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Tips wanted for daily activities with weak or painful hands, wrists
Aging Well | Last Active: May 3, 2023 | Replies (52)Comment receiving replies
I have bad arthritis in my hands and wrists as well as weakness. I put on thick gloves when I vacuum. I use platex gloves when I do dishes or empty the dishwasher. Instead of picking up 2 plates pick up one. Do you have someone to help you with
lifting heavy bowls and such? Lastly, just resting my hands helps a lot. I use CBD organic cream (800 mg $30) on my hands. It’s like a lotion with a lavender smell. I rotate with Volatran. It’s a struggle and I feel for you!
Replies to "I have bad arthritis in my hands and wrists as well as weakness. I put on..."
I've suffered for years with painful arthritis in my hands, keeps me from sleeping. All the creams, lotions, etc. that used to work stopped working.
Out of desperation, I decided there had to be something else to try. Have now had three acupuncture treatments. Got minor relief after the first treatment but the second treatment brought amazing relief. I am now sleeping at night. Amazing difference. I plan to complete the recommended four treatments.
I hope it works for others as well. One of my daughters is starting treatment next week after seeing how much it helped me.
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Maybe I can offer another option? You said, "...Lastly, just resting my hands helps a lot..."
I too have very painful hands and wrists - bad arthritis, several surgeries and chronic pain. But... if I just sit and rest them, I get very frustrated - so much to do, so much I want to do, and really sitting makes everything else hurt more.
So I do this:
Manage my day - 2 hours of "heavy hand use" - gardening, moving & packing, ironing - usually broken into 20-30 minute blocks
2 hours of keyboard time at a properly positioned keyboard, in a proper chair
2 hours of medium hand use - cutting fabrics, doing cooking or dishes, laundry
2 hours of light use like hand sewing or assembling artwork.
20-30 minutes of hand stretches and exercises (part of my daily routine)
I use 2 kinds of compression gloves for various activities, one up to my knuckles & above the wrist, the other with full finger coverage & up forearm.
I add soft neoprene hand braces for some work, hard braces for heavy work.
Sometimes I use kinesiology tape for support & pain relief.
Often I wear work gloves over these to keep things clean. - I choose them to fit tightly to add additional support.
So how do my hands feel? They hurt - but if I am fully engaged, I can ignore the pain a lot. When my hands ache worst, I use Voltaren cream on them, or massages, or hot paraffin, or alternate hot & ice baths.
All this goes back to watching my arthritic Mom & Aunt, who taught me to "use it or lose it" and my Dad whose motto was "it is better to wear out than seize up" - which is exactly what happens to all my joints when I sit too much!
SO tonight, after gardening, packing and cleaning, my agenda is one more hour on the computer and two sets of stretches.
sue