Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 About the thumbs . . . I have every gadget imaginable to open things but as my thumb joints come further apart I've been told of the tendon transplant option for the future . . . I just say I'm goona have bionic thumbs! Hee hee My boyfriend says he can't wait to hear that sound when I do things . . . gotta love him! Glad your worked out for you. : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Stan, I'm speaking as a certified massage therapist, not an MD. :-) The rule of thumb (pun intended) is if there is inflammation present, use ice not heat. However, since RA is CHRONIC inflammation condition, if heat feels good I say use heat. I use heat. I have a paraffin bath and I put Biofreeze on my hands after work and dip them in the nice hot paraffin. Ahhhh. Bliss. G. Tennessee, also wet and gray these days One of the things I have discovered quite accidently living in Seattle, which is terribly cold, but when the temprature falls to around fifty degrees I wear gloves when I go out. Keeping my hands warm or at least not letting them get really cold seems to help throughout the day. Now I've been told from more than one source that heat and RA are not good and to avoid it. Well, I don't avoid it, I use it and it seems to help and it feels good. I also use an ice pack on occassion when I'm having and acute episode and it seems to help but it doesn't feel good. Like you, I have issues with my thumbs and fore fingers so just last week I specifically asked my Rheumatologist what to do about it. She said to ignore it, it will go away! I think every Reumatologist should have RA for day, not the bad stuff, just the daily crap we have to put up with every day. Attitudes would change! Stan Seattle, Gray and Wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Oh, that's too cute... Just ignore it and it will go away... She must be from another planet. Well, on one hand if its a flare of your RA, it should go away eventually. In the meantime though you need to do something so the pain/damage doesn't get worse. There are thumb braces for thumbs, if you ask for a brace for de Quervain's tendonitis, those will help. de Quervain's is tendonitis of the thumb. Those braces will hold the thumb in a neutral position and realy help with the pain. The moldable braces already discussed are probably a version of these, a phyiscal therapist can make a pair for you. I find that ice helps more than heat on my hands, sometimes I alternate ice and heat. Ice gets the swelling down, heat helps with the pain. Depending on how long you have had the pain there are also two other options. A steriod shot into the tendon sheath or joint, or surgery to clean up the area. I am feeling you pain right now, my de quervains is acting up. I see my Rheumy next week and get my Remicade too. I'll keep my remaining fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 I like that, a neutral position. I think many of us spend a great deal of time during the seeking that neutral position with or without braces. When you're having a flare that neutral position is a primary interest and when you're sleeping that neutral position is paramount. When I'm having a bad day and I finally find that neutral position it's wonderful, except the giant blue cloud looming overhead representing the fact that eventually I am going to have to move again and my sweet pain-free neutral position will be lost for all time. There should be a Neutral Position Index by god! We can't live like turtles, we have things to do. I've often thought as I sit there in a neutral position that Rheumatoid Arthritis would be a piece of cake if I never had to move a muscle again (is there a way to do that?). And I have replied to people who have asked what Rheumatoid Arthritis is like, " it's great if you don't have to move. " And it just occurred to me that a neutral position would be of great benefit to many areas of the world right now. We're on to something! Stan, Seattle, Gray and Grayer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Eeeeeeeech! You touch people! And I had to look up what a hot paraffin was, god I hate learning new things. Being a veteran of lower back pain I reluctantly learned the benefits of ice packs and 'till this day have a difficult time convincing people to try it, just once, knowing the results and benefits can be enormous. Actually, now that I think about it, it was someone like you with your skills that first forced me to try it. Now I always have a couple of ice packs in the freezer on the stand by. So I am going to look into Biofreeze and perhaps try it, but something in the back of my mind tells me I'm gonna hate it! Having a certified massage therapist here is what makes this Group great. But more importantly, it counter balances having people like me here! Stan, Seattle, Gray and Grayer -------------- Original message -------------- From: " ldydewinter " <ldydewinter@...