Sorry to hear this Melly, I know how you feel, this is my worst area - my writing is often illegible! At work i've started writing in capitals again - it's embarrassing, i used to have lovely writing - now more of a scrawl!

I went to see the occupational therapist about this at my local hospital and she gave me some really good exercises to help strengthen hands, fingers and wrists, i thought how can i explain what she gave me and had a quick look online and bupa have a video of same / similar exercises - i have attached for you. Start off slowly and build up, my OT said was best xx

i find exercising hands aand fingers has helped with co ordination too, especially the finger tip touches. I am definitely clumsier now with RA and notorious for breaking things - anything fiddly usually ends up broken with me so avoid as much as possible.....!

Chunky pens rock! Or pencils and felt tips, obviously not always suitable at work but i usually use these for any note taking i need to do.
Also, not staying in any position too long, frequent moving and mugs not cups - never hold the handle, xx

Here's the link, hope you find it useful it says check with gp first if necessary, let me know if this helps or anything else

Take care and lots of love from Liz xxxxx


hcd2.bupa.co.uk/.../video/arthritis_hands_wrists_video.html

Hi Melly,

Sorry to hear that you're hands are playing up, Lizzie's suggestion re pens is a good idea, I'm thinking of getting one too.

Love,

Barbara
XXXXXX

i remember ~ i think ~ it's on the funky arthur site! xx

Hi Mel

So sorry you are having all these problems. My hands too, are very, very uncomfortable but I do exercises every day and this seems to help. Are you still being a good girl and carrying out the exercises your OT gave you? they really do help.
Love Jeanxx

Sorry to hear about your hands Melly... they can be a real bugger sometimes

Sometimes though.... just sometimes they do something quite amusing!

After I'd had the synovectomy on my wrist and thumb fused, I attempted my first bit of food shopping... only a few bits.

Waiting my turn in the queue, the lady behind kept pushing her trolley into my legs. I asked if she could move back a little, which she hesitantly did but then started pushing again. I started loading my shopping onto the conveyor belt, milk, salad and some frozen ready meals. The thing was, my nerve endings were still a little fragile from surgery so as I went to put the last of the frozen meals on the belt, my hand flinched violently and ended up flinging the frozen meal behind.... towards the lady!

I've never seen anyone duck so fast! It was like a move out of the Matrix film

One think I can't go without is a chunky pen... Manufacturers are making more of them or you can get pen grips

A short term solution is wrapping rubber bands around pens to make them chunkier to grip.

There are also ring splints that you can get... I know one of the trustees, Gloria Lawson has some beautiful ones that are jewelled but these came the USA. In Europe there is a company that makes various silver splints but may be worth asking your occupational therapist if he/she knows of anyone, or can refer you.

helly oh thats a good one
hope surgery helped u alot.
yes i know amanda hands arms reason i gave up my buisness lol cartn say didnt presvere did for far to long.
thats nice idea thanks casue d would have rub it on carnt do that lol.

might known start course and hands start winter doesnt help.

well there very hot so def no heat thenthey go opsoite so cold carnt get warm.
someone else mentioned maybe raymunds oh lol was rheumy yes.
dont think so casue dont go blue.
aww il be fine sure do hurt though.

still others alot worse pain wise than me so whom im to groan sorry.
melly

Hi melly, must be awful for you. /Definitely the thick pens, just bought one. Been lucky, my hands just get stiff and bit swollen, but only first thing in morning, then later on at night. Lots of good advice, as usual from everyone, definitely try the gel, give Don a job ha ha!!

Thks pen looks nice i take look at them all then decide.

aww ok amanda he he d to do it thats a nice thought
painkillers not touching pain lol.
melly

Hi
sorry to hijack this thread but Julie I did like the look of the pens do know if I could get them in the mobile shop or age concern?
I have never seen these before
thanks
Mary L

Rightw ell while waiting for hubby at bus stop did have go at some hand therapy and shall do daily do little bit and increase according to how am.

OT told me not do strengthening ones if hands very hot inflammed so il stik with her tips for that.

aww Hello Lylie no not callous just trying help thank u
nothing really when see how other suffering.
umm i dont see phsyio only saw 1 twice for arms lol.
im gonna ask for more ot help need some exercises for knnes and arms to not just hands.

wax bath put it on a pressie list mums sued one foot lady does emm.
cause OT lady said i got work with pain not against it if hurts alot im to stop not carry on.
ha ha yes phsyios they know very intutitive i found he he.

painkillers more often myself told off i got ya.
melly