Tips wanted for daily activities with weak or painful hands, wrists

For what it's worth, fiber-workers (knitters, spinners, weavers) in Australia massage emu oil into their hands as an anti-inflammatory. A friend was scheduled for hand surgery that got postponed during lockdown. I sent him a bottle of food-grade emu oil which he massaged twice daily for three weeks and the 'arthritic calcification' and pain disappeared. The hand surgeon had no explanation but the lump has not returned in the two years since. And surgery and post-surgical healing were avoided.

@colleenyoung, @mztrai, and all...I like all the suggestions you're getting, but I've pretty much been through all those and had to move on. The rubber grips have been around forever and I've used them forever. I don't find them much help anymore since now I don't have the strength or ability to grip the rubber grip around the jar I'm opening. You still have to be able to grasp and hold and turn and have some strength. Mine is gone.

I can't bend my fingers into a grip mode. My wrists are now painful and weak. My shoulders, which are needed for this movement, are now not much help.

I love having a box cutter handy for opening cardboard boxes. I've been using a kitchen knife, a very large one with a very large handle...I need a larger handle for everything I use. I've gotten those at Target, Walmart, grocery stores, and such, all available for whatever in the kitchen. I can't use open scissors anymore 'cause they hurt to hold. In fact, I can't use scissors at all since my finger joints are so enlarged and disfigured they don't fit in the scissors. You can find larger hole scissor handles, but still, have trouble with using them due to joint pain for that movement.

I'm getting a couple of box cutters. One for upstairs, one downstairs in the kitchen, and one in the den. That will help. Thanks, @johnbishop.

@collenyoung, I ck'd the amazon link with the older person openers. They look pretty good and are given softening pads that help lessen the pain. I am currently using an all-sized opener helper. It's like scissors in shape, but had enlarged and padded handles and the one-piece had multiple sizes of tops to open, so just fit it to the top and rotate. It really works. Getting heavy for me now, it's metal. I may get the ones you mentioned, or look online for something like I have and in lighter material.

The toughest thing for me to open....batteries, or everything that comes in a plastic top sealed to the cardboard bottom. I work hard to open that package. And, kitty litter is the worst! First, it's heavy...the light ones aren't as good. If I can get the box upstairs, I use a knife to cut the perforated areas to open the spout. It works but is hard. Box cutter will be better! Thanks, John.

That's all. I also use longer and larger handles, rubber or softened, on everything I use. There are good things made for us now. It's been a long time coming. I'm glad I'm still alive to use the 'help'.

Blessings to all...elizabeth

Under Cabinet Jar Lid & Bottle Opener
google it and see if it works for you.
I have been using it and does work well for me.

This sounds fantastic! Is there a specific brand? Thank you for sharing.

A friend's been using email oil for years to reduce leg pain and swelling. The company he used to order from closed when the owner retired but she referred him to Clearly Emu as they had her strict standards for emus fed organic diet and producing cold-pressed oil food-grade oil. I have no affiliation with them and there might be other quality-assured sellers, especially in Australia and New Zealand but the Clearly Emu's Triple-Refined and AEA Certified has a website. If I can help with more info, please message me and I'd be happy to try. I will add that a Chinese physician we know now uses the oil too, after seeing good results in 'moving chi' in patients. I've seen it do some pretty amazing stuff but that's just anecdotal. It's not risky or expensive to try at least.

I understand and feel what you share! I am only 51 and have so many things that I would think the doctors would figure out 1 name for all my issues but they don't and disability, HA a joke! All I can say is keep doing what you are doing as I have not figured out your question either. I am told to grin and bear it I guess and would I like to bare it to people who tell us that! Sorry for your hardships due to body breakdown not aging cuz I am young still and have all this crap with no reasons. Of course most if not all of our health issues we suffer with have no definitive tests or cures so we are at the mercy of it on all aspects! I can only support with my understanding of how it feels emotionally, physically and mentally!

@gingerw, @callalloo, and all...I will order some emu oil tomorrow and let you know how it works. I use marujuana cream, 1:1,THC:CBD on my legs, feet, hands and any other pain at times. It's a bit costly, so don't use it always. But, also try frankincense and myrrh? cream that helps. I find overuse is a problem and may cause stiffness and pain for days. So, once again I work for balance. Small amounts of use at a time. Darn it!
That includes exercises, even in the warm pool. Take it easy. Do what helps. Don't do too much but something...
Just as with my entire body, I find rest is my best friend.
Be well everyone. Be balanced. Be blessed. Elizabeth