Hands....

[Guest guest]

Deborah wrote: Try to protect your hands and never lift anything too heavy or do something that will push your finger joints together. Taking a few days to rest can help. No wringing of dishcloths, no scrubbing in corners with your fingertips. Think about your daily routine and what is aggravating your hands then modify your behavior there accordingly.

Ardeith writes: Also....look at how you pick up a teacup, or pitcher. Are you using one or two fingers UNDER the handle? If so, stop that, immediately! That action contributes to the "drift" sideways of fingers. I use a thermal mug with a big handle that I can slip all my finger into.....it's not pretty, but it works for anything I want to drink....hot or cold. I had a pitcher I kept tea in, in the fridge, and discovered I was lifting it the same way. Fred got me a tea keeper with a little spout at the bottom of one end....I don't have to lift anything now. And Fred refills it as needed. Always try to use your whole hand to lift anything....not your fingers.

And....get the fattest ball point pens you can find to write with....this will save your fingers some cramping. My RA doctor is always getting such pens from the drug companies.....and I ask for everyone I see. I use felt tipped pens for most writing, but my checkbook requres a ballpoint and enough pressure to mark the NCR paper beneath the check. I've also got a big fat calligraphy pen that is so easy to write or draw with....but it takes ink cartridges, and I have a hard time finding a source for them.

I've wrapped my drawing pencils, paint brushes, clay tools, and crochet hooks with masking tape to make a fat lump I can hold without cramping. Have to mark the lump with the size for the crochet hooks. And have to re-wrap my pencils when I need to sharpen them.....but these unsightly lumps on my working tools help me keep on doing the creative things I love. Also, I love doing crossstitch on Aida cloth. It is evenly woven and has little holes I can put the needle through without too much effort. Regular embroidery, pushing a needle through the cloth, gets painful in time.

Don't try to open any sort of packaging with your fingers. Use scissors, or a knife. My Fred wondered why I kept knives everywhere....in my truck, in my purse, in my desk, on my worktable.....that's why. And scissors.....on my sewing table, of course. But also in the kitchen drawer, in the bathroom, on my worktable.....I despise bubble packaging because I can't open it....but scissors cut it quite nicely. And woe unto anyone who picks up my scissors or knife without asking.....and double woe unto anyone who doesn't bring them back! I bought a DVD of "The Goblet of Fire" last week, and I would never have gotten it opened without my trusty knife......

Scissors....I have a big Fiscars fabric shears that I treasure. It is spring loaded so it opens up by itself after I make a cut. I discovered the other type of shears hurt to open to make a cut.

My pharmacist does not put child proof caps on any of my meds.....but OTC stuff comes that way. I get Fred to remove the inner part of the safety cap, so I can get into it for myself. I'm not going to twist my fingers around that way if I can help it.

Good luck,

Ardy