Therapy for Hands

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 4:58am

Anyone care to tell what their favorite relief is for tired achey hands? Could be for any joints but I often feel that I've overworked my hands working around the house and on those days I find myself trying to relax and I don't know what to do. I sit and knead one with the other, but that only tires them more. Stretching exercises?

Short of a hand massage what's your favorite self therapy?

Heat? Cold? Lotions?

Holding my phone certainly isn't helping either!

Love to hear from you- an internet search has too much blather and I'm sure some of us dealing with this stupid disease have good ideas you could share.

Thanks for listening and sharing your experience.

E

nh_user_973282 · September 6, 2016, 6:04am

Paraffin wax is very good. Try this at your beaty therapest. It has helped me with pain..

nh_user_292332 · September 6, 2016, 6:13am

In my case I always protect my hands by wearing gloves. This is a good way to prevent injuries while using them.

My fav therapy is lavender oil hot wax . Dipping hands into warm wax really relaxes the muscles and sore joints. Also see your rhumey for antiinflammatory drugs and pain meds when needed.

anon53727290 · September 6, 2016, 8:27am

hi emfox

for me it depends on the weather outside. if it's freezing cold hot running water from the tap is heaven. if it's warm, the old ice bucket comes out. liquid paraffin takes some beating, but on the psychological stakes for me my favourite huge mug makes an entrance filled with cocoa, feet up watching TV with my hands clasped round it. superb! take care, ivan.

nh_user_955079 · September 6, 2016, 8:54am

Hi Em

I get very achey feet and my hands do get very painful. I find soaking in a bowl of Epsom salts really helps. Just put some comfortably hot water in bowl and throw in a handful of salts. Its known for its beneficial effects.

anon53727290 · September 6, 2016, 9:11am

Hi Em, my sister in law was diagnosed many years ago before all these new fangled drugs were available. She went for treatment on her hands consisting of warm wax and wrapped in hot towels. She always said it helped. I thought I might get offered this when I was diagnosed but no such luck. I do however have the meds to help.

nh_user_955079 · September 6, 2016, 9:29am

You can buy wax machines in which you melt the wax which you can buy on Amazon. I had one but didn't find it worked for me. But it may for you. Look on Amazon for wax baths. I swear by Epsom salts but we must try everything and see what works best.

nh_user_948747 · September 6, 2016, 1:18pm

Hi michelle65680!

How do you heat your wax? I have an old machine and didn't think about using it for RA! But it takes 8 hours to heat the wax in my machine.

Do you leave it plugged in and warm all the time?

nh_user_955079 · September 6, 2016, 1:34pm

I had one and it heated it really quickly. I wouldn't leave it on indefinitely. Check them out on amazon. I found it quite messy peeling the wax off but that was just me. It may suit you well.

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 1:34pm

Finding a beauty therapist will have to be another post sometime but I'll have to look into paraffin.

Thank you Michelle!

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 1:37pm

Hey Hope4Care

Thanks for the tip.

My some requested a gift of semidisposable work gloves he liked. I bought a dozen for me too! I think they do help and use them often.

Thanks

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 1:39pm

Ivan- I think my tendency to insist on doing the dishes must be related to a desire to have my hands in warm water. Thank you!

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 1:41pm

Thanks Sherry

It's an old remedy probably for a reason. I'll have to try it.

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 2:25pm

I'll have to look harder at the wax thing. It sounds like I'd be deep frying them, but I know that's not the case. The salts though, I think I need to have some on hand since several have mentioned it. I have some rice filled bags that I toss in the microwave a few minutes to knock the chill off, it's along the lines of towels that also would be helpful. Great ideas!

Thank you

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 2:34pm

Thank you EVERYONE!

I'm going to make a list of all your responses to go into my " I'm in pain-I don't know what I did- but what do I do now book" that I can refer to.

I'm sure we all used to do tasks without thinking about them but shy away because we know we'll pay for it. (if only our friends understood) Sometimes I know what's going to happen but do it anyway and sometimes the pain is a mystery! I'm sure you know.

Thanks for the constant support by all of you who understand me. Unfortunately, there's too many, but again, thank you!

E

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 2:41pm

Good thing we have these drugs now. Can you imagine having RA only thirty or so years ago? I'm on Enbrel now and life is much better than 2011. Maybe it's why I overwork myself, but it's helpful to remember what I used to be able to do.

Thanks Mary

nh_user_292332 · September 6, 2016, 3:59pm

Great . Good job.

nh_user_844418 · September 6, 2016, 4:19pm

Sometimes my thoughts don't come out very well.,,,

There's way too many... of us, I meant say! Us- that have to deal with RA.

And often it's only us that really understand each other's day to day pain and limitations. But I thank God it's only RA. Some have a much more difficult situation. Even some of you that deal with RA plus other stuff on top of it!

I'm blessed with meds that work for me and friends that understand me.

For that I say thanks to all of you.

A better day ahead

Em