Originally Posted by jbsstrawberry
Don't forget, the more you use your fingers the longer you'll have them. Inactivity can cause arthritis to progress more rapidly depending on the type you have. Regardless, exercise helps, at least thats what my rheumatologist told me. Also, he advised me to eat a bit (in severe moderation) of dark chocolate each day. 1/2 ounce or less, it will help stay off arthritis and in my case will boost my meds, which don't work as well as they use to. When it hurts too much, stop, rest. You just have to find the right amount of usage for you to keep them moving, and not over do and cause a flairup.
Absolutely the truth! I've had arthritis in my spine since I was 19. If I lie down or sit to long, I can't move around very well at all. My hands have 'arther' but I've never stopped using them to hand quilt, to hand sew things and embroider. Some days I can only take a stitch or two, and I use a lot of 'helper tools' to pull the needle through, gloves to hold the fabric, lots of different size hoops, and I take the glousamine. Some nights I wake in the middle of the night with tears and hands that won't open and close well, but I keep workin' them because the one thing all the doctors have said is "if you stop using any part of your body it will quit working at all" so I'm in charge right at the moment. I don't have RA, I have the OA. It's nothing to worry you or stop your planning for the future over. I've lived 41 years with it and I'm still walking, working on quilting and crochet. I'll keep you in my prayers!
Sharon