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Thumb and hand joint pain arthritis
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: 19 hours ago | Replies (33)Comment receiving replies
I see this is an old post, but I have a question about arthritis in my fingers, and muscle/tendon weakness too.
I can no longer type the usual 10 finger system. Because of arthritis, I can only use the “two finger hunt and peck” method on my iPad.
Now, even that is making things painful. In the past, I’ve had 5 surgeries on my hands.
Of course I can always use voice recording, but I spend more time correcting mistakes than anything.
If anyone has any tips I would appreciate them.
Replies to "I see this is an old post, but I have a question about arthritis in my..."
Hi there! The organization where I work did an ergonomic assessment. I now have a vertical mouse and a tented keyboard which helps with all of the typing that I do.
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I'm not sure if it is overuse, and allergy flare or just getting older, but I am dealing with this same issue. I have also had a number of surgeries on my hands and wrists, and finding it very hard to garden, watercolor, put in earrings...
To make matters worse, I cannot use most NSAID medications.
The things I am currently trying, and I cannot tell which are helping, are:
Daily hand flexibility exercises (from a hand therapist after one surgery)
Compression gloves
Hand/wrist braces for all physical activities - some are flexible neoprene, the ones for heavy activity are custom-made hard braces that I wear over compression gloves to protect my wrists and thumbs from further stress
Voltaren topical gel to relieve the pain. I massage it in 4 times a day. 1% is available over-the-counter. I have prescription strength (2% or 3%?)
My FAVORITE! A paraffin hand spa - I use it once or twice a day, putting mitts over the plastic bags to hold the heat in linger.
Seeing the rheumatologist next month to see if there is more I can do.