What do you do for sore, tired, and achy hands? I really depend on my Homedics paraffin bath--the heat is soothing and penetrating and the paraffin helps moisturize my hands and nails. (Warning: people with diabetes or nerve damage should check with their doctor before using one.) I'm interested to know what other quilters do to keep their hands mobile and pain free.

Move, move, move!!! If I stop moving my hands they get all stiff and sore.

I have a special squeeze ball that I work with everyday to keep my hands limber.

My mother has pretty bad arthritis in her hands and she also uses the parafin bath, in addition to support braces and meds.

I do the paraffin wax dips also...I use to have hand therapy with these, and just love them. I bought my own stuff to do it at home now....bought it at walmart years ago.

If I am not wearing my quilting gloves I wear a craft glove, the kind with the fingers off on my right hand. It keeps it warmer and really seems to help. If my hands are still sore then I have a balm, that is from Koala Brand. It is a blend of herbs and eucalyptus. It really works wonders. It is smelly, like menthol, but my hands feel so much better when I use it. There is probably something similar at the drugstore. I got this at a craft show.

A naproxen (Aleve) also helps a lot. But please take it with food. Otherwise you may end up with an ulcer or hole in your stomach. Ask me how I know.

I get my hands nice and warm first thing in the morning, then do gentle stretches. I do this off/on throughout the day if they start to ache/feel stiff.
I also have a small soft ball that I roll between my hands, it is like a massage. :D:D:D

It ain't pretty what I do !!!

Watkins medicated ointment...but my hands don't get sore and stiff very often

For some reason, having someone else massage cream/ointment/whatever into your hands is incredibly relaxing - my daughter does a great job, too bad she lives so far away!

I have been hand quilting for 30 years and the hands are OK with the exception of middle finger on left hand [the one that is under the quilt and pushing the needle back up]. it almost feels as if there is a bump on the bone at the knuckle, when I bend it, it hurts. Anyone else run into this?
I live in fear of getting real arthritis in my hands...

That is exactly what Watkins medicated ointment is for ...actually Vicks might work the same...just put in on the swollen knuckle with a bandaise and it will go completely away within a couple of days...no kidding. I had a knuckle like that for a year before i tried it and it worked!

I use Biofreeze. Just need a small dab, and it works quite well. Mild odor disappears quickly.

I have heard of this product before, and heard it also works well for neuropathy in the feet. Where do you find this? I have never seen it in the store.

I have arthritis in practically every joint. I will have a should replacement next year due to the pain and also because I can barely use my left arm. I use Watkins or ActiveOn for my hands when I am having pain while sewing. I also take a prescribed medication twice a day.

I have picked it up at the Chiropractors, and have seen it on the internet.

I have picked it up at the Chiropractors, and have seen it on the internet.

Sorry, that posted twice. I also wear Handeze gloves and they do wonders. Keeps your body heat in the joints. I have some Unkers ointment I picked up in Ohio and it is good too.

I've seen it in the Wal Mart stores where they have a manicure/pedicure salon. At least here where I live in NV.

In Oct 2010, my right hand got so bad that I was almost to tears every morning. If my right hand was over my face as I slept, it got cold & felt like it was on fire. It would wake me up, so I decided, this is time to do it. Ten years ago, I had testing to see if I had carpal tunnel syndrome, and yes more in right than left. I moved & gave up on having surgery until Nov 2010 and exactly a month ago went ahead. I'm so glad I did. Still having a little problems w/cutting with scissors, rotary cutter and working with heavy pans in my kitchen. I am so used to doing everything (I live alone), that it's second nature to grab my Iron skillet, or heavy metal pans. I'm trying to use the Microwave more & use lighter weight pans.

My incision is well healed & I just keep moving my hands every time I think about it, or if I'm sitting. I've done some sewing (my Husq Viking Designer II) does most of the straight sewing, just pulls it through by itself, so not much tugging that way. I've made a few of the pillowcases like Missouri Star Quilt Company has the Tutorial for Christmas. I tore the fabric instead of using scissors or rotary cutter & it works well. I had wanted to get triangles cut before the surgery, but since I didn't I am just sewing straight seams. I can do quilts for next Christmas. I haven't tried hand stitching yet, but I'm sure I could do it for a little while, but not long. Some folks I've heard say they have someone to do dishes & all their housework, but I don't have that luxury all the time.

If you are contemplating carpal tunnel surgery, ask your doctor & nurse lots of questions.

Hello! I have that on my index finger of my right hand, and, of course, I am right handed!!!! That, my dear, is a bone spur. It is arthritis/osteo-arthritis in your hand. I have it in both my hands, but by George it isn't going to stop me. Shy of shaving off the spur, there is nothing to do but learn to live with it. I am too busy to be putting this or that on my hands (I just forget to, also) and right now, 5:45 AM, I know it is there because when I am typing reaching for the six or seven key, I can feel it. I usually take two Tylenol at bedtime and that is it. And I have no intention of having this spur shaved off. They do it on the feet for bone spurs, but not my finger. My husband has one on his knee. I started my (we have become personal companions, friends and enemies) arthritis and bone spur about 20-25 years ago. In my 50's. I took piano lessons, organ lessons, if that attributed to it, ok, I enjoyed playing the piano and organ. Maybe not wearing gloves when I was driving. I can't even stand to wear gloves working in the garden. I don't know, my grandmother had and mother has arthritis in their hands, maybe it is hereditary, I don't know. But I (age 72) have it, I live with it and there is nothing short of cutting off the hand that will cure it and I'll be darned if I am ready to do that yet. I can still sew, type, scrub floors on my hands and knees. But I can't open a jar of pickles, I cannot grab something or make a good fist. That appendage has a mind of its own and will not bend without a good shot of pain to let me know that it just cannot bend anymore. I have the spur on the first knuckle next to the nail. It won't bend. And now the left index finger is following the same path.

