Stores nearby that sell equipment for disabled people (some drugstores also may have them) sell extenders for the toilet tissue. My sister has your problem.
Roe said:
Ok, I have to ask this, what about in the bathroom? I'm right handed so have always used my right hand to, well, you get the drift, but when the bones in my fingers hurt like they are breaking, I cant do it.
Thoughts? Please dont say use my left hand, I cant seem to use it very well in that way...lol.
Roe, I can tolerate the hands pain better with biologics. If your Rheumy does not give you a med that helps, (notice I say help because the pain is always there except that the meds help me tolerate the pain) ask your PCP Primary Care Physician if they can give you an opiate (prescription pain killers) until you can get a med that works. Trust me, I have cried the loss of the use of my hands until there were no tears left. As good as my Rheumy is, I believe they become so used to seeing people in pain that they detach. They know how this monster will attack and how devastating it can be. When I complain, he looks like he feels for me but there is only so much that he can do.
I know how it feels to half lift my hands in pain wishing there was something I could do to help them. Although I have opiates at home, I am banned to use them because of my liver. On those days, after I try all the safe methods I know, If it doesn't help, I do get a hold of a milder opiate to aliviate the pain. Just one pill. My uncle is an Internal Medicine Dr. and he says that without pain, people live longer.
Remember that pain is a brain function. The more we think about the pain, the more it hurts. I try to keep my mind busy to lessen the pain. My family knows that if they see me playing games in the computer, my level of pain is so intense there are no words. Getting my concentration on a game gets my focus away from the pain. I also kind of "hipnotize" myself saying, "I'm fine, I feel good, I feel wonderful, I feel great". I tell myself how I should feel. NEVER tell yourself it doesn't hurt. It takes time for the brain to process the word NO. Therefore, your brain heard, "it does hurt". (From the book, Teaching with the brain in mind) Hey, I have brainwashed many children to convince them that they were good and they changed their behavior. I can also fool my brain!
I also like to be alone when I am hurting to try my "remedies" and not look like an idiot to whom ever is near. At this moment, I am only allowed to use Voltaren gel--no opiate pills. But maybe you can. (My glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides were the liver culprits, not the opiates)
I sent out for the IMAX gloves. Tell you when I get them and use them.
I wondered about this topic as David’s fingers on one hand are always hot and one is swollen all the time. He says its just something he has to deal with as he is already on all the meds that can help. He is able to bend them less and less lately so if a paraffin wax machine may help, then he may be getting an additional Christmas present 
If he's not diabetic, go for it.
I make a living with my hands too.. as a web developer. When I started on MTX about four months ago, my conditions gradually got worse as well, but I'm sure it was not the fault of the drug, it was the advancement of the disease.
Before I started my enbrel treatments, my hands would get so bad during the night, that I could barely dress myself in the morning.. pulling on socks, pulling zippers, buttoning buttons, were all extremely difficult.. I usually started each day with a hot bath to help loosen up the joints, but the thing that helped me the most I think was Diclofenac, (which is the active ingredient in Voltaren gel). It's an NSAID like Ibubrofin, and it's prescription med, but whenever I stopped taking it, my hands were at their worst.. when I was taking it regularly, then it was mostly tolerable. And it's much less toxic to your body then steroids..
You may likely need to move on to a biologic, which for many of us, seems to work well.. although no guarantees.. in the mean time, try some of the above suggestions, and see if your dr will prescribe Voltaren gel, or Diclofinec to help with the inflammation.
To avoid buttoning, use golf shirts that are less torturing. I use my fingernails to button, if I have to.
I tried the Imak gloves. They did not help, but made my hands hurt more. Gave them to my sister that has RA and seems to help her. I guess it's like the meds--not everything works for everyone. This only means that we are all unique--different remedies for different folks.
Imak gloves are not made for people who have real swollen hands or fingers. They are for people who have normal size hands but have little pain.
Imak gloves are simply compression gloves and while some folks may not like the sensation of compression no doubt, or may not get any benefit, but they do actually give some relief to others - I know they work well on my real swollen hands and fingers…
not saying the gloves are a panacea, but I was responding to the post that said they were not created for people with swollen hands or fingers and ONLY work for people without swelling.. I find that there are just to many posts around here that emphatically state one point or another, just because something didn't work for the individual writing.. I too have very swollen and stiff fingers, so much so that at their worst, they feel broken if I accidentally bump them on something and when I wear the gloves, I do feel a small bit of relief (it's weird, but they actually have almost a cooling effect for me) and every little bit can help.. however small or brief
but glad your getting relief from the pred..
