Originally Posted by toomanycats
I have arthritis in my hands and some days is very painful and sensitive. It hurts alot to have someone grab a hand. How do you polietly refuse to shake someones hand that is offered without looking like I am nuts or stuck up?
I am late responding, but I have Lupus and it is too painful for me to shake hands, so I just look at people and say, with a smile on my face, "You may only shake hands with my finger-nail as I have lupus and I can't stand the pain of your handshake". It stops them immediately from grabbing my hand, and usually they laugh at the 'finger-nail' remark, and I can avoid the handshake. I used to endure...but no longer can stand the pain, so I just have to say "no" now. If people don't understand, then I can't help it anymore, but it's my pain I have to live with for hours afterward.