I'm looking for suggestions please - I have arthritis in both of my thumbs, very little deformity but very, very painful from time to time. Can anyone advise me, are there any really easy to hold and use rotary cutter/scissors? - or techniques that will help me with cutting and with firmly holding the ruler in place? My finger joints are gradually stiffening and my wrist become painful as well - don't you just love this ageing process!
Thanks in advance,
Penny

There are tools to buy that grip the rulers so you can hold them like a handle. They have them at quilt stores and on line or at Lowes or homedepot. And scissors you can buy with "spring grips that you can use without putting your fingers in and having them hurt. I wish I could think of the terms for these tools. Maybe the next one who reads can help us out. And if all else fails, they sell wonderful kits already cut out and ready to go. Good prices in some stores too. For those of us who cannot cut any more. Love those precuts....Hope you get some good suggestions.

try a ruler with cutter attatched--short sessions only at each task--[cut a bit sew a bit]--longer needles straw size 11 --be very aware how tight you are holding equipment +let it loose frequently--[you can tell fellow sufferer i am --do not always take my own advice- but then suffer for it]]

Try what they call an ergonomic rotarty cutter and I know there are arth. friendly scissors. I was born with out joints at base of thmb. Just learned this a month ago- HA1

I found the rotary cutter on a slide helps because you don't have to grip it you line it up and press down and push.
do you drink lemonade, funny question i know but it can agravate arthritis cutting it out can help.
I was talikng to a gentleman who told me his arthritis was so bad he ended up seeing a specialist who told him not to drink lemonade. and it settles down, lemon drinks are fine it is just the lemonade

Martelli has an ergonomic (sp) rotary cutter and I believe its either JoAnn's (online) or Clotilde that sells one too. You can buy them for either left or right hand use. I would also make sure that I kept the blades nice and sharp so you woulnd't have to press so hard.

Lita - Love your fur baby!!!

Lita - Love your fur baby!!![/quote]

thanks she is a scottish fold long hair and is as cute as she looks

I had the basal joints in both thumbs replaced. They use your own tendons, roll them in a ball and recreate a small ball and socket type joint. My mobility is fantastic and I'm so glad I had it done because the pain was excruciating so I can very much sympathize with your pain.
I bought shears and nippers that you squeeze rather than having to put my thumbs into holes.

Do you mean drinks that contain lemon are ok but
powdered lemonade you buy is not good?

cans of fizzy lemonade, the gentleman I was talking to said his wife had a portagafe (I think that is how you spell it) (stout and lemonade) every night but she only used 1/2 a can of lemonade so he drank the other half that was when his arthritis started to get really bad, when the specialist told him to stop drinking it, it settled down again

And start taking Salmon oil capsules. The ones I bought at Costco have 2000 mg of Omega 3 in them...the highest I've found yet...Supposedly they help. I can't say for sure, but after 2 weeks, my hands aren't hurting as much!

I have arthritus in all my fingers and other joints to and some days I just didn't want to do anything exspecially when there is low preasure or cold days. I herd about consantrated cherry juice that it helps the joints and I also started taking liquid vitamins and it has made the differance and my joints are not that painful anymore. I also make sure that I get out and do some walking or biking every day and do exersizes for my fingers.

Thanks for your advice, I had cortisone injections base of both thumbs 5 & 7 weeks ago, having another one in the right hand on Tuesday. I am also using Kalaya-E Balm, a magnetic bracelet, don't drink anything carbonated, eat very few fresh tomatoes - but find none of these make much difference! Hey Ho!!

I'm a massage therapist and work with a number of people who have arthritis. The best thing we have found for easing the joints is 1) regular epsom salt soaks; and 2) a combination of arnica gel and emu oil applied directly to the joint and surrounding areas. They can also be used individually. The reason for the emu oil is that it soaks in more efficiently than other oils. I hope this is helpful. Blessings. Heidi

it doesn't matter how much advice you get it is what works for you that counts. I hope you find something soon to help relieve the pain, I suffer from neopathic pain disorder and the only medication that helps with the pain I can't take as it reacts badly with me. so it is a case of grin and bear it, some days I don't want to get out of bed but I have to as I look after my mum and I have to get myself moving before I can get her out of bed I have to do everything for her except hand feed her so I can't give into my pain, that is why I like quilting as I can escape for a while yet still be close enough to hear mum if she calls

I found a handle with suction cups on it at Wal Mart for under $5 and I use it on my long rulers. The handle is the type used in the shower. You should look into the accuquilt products. You can search the QB and find several discussion threads.

