How to cope with arthritis in wrist and hands

A lot seems to depend on how I sleep. If I sleep in a bad position my knee or my hands will be painful when I wake up. When I put ibuprofen or Voltarol on my knee I rub a bit on my thumb joints but have to be careful not to stroke the dog while it’s still on or let her lick me. The hand exercises that the hand clinic told me to do help; I just have to keep remembering to do them.

I have the gloves that Maybee suggested which I usually wear at night.
I find the best thing for my hands is to pace myself so only garden for an hour or two. Too much gardening will make back, knees and shoulders painful for a couple of days as well as hands. Little and often is the answer.

On the advice of a young friend I,ve been taking a tablespoonful of Greek first press extra virgin olive oil daily and just two weeks in I,m pleased with the results.My arthritis was caused by a broken wrist ,two breaks but only one seen on x ray and treated.I,ve had issues with it for over 20 years.I,m using a brand called NOVEMBER and cost around 28 pounds a 500ml bottle I have always used homeopathy in the past so was happy to give this a try.My sceptical Oh has used it for stiff hand joints and agrees there’s some relief

Homeopathic ingredients - Rhus Tox and Ruta.

Thanks for all the tips, I will try the gloves. What are the ingredients of the Ruta cream?

My pleasure Aldom

Thank you so much Sparklefizz. Much appreciated.

Are you able to take turmeric capsules?
Anti-inflammatory... but please check with the pharmacy first.

I didn't find Ruta cream helped at all and have gone back to using 10% Ibruprofen gel.

Mizuna the gloves I use are not hot. They are fingerless and silky. I have no idea how the work, but they do.
They were given to me by the OT.

Aldom

Sparklefizz I have used the Rhus Tox and Ruta Cream from Helios, but in the tubes. I've searched the website for 500 gram jars without success.
Please could you let me know how you order yours. Thanks in advance.

They don't advertise it but a therapist friend told me to phone them and ask for it, and they didn't query it at all. It's in a 500g. plastic tub and is a much cheaper way of buying it, especially for someone like me who applies it in more than one place.

I ring their London number.

I used a compression glove on one wrist/hand when I went back to swimming after breaking my wrist last year. I still had to be careful, especially doing backstroke, but I think the compression helped while my wrist built up strength again.

Sparklefizz I have used the Rhus Tox and Ruta Cream from Helios, but in the tubes. I've searched the website for 500 gram jars without success.
Please could you let me know how you order yours. Thanks in advance.

I have ra in my hands, I find I can only use them for short periods at a time. Then rest etc, I do take methotrexate, it does help , but makes me feel sick for a few days

I use Rhus Tox & Ruta Cream by Helios, which I use on my lower back, hips, knees, ankles, hands and wrists. I buy it by the 500gm. tub direct from Helios. It's wonderful stuff and I've been keeping pain at bay since 2014.

Are the gloves hot Marydoll?

I a have RA and my hands and writs are permanly swollen and painful. I used to have wax baths administered by a physio. It was so soothing.
I have seen them on Amazon.

A heat bag also helps.

I also wear gloves.
Arthritis Gloves

I was just going to suggest paraffin wax baths. An elderly relative used to do this and gained relief from it. I don't know where you could get this equipment though. Maybe it's just too old fashioned?

Someone recommended paraffin wax baths when I attended a course on dealing with arthritis at the hospital.

I’ve no personal experience but a friend swears by her compression gloves. She also finds warmth relieves her pain. There’s a lot of information about gardening with arthritis on the Versus Arthritis website.

I wear these which I bought from Boots. Also padded cycling type gloves (although I did ruin a pair by wearing them for gardening: they aren’t really tough enough for that). Can you not use topical anti inflammatories either? I rub Voltarol or ibuprofen on my thumb joint at night. I find stiff wrist guards make the joint even more sore.

Have you tried a wrist guard, I can't work with one but its worth a try.