> Stan, I'm speaking as a certified massage therapist, not an MD. :-) The rule of thumb (pun intended) is if there is inflammation present, use ice not heat. However, since RA is CHRONIC inflammation condition, if heat feels good I say use heat. I use heat. I have a paraffin bath and I put Biofreeze on my hands after work and dip them in the nice hot paraffin. Ahhhh. Bliss. G. Tennessee, also wet and gray these days One of the things I have discovered quite accidently living in Seattle, which is terribly cold, but when the temprature falls to around fifty degrees I wear gloves when I go out. Keeping my hands warm or at least not letting them get really cold seems to help throughout the day. Now I've been told from more than one source that heat and RA are not good and to avoid it. Well, I don't avoid it, I use it and it seems to help and it feels good. I also use an ice pack on occassion when I'm having and acute episode and it seems to help but it doesn't feel good. Like you, I have issues with my thumbs and fore fingers so just last week I specifically asked my Rheumatologist what to do about it. She said to ignore it, it will go away! I think every Reumatologist should have RA for day, not the bad stuff, just the daily crap we have to put up with every day. Attitudes would change! Stan Seattle, Gray and Wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Biofreeze is awesome......you are in for a treat.. Raniolo From: stanpfister@... <stanpfister@...> Subject: RE: [ ] thumbs Date: Monday, January 12, 2009, 4:07 PM Eeeeeeeech! You touch people! And I had to look up what a hot paraffin was, god I hate learning new things. Being a veteran of lower back pain I reluctantly learned the benefits of ice packs and 'till this day have a difficult time convincing people to try it, just once, knowing the results and benefits can be enormous. Actually, now that I think about it, it was someone like you with your skills that first forced me to try it. Now I always have a couple of ice packs in the freezer on the stand by. So I am going to look into Biofreeze and perhaps try it, but something in the back of my mind tells me I'm gonna hate it! Having a certified massage therapist here is what makes this Group great. But more importantly, it counter balances having people like me here! Stan, Seattle, Gray and Grayer ------------ -- Original message ------------ -- From: " ldydewinter " <ldydewinter@ comcast.net> Stan, I'm speaking as a certified massage therapist, not an MD. :-) The rule of thumb (pun intended) is if there is inflammation present, use ice not heat. However, since RA is CHRONIC inflammation condition, if heat feels good I say use heat. I use heat. I have a paraffin bath and I put Biofreeze on my hands after work and dip them in the nice hot paraffin. Ahhhh. Bliss. G. Tennessee, also wet and gray these days One of the things I have discovered quite accidently living in Seattle, which is terribly cold, but when the temprature falls to around fifty degrees I wear gloves when I go out. Keeping my hands warm or at least not letting them get really cold seems to help throughout the day. Now I've been told from more than one source that heat and RA are not good and to avoid it. Well, I don't avoid it, I use it and it seems to help and it feels good. I also use an ice pack on occassion when I'm having and acute episode and it seems to help but it doesn't feel good. Like you, I have issues with my thumbs and fore fingers so just last week I specifically asked my Rheumatologist what to do about it. She said to ignore it, it will go away! I think every Reumatologist should have RA for day, not the bad stuff, just the daily crap we have to put up with every day. Attitudes would change! Stan Seattle, Gray and Wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Well now I am really going to have to try it! Thanks. Stan Seattle, Dark --------- RE: [ ] thumbs Date: Monday, January 12, 2009, 4:07 PM Eeeeeeeech! You touch people! And I had to look up what a hot paraffin was, god I hate learning new things. Being a veteran of lower back pain I reluctantly learned the benefits of ice packs and 'till this day have a difficult time convincing people to try it, just once, knowing the results and benefits can be enormous. Actually, now that I think about it, it was someone like you with your skills that first forced me to try it. Now I always have a couple of ice packs in the freezer on the stand by. So I am going to look into Biofreeze and perhaps try it, but something in the back of my mind tells me I'm gonna hate it! Having a certified massage therapist here is what makes this Group great. But more importantly, it counter balances having people like me here! Stan, Seattle, Gray and Grayer ------------ -- Original message ------------ -- From: " ldydewinter " <ldydewinter@ comcast.net> Stan, I'm speaking as a certified massage therapist, not an MD. :-) The rule of thumb (pun intended) is if there is inflammation present, use ice not heat. However, since RA is CHRONIC inflammation condition, if heat feels good I say use heat. I use heat. I have a paraffin bath and I put Biofreeze on my hands after work and dip them in the nice hot paraffin. Ahhhh. Bliss. G. Tennessee, also wet and gray these days One of the things I have discovered quite accidently living in Seattle, which is terribly cold, but when the temprature falls to around fifty degrees I wear gloves when I go out. Keeping my hands warm or at least not letting them get really cold seems to help throughout the day. Now I've been told from more than one source that heat and RA are not good and to avoid it. Well, I don't avoid it, I use it and it seems to help and it feels good. I also use an ice pack on occassion when I'm having and acute episode and it seems to help but it doesn't feel good. Like you, I have issues with my thumbs and fore fingers so just last week I specifically asked my Rheumatologist what to do about it. She said to ignore it, it will go away! I think every Reumatologist should have RA for day, not the bad stuff, just the daily crap we have to put up with every day. Attitudes would change! Stan Seattle, Gray and Wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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