QuiltE

* Important * Please remember that each ailment is "unique", and what works for one may not work nor be the best thing for another person. Keep the communications going with your professionally trained medical support team to confirm that you are doing what is best for your personal situation, rather than adding to your problems thru mis-diagnosis and mis-treatment.

Rubesgirl

Wow! You ladies rock! I thought I had some health issues, but you make me realize how minor they are. I have had 3 major back surgeries, but I can kneel, walk, sit & stand without pain. The surgery on my neck left me with permanent nerve damage in my left hand and arm, so my good right hand does double duty. At least it works really well until I overuse it doing PP! I work in a carpeted room but still get back fatigue if I stand or hunch over the sewing machine too long, so I am looking for a secretary's chair to use at the machine so I can swivel to the ironing board. I have adapted to most situations by using several of the gadgets you recommend. Harbor Freight and Northern are great for little things and much less expensive than the fabric shops. The only thing I am having trouble finding is an inexpensive compression glove for hand work. I tried the one from Walmart and it was like not wearing anything, much too thin. Anyway, I think you gals are awesome!

Ozarkcastle

I quit eating flour/bread/pasta, my hands are doing a lot better, never would have thought a food allergy/sensitivity would settle in the joints but for me it did. You might ask your doc if need to consider foods not to eat.

Grace MooreLinker

Clips instead of straight pins has been one of the biggest helps for me. I have termors so pins are a hazard for me.
The fibromyalgia is the pits , the legs,arms,shoulders and wrist suffer most. all of the suggestions are most of what I found worked for me
in finding what helps when cutting ,ironing and sewing. You just learn what helps you.
Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one out there that suffers to quilt.

Dodee

I am quite curious, also. I have neuropathy really bad - some days it hurts just to be alive, I think. I travel horribly, even if I do get out periodically to walk a little. It's heart breaking, actually.

sylviak

One thing I forgot to mention: For those who suffer from leg cramps (RLS) when sitting for long periods, my Dr. recommended drinking about 5 to 6 oz of tonic water. You get immediate relief! I take it with me when I travel and order it on planes. It is not very tasty, but it contains a small amount of quinine which does the job. You can't buy it in pill form in the US, but the Dr. said he could get me some out of Canada! But the Walmart brand (Mixer) is $0.98/liter and works fine. You can mix it with something else to make it more palatable, but I can drink it straight. I know it's meant to be used with alcoholic drinks, but if you're on pain meds, particularly those with acetameniphin included and want to keep your liver in decent shape, mix it with something else.

wildyard

It's great to be in such good company here on the board. We have had other threads where we shared this kind of information in the past, also. You might want to search and read those to see what else may have been said that would be useful. I have fibro, chronic pain from a neck and shoulder injury and arthritis in my feet, knees, hands and neck and lower spine and hips. Medication has helped to minimize headaches which were at one time debilitating.
All of your suggestions are good, and I just want to stress that it's so important to keep doing our stretches and exercises to maintain as much range of motion as possible. Also to remember to drink lots of water each day to keep those toxins from the fibro and arthritis flushed out as much as possible. That way, we are forced to take breaks from sewing when we have to get up and go to the bathroom. LOL..
I, too, keep my ironing board in another room from my sewing machine to force me to get up and walk when I have to press. I do have a mini-iron and board next to my machine for quick pressing when doing lots of seams in a row, though. Anything long or large area, I take to the big ironing board.
Not setting deadlines is important as that adds stress and we with chronic pain need to keep our lives as free of stress as possible.

T.

Thank you, we take a lot of things for granted, these are great reminders for all of us.
Have a wonderful day!

MargeD

My best wishes to you on coping with physical problems so you can continue to quilt. I have rheumatoid as well as osteo arthritis in hands neck, back, knees, feet, etc. I also have fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel disease. Now I am recovering from a spinal cord injury and I have had to learn to stand and walk again, plus regain the use of my hands. I've made a lot of progress, I'm home now and can't wait to get to my quilting. I will learn patience so that I can return to quilting slowly and learn to quit when I'm tired. Knontinuow that you are not alone, quilters make the best support system ever. Continued blessings to you. MargeD

QuiltingNurse

What kind/brand of compression gloves do you use. Or what types of splints/braces are you using. I've had surgery to repair torn tendons and I would like support for my hands/wrists.
Any suggestions as to brands would be appreciated.