I am not worrying about it, I use a lot of hot/warm water and put my hand in that (Oh, yah, it is hard to hold a snow shovel - which is about the only thing I will put a mitten or glove on for)! But, I just sit and think "I used to gripe because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." I know this doesn't mean squat when your hands hurt so bad (been there, know that), but you cannot give up on anything because of it. I want to sew, I want to quilt, I want to play the piano, I want to get on the floor on my hands and knees (which are starting to go now) and scrub floors (the best place to pray - talk about multi-tasking - cleaning the floor and talking to God at the same time - can't beat that with a stick) and I am not going to let an ugly bump on my right index finger, being followed by an ugly bump on my left index finger stop me from doing anything I want to. Some days it doesn't even hurt - but I still can't bend it. So there are a lot of good days too. Make this one of them. Edie

I also use the Handeze gloves that I got with a coupon on line. They seem to relieve some of the stress on my hands with repetitive work....

Paraffin bath--also use a squeeze ball -and flex fingers every 15 minutes or so when I am sewing or when using computer.

I use Sore No More

Have you tried magnets? I had a painful wrist a few years ago and tried about everything. My daughter suggested a pretty magnetic bracelet. Can't explain how it worked but it did! A lot nicer in appearance than the splint I had been wearing, too. Oh, those paraffin baths feel sooooo good, too.

Amen, Edie--- you are soooo right. I have just started having a REAL problem with my right thumb. Wakes me up at night. I have found if I get up and go outside and stick my thumb in a snow pile it helps take the swelling down :) Havent found a way to sleep through it yet but I will. I am NOT going to give up my applique until I have to.

It ain't pretty what I do !!!



Ha, Ha! Good answer! But now I wonder..................

"......I had wanted to get triangles cut before the surgery, but since I didn't I am just sewing straight seams. ...."

I have the perfect method for you. I taught this in my quilting class and everybody loved it. I may have learned it from Eleanor Burns.

Take two squares of fabric (different colors) & place them right sides together. I suggest starting with 13" squares.

Then draw diagonal lines corner to corner. Remember: X marks the spot.

Then sew 1/4" on both sides of the lines, for a total of 4 straight seams.

Fold the sandwich in half, forming a rectangle, and finger press each side. Open & fold the other direction, forming a rectangle & finger press the sides again.

Open out, & using your pressed lines as a guide, use your rotary cutter & ruler, and cut in half. Turn the cutting mat & cut in half again. You will now have 4 quarters with a diagonal line & 2 rows of stitching.

Now cut along the diagonal line right between the stitching.

You will now have 8 half square triangle blocks. Press and trim to desired size. The largest size you will get from these is 6." Most people like to trim them to 5.5."

My rule of thumb for sizing (the fabric squares that will be sewn) these is to figure out what I want the cut size to be (say 6 inches), then double it and add 1 to 2 inches, depending on how accurately you normally cut. If cutting and sewing 1/4" is not always easy for you, then add the 2."

I like to add in enough 'fudge factor' that the results will work every time.

Never thought of a snowbank and we do have snowbanks here - useless they may be - hey, we can put some good use to them. But then, all we'll see all over St. Paul are women with their thumbs and fingers in snowbanks. (At least that way we will know who are the quilters and who reads the Quilting Board)> I am going to try it though. Sounds like a really good idea. YOU NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER! One way or the other, it'll work! Edie

I have the same thing on my left hand and on the middle finger of my right hand that I use to push the needle through the quilt. Sorry to say, my doctor told me it is arthritis. I love hand quilting because it is so relaxing to me. Never watch TV without something in my hands to work on. She, also, told me "use it or lose it". So, I just keep on keeping on.

Good Girl!!!!!! Beethoven composed and he was deaf! Edie

I'm with you. I love my paraffin bath. I use it on my feet too. But also, I have a prescription anti-inflammatory cream that works like magic. My husband loves it too.

Sounds interesting. What is the name of the anti-inflam cream. I am thinking for my husband. Edie

k9dancer, once the triangles are sewn, they have to be cut & that's what I have trouble with for the present. I tried it several times & can cut, but see that it puts to much stress on the scar for now. The nerves are growing back & it's best for me to wait until the surgery site is all healed, inside & out, before I cause more damage. I have used the method you're talking about, and it works well. Thanks for the suggestion.

Edie, I waited 10 years from the time I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel until I had the surgery in Nov. If you had the burning type pain I had in my whole hand when I woke up with my entire hand cold & throbbing (felt like it was on fire), you might rethink surgery. Bone spurs versus nerve damage.....lots of difference. I had a golf ball sized bone spur chiseled off my left sciatic nerve in 1998, so know all about those. They are hereditary & I have them all up & down my spine, on my right heel, left shoulder.... My Dad had them & he was to the point he couldn't turn his neck to the right.

I don't advocate any kind of surgery, but have had to have some, and once I was out of the torturing pain, I wondered why I waited so long. I pray you can get by without any and am glad you aren't giving up. I'm not giving up, just doing what I have to do to get better.

Check out drdavidwilliams.com. I use Joint Advantage Gold for my formerly achy joints. Great stuff!

I had a lot of arthritis pain and I started taking 2 black cherry pills a day and it went away.

Hello! Ask your Dr. if he could prescribe Voltaren gel as an anti inflamatory med.It works really well. Merry Christmas!!

I've seen Biofreeze in my chiropractor's office...I've never used it, but those who have swear by it.

Wow! I am going to give that a try! I use the biofreeze also but you can't use too much of that. I use vicks for everything else might as well try it for the bump. Thanks. Just new to this site and already learning something.

I just had a total knee last June and before that the only way I could get around was with the help of the biofreeze and my bed buddy.