Arthritic hands and gloves
 

My mom is really suffering with arthritic hands. She does a lot of knitting for charity and some hand quilting for family. At almost 87 years, it's hard for me to see the hurt that she goes through to do something she enjoys. We have tried the creams, lotions, OTC meds. Nothing helps consistently or for an extended period of time. So I've seen the gloves advertised with magnets and others with copper in them. Has anyone tried them and do they work? Thanks for any helps, suggestions.

well not magnets but i used to use the stretchy gloves without finger tips and they did help to sew with. Keepsakequiltng.com may have them. good ones. the spandex style help a bit and warmth of the gloves too. I wish her luck. seems one must keep trying until something works for that individual. I use aspercreme on my thumb joints that helps.

God bless your Mom for continuing despite the pain!

Has your Mom seen a rheumatologist? If not, then that is the first step to getting help.

I have a prescription gel called Voltaren gel. It is an nsaid, so should always be used sparingly, especially by someone who is 87! Having said that, it works fairly well.

I have friends who use the wax baths for their hands and swear by them. That might be a good place for your Mom to start. You can get the wax baths in any price range your want, from low to high, but the concept is the same no matter which one you get.

Good luck!

I have RA and have had injections in my hands at times and that helps best. I am having trouble this Fall and I am using the gloves with the fingers free but have not had any luck with the ones with copper or magnets. I have used the wax baths but the pain does not stay away long I have better luck soaking my hands in water as hot as I can stand and exercise my fingers under the hot water then wrapping them up to hold the heat in longer when I take them out of the water. Sleep in full gloves, orders from my Dr. If she has not seen a good rheumatologest find one as there are so many new med's out there that do wonders. I am unable to take anything but methotrexate but it has kept me from having my hands get disfigured. It helps with the pain so very much. Good luck to her, I hope she finds help soon.

I use the spandex gloves without finger tips. Not sure where I found them. I also soak my hands inEpson Salts and water when really bad. I hate to say but the only thing that really helps is to rest them.

I use hot water/epson salts for my arthritic feet and it does help tremendously. Not sure the epson salts really do anything but they don't hurt. I'm thinking it's really just the hot water. I start with water as hot as I can possibly tolerate - even if just dipping in for a couple of minutes at a time till it cools off some. Then keep my feet in the hot water until it cools. After really horrible days on my feet, it does allow me to walk across the room at a tolerable pain level and then the next day makes things much more tolerable.

I found the fingered and fingerless spandex gloves at www.collectionsetc.com the direct link is http://www.collectionsetc.com/compre...es/search.aspx I use them when I can't get my hands warm and they hurt.

My sister swears by her copper and magnets - she has bracelets of both. She has been using them for years.

Walmart sells chewable glucosamine condroitin reasonably....might that help......

Thanks for the ideas...now to decide which to choose first! I knew you gals would be able to help! :wave:

i use these gloves also. fingerless and fingertip. been using them for several years. gave a pair to friend who, like me, is unable to sleep because of the pain in back of hands fr arthr. she loves them. the web site of the glove makers refers to them as "heating pads for your hands". and they are. had mine on yesterday morning when i needed to go out and check water break from lo temps. i just put my winter gloves on over them. the most comfortable my hands have ever been in winter! so, going to buy another pair to wear as liners for my heavy winter gloves. keepsake and sometimes nancys notions sell them. i have also seen them in lqs. i cannot hand quilt w/o these gloves! your mom will love them.

I have much pain from arthritis and a friend recommended UP and Up cream from
target. It helps my pain as I cannot use Ben-Gay because it blisters my skin.

Several years ago here on QB in a discussion on arthritis some people highly recommended Two Old Goats lotion. It was created by a quilter and has essential oils. I was a bit skeptical. I looked it up online and two years, kind of as a joke, I got some for my MIL who has a lot of pain with arthritis and sciatica. I figured the name was worth a chuckle when she unwrapped it even if it did nothing else. It worked for her! I now use it for my ankle, knee and back and gave small bottles to three friends last Christmas. They are now all using it. One has a lot of arthritis in her hands and swears by Two Old Goats. A woman in the local quilt guild started using it after I showed her my bottle and she loves it. I'm not saying it works for everyone, but those I personally know that have tried it really like it. twooldgoats.com

My mother maintained her copper bracelet was the reason she had no joint problems. She did knit and sew up to her death. My father also had a copper bracelet and he was doing woodwork right up to his death at 89.
I have a copper bracelet and keep forgetting to re strengthen the magnets I the box. Not sure it does anything . Perhaps it is all in the mind as dad made both bracelets for them.

I found mine at Walgreen's online. Look for Arthritis Gloves.

I had a hard time finding the ones i have. mine are beige. tried to find you a pic. they are Handeez or how ever it's spelled but I only see green ones at the moment.

I'm getting her the compression type gloves that have been suggested and think I'll get some of the Two Old Goats lotion, too. There's a farm/hardware store about 3 miles from here that carries it! YIPPEE! Thanks, everyone for the help. She socializes outside her home about twice a week, so most of her time is spent knitting/quilting. She loves to read, too, and that's a good break from the handwork.

Australian dream cream(I got mine at Walgreens ) seems to help me