I have been enjoying this website for some time but have not participated in the conversation until today. Having been diagnosed with severe arthritis in my left wrist and thumb, it goes without saying that I have really been hampered in continuing to do my favorite activity. I would greatly appreciate hearing how others have handled this revolting development! I find myself encumbered with a thumb and wrist stabilizer, complete with 2 splints. I've also received a shot into the joint. Anyone who has experienced the above and would share their experience and perhaps tips for working around this problem would be gratefully read.

Sending prayers your way. Hope you can find a way to at least quilt some.

Welcome from Porter Okla. So Glad you joined us.

Welcome to the board. You will have good days and bad days. When I was younger I went thru something similar. It got better and I still have problems with my hands.

Hello, welcome from Oklahoma!

I'll say it for the 3rd time..Welcome from Oklahoma !!

HI,welcome from Kentucky.

Welcome! from Ontario, Canada

I have no solutions or magic pills for you ... though know that many have continued to quilt and found ways to do so. Hopefully you can get some suggestions!

Welcome from New York. I have the same thing from time to time. When it flares up i have to stop sewing few a while and take Lots of pain pills. After a few days it goes away. I was told it was the way i hold the fabric when sewing so i needed to change that and it helped quite a bit. Hope you can get some relief so you can continue!!

welcome!

Welcome from TN! I'm glad that you are now part of our group :D :D I don't have arthritis, but I do suffer from another chronic illness. I have good days and bad ones. I have figured out ways to do things differently or gotten people to help with certain things so that I can continue to quilt on my good days for short periods of time. Please post your question about arthritis in General Chit Chat Section and I am sure you will get many responses. The people on the board have been so helpful to me on any question that I have asked.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!

Welcome from Michigan.:)

hello .. welcome from Texas. I'm sorry to hear about your problem.

Welcome, waving from central Indiana USA :) :)

I hope you are feeling better soon, take care

Hi from Ohio! Hope your feeling better.

Hello Legs!
Welcome from Minnesota.
Sure hope you can find relief long enough to do some quilting!

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

Welcome from Minnesota and happy quilting.

Welcome from Tennessee--I have osteoarthritis in right wrist-thumb area and carpal tunnel in left. Not real bad yet....

welcome from se TX -- hope you feel better

Welcome from sunny Arizona. So sorry to hear about your problem. Sending prayers your way.

Get yourself a big tube of Zim's Max-Freeze. If you can't find it in the store, the website is http://MAXFREEZEGEL.COM
It is organic - totally natural ingredients and works like a charm for me. I have problems in both hands in the thumbs and running up into the wrist.

Welcome from Omaha, NE.

Welcome and do not give up. We just have to suffer and keep doing what we enjoy.

Welcome from AZ. I am right handed, and the disease has really distorted my right hand and it is swollen most of the time to double the size of my left. It hurts most of the time, but I just do what I can when I can. Don't have insurance, so every quilt I quilt or sell goes into a fund so someday I can have this taken care of.

Welcome from Natchez, Ms.

Welcome!

Welcome from Green Bay, Wisconsin. My mother had to have a wrist replacement and my father had a thumb joint replaced. Both were because of arthritis. I have the same problem in my right thumb as my dad did. While I have been diagnosed with sever arthritis in my right thumb area I have not considered surgery yet. There is a different procesure today than when my dad had his taken care of. It is a lot less invasive. I do take celebrex for my arthritis and that helps. I don't wear splints during the day but I do at night . That also helps greatly. Another thing that might help is playing the piano. Sounds strange but it does work.

welcome from illinois.. i have arthritis in my thumb joints also - had carpal tunnel and radial tunnel surgery on my right arm... i have not found a 'magic' cure but i do know that the hot parrifin wax treatments help some, as does those little squeeze balls... good luck and please hang in there - i have also found that staying active with my hands is much better than not :)

