of the finger off and then roll up so it looks like a little condom....put one on thumb and one on forefinger, roll down about an inch...i can grip the needles well with these... the easiest way to roll them is to put on a finger and then begin at bottom edge...

Is your Dr. an arthritis specialist? That would be the one to ask about new meds or treatments to lessen the pain.

I think I will try this. Thank you for the tip.
Cheryl

Would finger cots work? Here's a link, but I've seen them at other pharmacies. http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/wal...490318-product

I had to start machine quilting. I can do very little hand work anymore, so far anyone that has received my quilts love them even if they are all machine made.

I don't know if you are on meds or not but when my knee was to the point where I could barely walk and the knee surgeon said I was too young for a replacement and wouldn't do cortisone because of my sugar I was to the point of giving up. I was desperate and started taking Osteo Bi-Flex. After about a week, it was like night and day and I haven't had a flair up in about a year. The stuff is a miracle. My fingers even started straitening out after starting to cross each other. I won't be without it now!

I'm a firm believer in Glucosamine, an occasional Advil, the therapeutic compression gloves you can buy at Joann's and rubbing your hands down before you go to bed with some sort of medicated balm like Tiger Balm. Have heard a lot of people get relief from the paraffin hand dips. Hope you are able to get back to what you love.

I use a lotion called "Two Old Goats" ... I know it's a funny name, but it works! They have a website ... www.twooldgoats.com. Has a pleasant smell and relieves pain almost instantly!