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Old 04-05-2011, 06:53 AM
  #51  
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That reminds me of something I forgot as it was so many years ago. I went with my mom to the dr. for her ganglion in her wrist and that is what he did - took a book and smacked it down. Hurt initially, but it worked and she felt much better after that. By the way, it never came back so I guess there is some merit in that old remedy. OUCH!!!! I am constantly amazed by the amount of wisdom that I find in this blog. God bless you all!
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Old 04-05-2011, 07:36 AM
  #52  
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I woke up one morning a few months ago and could not bend my wedding finger on my left hand. I had it straight out for weeks, and worked it, massaged it. Finally one day it bent again. Every so often it feels stiff. My hands in the morning upon waking are stiff, but, as the morning progresses there fine. I use aspercream if they get too bad, or a tylenol
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Old 04-05-2011, 08:45 AM
  #53  
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I was tested twice before the markers came up that I had RA. That was back in 1991. I also have OA and Polymylgia Romatica. I am on Methotrexate. I find that if I wear the support gloves without finger tips, and have them fairly tight, it supports the muscular structure of my hands. I use a combination of heat and cold. The back and forth seems to help with the pain and the swelling. I have learned that I need to pace myself when doing any quilting. I listen to my body, and if I am in pain I don't quilt that day. It makes no sense to aggravate it more by pushing myself. The rubs don't seem to help me much. Hope you find a good diagnosis and med that works for you and that it is a slow progression. Jan
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Old 04-05-2011, 08:55 AM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by emt2004
I went to an RA doctor, because my blood work came back with RA, he claims he doesn't see any RA yet ( thank goodness) but my hands are getting twisted and fingers have knots on them...........Michele He put me on meloxicam did not help......
I too have RA and the first Dr. I saw was not anxious to start me on meds, just had me coming back every couple of months. In the meantime the pain kept getting worse. Went to another specialist, more testing and was put on treatment. Happily the pain went away enough that I took up quilting. It has been 8 years of glorious sewing. I wish you good luck.
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Old 04-05-2011, 09:07 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by quilter1943
Good morning Nett

The parafin baths are wonderful. Our Walgreens used to have them but haven't seen any for a while. Probably Bed, bath and beyond would. Aspercream helps too. Exercising with the rubber balls/hearts that are available helps -- I keep them on the sewing table by my chair and use them at night. Strengthening the muscles will help relieve pressure on the joints (so my dr says!)
Does anyone know where you can buy those big chunks of paraffin that used to be sold with the parafin tubs?
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Old 04-05-2011, 09:25 AM
  #56  
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I have one of the fingerless gloves if I can only find it. (Sound familar) I also have the parafin tub. They sell them at beauty supply places like Sally's and the wax too.
Is there a medical treatment that slows to progress of RA?
For years when I do a lot of weeding I get carpel tunnel in my right hand. I love to weed but don't over do it anymore because of that. I did find sleeping with the brace helped with the numbness I'd get at night.
I still say getting old stinks. When I was younger I didn't get so much as a headache. Now that's about all that doesn't hurt. Whae Whae Whae.
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Old 04-05-2011, 09:27 AM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by nett2
Originally Posted by iluvmycats
I have advanced Rheumatiod Arthritis that started when I was about 23, but not properly diagnosed until I was 50. Didn't get on the proper treatment till 2004, but my fingers are all whithered and very inflamed. If you think you have arthritis, please talk to your doctor about it. there are easy tests they can do so you can find out.Don't wait so long like I did. I bought the comfort gloves and they help. Just please get the proper help, so you slow down the process. Blessing to you, Nancy
Nancy,
This knot just popped up a few weeks ago where my thumb attaches to my wrist and it burns like fire. I have an appointment with my doctor later this month. I'll mention it to her. I'm so sorry about your RA. I'm sure my pain is nothing compared to yours. God bless you.
The knot you are speaking of sounds like what I had. It is actually a joint/bone at the base of the thumb. I went a long time with out successful treatment because the only other option was surgery.

Finally it hurt so bad if I even bumped it pain would shoot up my arm and down to the tip of my thumb. I went for the surgery. They removed the bone and grafted a tendon from my arm to 'fill the space' where the bone was. It hurt like nothng I've ever felt while it was healing but I am 3 years post surgery with NO PAIN whatsoever in that part of the hand.

Unfortunately, I've had 3 other surgeries in hand, wrist and middle finger. The surgeon keeps saying there's a lot more they can do but for now, with prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, it is tolerable. If it becomes that severe, find a good orthopaedist and make sure the therapy is Occupational Therapy, not physical therapy.



Peggy
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Old 04-05-2011, 09:30 AM
  #58  
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I developed a form of RA. There is about 1 to 3 percent or more of humans that have a sensitivity to foods in the nightshade family of foods. I was skeptical at first, but went on a restrictive diet excluding these foods for two weeks and got a big surprise. The inflammation and swelling went away. It is hard to avoid these foods and I find they are some of my favorites but if I want relief then I stay away from them. Some people can eat these foods with no apparent problems. You can check this information out here: http://www.noarthritis.com/nightshades.htm
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Old 04-05-2011, 09:32 AM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by IBQLTN
Originally Posted by nett2
Originally Posted by iluvmycats
I have advanced Rheumatiod Arthritis that started when I was about 23, but not properly diagnosed until I was 50. Didn't get on the proper treatment till 2004, but my fingers are all whithered and very inflamed. If you think you have arthritis, please talk to your doctor about it. there are easy tests they can do so you can find out.Don't wait so long like I did. I bought the comfort gloves and they help. Just please get the proper help, so you slow down the process. Blessing to you, Nancy
Nancy,
This knot just popped up a few weeks ago where my thumb attaches to my wrist and it burns like fire. I have an appointment with my doctor later this month. I'll mention it to her. I'm so sorry about your RA. I'm sure my pain is nothing compared to yours. God bless you.
The knot you are speaking of sounds like what I had. It is actually a joint/bone at the base of the thumb. I went a long time with out successful treatment because the only other option was surgery.

Finally it hurt so bad if I even bumped it pain would shoot up my arm and down to the tip of my thumb. I went for the surgery. They removed the bone and grafted a tendon from my arm to 'fill the space' where the bone was. It hurt like nothng I've ever felt while it was healing but I am 3 years post surgery with NO PAIN whatsoever in that part of the hand.

Unfortunately, I've had 3 other surgeries in hand, wrist and middle finger. The surgeon keeps saying there's a lot more they can do but for now, with prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, it is tolerable. If it becomes that severe, find a good orthopaedist and make sure the therapy is Occupational Therapy, not physical therapy.

What did they call this knot and what is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?

Peggy
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Old 04-05-2011, 10:05 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by nett2
What do you do for arthritis pain in the hands? I don't want to take prescription pills for it if I don't have to. It's just recently started and I haven't talked to my doctor about it yet.
Since the question is "What do you do?" rather than "What do you suggest I do?" I'm going to answer.
My youngerst son is 24 and when he was 10 days old, without the long exp[alnation, I was put on Elavil. I was not depressed, it is also used for other things (it's a very old antidepressant) but I've been on it ever since. My sister is an RN, and has worked in a pain management clinic for over 10 years now, and she said that they sometimes use Elavil in pain managment. From the looks of my hands, and with my family history, I definitely have OA, but I have never had any more than an extremely mild ache. I credit the Elavil for this, because I have had other things done to me over the years that one would think hurts, but only mild for me.
Also, we keep the house temp higher than we used to, at 74, and I think that helps too
I tend to wear those cheapo gloves, 3 pr for a $1?, when I work at the computer, not so much for pain, but for stiffness, which I think helps too
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