I am having similar problem with right thumb. It has limited my sewing time, but, what has helped is icing the inflamed area. When I sit to watch TV I get a gel pack out of the freezer, wrap it in a kitchen towel and put it on my thumb. Eventually, the swelling went down. It did take a while, couple of months. I found pain pills made my blood pressure go up, so had to find alternative. Chiropractor also did adjustment on thumb and suggested ice. Hope this helps, as I know how frustrating it is to limit your sewing time.

one thing about arthritis is it comes and goes. However the injured area becomes weaker and needs rest and to be protected. I cut the knuckle of my left thumb with a rotary cutter and had to keep it straight with a splint for 10 days. The cut healed beautifully, BUT, I had a secondary problem develop from wearing the splint. Be careful. Not happy at all about it as my hand have been fine the years of knitting. I rested my hand for two days, then went on cutting fabric....bad idea as I compensated by leaning on the palm of my hand. It became so inflamed and dreadfully sore, enough to take pain pills so I could sleep. Sometimes I can feel a problem coming on and stop....mostly when working at the end of the quilt when you have to lift so much fabric. It becomes heavy and my hand shows its weakness. One thing I do to reduce further injury and to give comfort is use green gloves found at JoAnne's for gentle support. I use my Isotoner driving gloves that are stronger and help with reduction of inflamation when needed. I am the Michael Jackson of the grey glove at times. Hey, it is needed!

Welcome from Ireland

Welcome from Harahan, LA. I have arthritis, but not in the hands. My heart goes out to you, hope things get better.

I have a pinched nerve in my neck & shoulder that causes me to lose feeling in my right hand. I wear splints at night so that I don't have to wear them during the day (they keep me from curling my hands up under me while I'm sleeping.)

Otherwise, ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) if you're able to take them, and ice, and don't over do it.

*edit: Oh, I forgot to add that I'm 'young'n', so I've got years and years of fun with pain ahead of me. :-\

WElcome from Michigan. Sorry I don't have an answer for you.......

Hello from NW Ohio---My Great Aunt had arthritus in her back and they sent her out for water therapy it worked so well that when her hands got arthritic she used a foot whirl pool and she could go back to Tating she made the most beautiful lace -she passed away a few days before her 102nd birthday and she was working on a project the day before

I have tendonitis and tenovenitis in my left hand and thumb due to a work injury. It's been that way since 2003. I've had surgery to release the band that surrounds the tendons, 5 cortisone shots in my wrist and 3 in my thumb joint. I know exactly how bad you have to be hurting to get those shots. Here's what helps for me.

Polar Ice is what I think it's called. It's a gel that doesn't smell too good, but it like freezes the area. You can buy it at the drug store.

Go to a Tractor Supply store or anyplace that sells Vet Wrap. It's what trainers use to put around the horses legs. This will give you support without causing you to lose your mobility using the splint. I can't do ANYTHING wearing the splint. I have a molded plastic one, a Sammons glove (blue in color), a velcro black one that has a metal splint in the thumb area. I think my hand hurts worse when I wear them.

I also invested in a Hand and Foot Spa. You melt parafin beads in it and then dip your hands in the wax. I usually dip about 5-6 times and then let it cool and peel off. It brings relief especially after using my hand alot like when I cut out my quilts.

I put my binding on using the sewing machine, but then hand sew the other side on. After I do this my hand hurts for at least a week. It usually takes me about a week to do a queen size quilt.

I also use a rice bag. If you don't have one, it's easy to make. Cut a piece of fabric, fill about 2/3 full of long grain rice. Sew shut. Heat in microwave for NO LONGER than 2 minutes.

I hope one of these things help you. I'm right there with you. Cheryl in Ohio

Howdy from Texas.
I am dealing with right shoulder arthritis and maybe a torn pec muscle. I sew on the days it is not too painful. When really hurts I sew short while, use heat/ice & take pills. Enlisting the help of others for the part of quilting that is most difficult. This weekend I have asked if hubby will cut out binding. We will see how that goes. I am encouraged as I have read how many quilters over come seemingly difficult situations. I think the key is to take it slow & easy. We only have one body & must take care of it. Wishing you the best.

Hello from Western Mountain Maryland !! :-)