The snug crafters gloves may help a little along with heat - either from a heating pad or the bags filled with rice or corn that you put in the microwave. My hands are not bad yet, but the pain does stop my sewing some days.

F.Y.I. Throwing this out there - maybe it'll help a 'new' arthritis sufferer.

I went to the first doctor (who was new to me) after my hands were hurting terribly for 2 weeks... thinking it may be arthritis. He says "Oh it's arthritis - take some cosamin 4 times a day (at $35 a bottle of 60) - takes about 4-6 weeks to kick in and work - see me in 8 weeks if it doesn't improve".
Two weeks later I see my 'old' doctor cause I can't stand the pain...he manipulates my spine and the pain in my hands is gone by the time I'm walking out of the office. I stopped taking the cosamin.
TRUTH!

also look for stretchy skin colored gloves without finger tips. they help keep your hands warm while you work adn that helps.

Hi
I have arthritis in both wrists. Some days nothing works. Others days I find the Voltaren emi gel (got mine at costco) or Aleve or both work well. For me the month of July is the worst. Keep trying as I've found what works for my friend usually won't work for me and we both have it in our wrists. Feb. is the worst month for her. We all react differently.
true4uca

I found wearing wrist brace at night really helped me.

My surgeon is suggesting this for me. How long was your recovery? Do you have full use of your thumbs now?

It probably took four months for each thumb to feel like I was getting somewhere. But even over time I have improved and am able to touch the base of my little finger on both hands (a feat the doctor said would probably not happen.) I am very glad I had it done (which the ortho doctor insisted I have it done before my double knee replacement so that I would be able to use a walker!) I do have an auto-immune cartilage disease.

I have arthritis in my hands and just keep doing things as I've always done them. I had made and quilted 2 quilts in amonth and had to buy a new wedding band as the back of my 2nd knuckle had swollen so bad I couldn't get old ring off. New ring was 2 sizes bigger. Not swollen as it never went to original size.
I guess mine aren't to bad yet or I wouldn't be able to still use my hands. Summer is worse for me.

I have arthritis in both hands as well as carpal tunnel with trigger fingers which makes for great difficulty in using my hands. I had joint replacement for my left thumb (joint arthroplasty) last September (because my thumb was almost in my wrist). If I knew then what I know now, I would think twice about having the surgery. There are days when it's just as painful as the arthritis was in that joint. So many times the outcome of surgery is dependent upon the surgeon.

Here's what I learned for arthritis -
1. stay away from the nightshade family - tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and sweet & hot peppers (including paprika, cayenne, and tabasco). I have found when I eat too many tomatoes, my arthritis seems to hurt more.

2.Keep arthritic joints warm, particularly in cold weather.

3. hot/cold water baths -- total time approximately 15 minutes. Hot water for 3 minutes then cold for 1 minute, keep alternating until time is up. Surprisingly this loosens stiff joints.

4. keep moving so your joints stay loose and warm

Have you tried any of the capsaicin or a menthol rub? I was lucky enough to be send to a doctor that has topical medicine. Doc also gave me topical NSAIDS rubs. I have 3 total and they were prescribed by doctor.

Might want to check with your doctor.

Hope you can find some relief. I suffer from carpal tunnel and bone spurs in neck. My hands go numb but hurt like the dickens. That's why I am back to quilting. It's easy enough to leave (when you are in too much pain to even concentrate) and pick up when you are able.

Best of luck to you!!!

I too have arthritis in my thumbs, and other places too LOL. I bought an Accuquilt cutter and find it easy to cut patterns now. Also the squeeze type of thread nippers help. Best wishes.

I agree with the ergonomic cutters and handles for your rulers. I also have to change tasks frequently. About 10 minutes is all I can take at a single activity. So, cut a while, sew a while, press a while. Also make sure your cutting and sewing surfaces are a comfortable height so you don't have to stoop or stretch.