You are talking about me and my post. I was just stating a fact that I got from my PT/OT. I have had swollen hands so much over the summer that I could not drive. I hurt to the point that I could hardly groom myself. I have been there and hope I never go back to that much pain again. I have not used the gloves. I use only the medicines that have been prescribed and my exercises that I have been taught from the PT.
robd0gg said:
not saying the gloves are a panacea, but I was responding to the post that said they were not created for people with swollen hands or fingers and ONLY work for people without swelling.. I find that there are just to many posts around here that emphatically state one point or another, just because something didn't work for the individual writing.. I too have very swollen and stiff fingers, so much so that at their worst, they feel broken if I accidentally bump them on something and when I wear the gloves, I do feel a small bit of relief (it's weird, but they actually have almost a cooling effect for me) and every little bit can help.. however small or brief
but glad your getting relief from the pred..
If you've never used the gloves why are you telling others they don't work and are not for people with painful swollen hands?
Rebel mom said:
You are talking about me and my post. I was just stating a fact that I got from my PT/OT. I have had swollen hands so much over the summer that I could not drive. I hurt to the point that I could hardly groom myself. I have been there and hope I never go back to that much pain again. I have not used the gloves. I use only the medicines that have been prescribed and my exercises that I have been taught from the PT.
Roe, how many mgs of Prednisone are you on?
I noticed that the more of the swelling, the less effective the gloves were on my hands. It put pressure on my swelling and that was VERY painful. It added pain to my pain. Yet, it helps my sister's hands tremendously. So, not every remedy fits everyone. I do like to try it out, in case it does.
My right thumb is my worst "sausage". I noticed the glove did not cover the joint. PsA, as well as RA can be easily diagnosed by sight as when a person extends the hands, the wrists turn outwards. (A Dr. at a hospital said that before these new tests were available, Drs. had to diagnose by sight). As my wrists turned outwards, my pinky fingers disappeared inside the gloves. I had to keep stretching the gloves in to see the pinky.
The washing instructions called out for handwashing. Ouch! That is going to hurt!
I don't hand wash mine as it would be too painful. I put them in one of those bags for delicates. I then remove them and air dry. I wouldn't want to undo all the good my gloves do by wringing them out!
You’re right there Michael, the major DON’T I was given by my OT hand therapist was not to wring anything out as this was the number one stress for hands!
Being funny, yours is a dangerous situation, as your middle finger refuses to close when you make a fist. Since my r thumb more than doubled its size, I find it extremely difficult and almost impossible to grab and hold. Both my pinkies are deformed and stiff, and there is only one finger-the r ring finger- that has the strength to hold an eating utensil. But I still manage to live by myself, drive, cook sometimes, and do most of my housework at my pace. Doing dishes is quite hard, so I do it once a day at night, but I am glad that I am able to do it. Pain? Heck, yeah! But the satisfaction of an accomplished task gives me the unimaginable pleasure my brain needs to keep going.
I use the palm of my hands a lot, and two hands to grab. I am always looking and finding new ways to do what I need to do. The last thing I want to give away is my independence. As subborn as I am, I refuse to give up.
Just keep talking. We understand and we are here.
I take 5mg of Prednisone, but I also take Enbrel and Arava, besides Voltaren Gel as needed. Do you take any biologicals along with the Mxt?
On a September morning of 2005 I woke up with my right hand fingers stiff. Went from dr. to dr. and no one seemed to know what was wrong. Methylprednisolone was the only thing that seemed to help, so my dr. gave me a lot of it, up to 32mg a day for a while. When that wasn't enough, he put me on mxt slowly increasing the dose until I was injecting. This did not help either because I was not able to fill the syringe. (I remember trying to inject with a bent needle) My hands have deteriorated fast. I guess it attacks different people in different ways, as I read here that some people have had it for decades.
Not only has it attacked my joints, but it has been attacking my vital organs: heart, lungs, and now liver. The biologics have given me Lupus-Like Syndrome. Yet, all-in-all, it has not taken my happiness away. "Where there is a will there is a way." And I am strong-willed.
You seemed to be in the stage of mourning the life you had before the illness. It is normal, it is productive, and we need to go through it. I've been there, and I was terrified and anguished. Now, I am in the stage of acceptance and dealing with the changes it brings (adapting). Surround yourself with positive people that will help you see life from a different perspective. Everyone must battle their own personal battles, and ours has a name. Have faith that everything will get better some day. Some of the people in the support group have gotten into remision. Maybe you'll get there too. Maybe I'll get there, too. God is good.
Roe, I'm glad that you're starting a biologic. They can work incredibly well. For now, be hopeful an pray for the best.
Glad you started a biologic Roe. I hope that things improve soon!
I was unable to get another dog when mine passed away 3 years ago, as I couldn't do the physical things that needed doing. I really miss having a dog. I have 2 cats though, and they keep me entertained but have low upkeep. They sleep near my feet / legs, and when I feel terrible, one of them will curl up between my arm and body, rest her chin on my shoulder, and purr like crazy. I also have some bunnies that are quiet, but soft and relaxing to watch and pet. Could you get another type of pet that would be soothing, but without the daily upkeep? Even something as small as a gerbil can enrich your life immensely.
Biologics can slow the disease and let you enjoy "normal" a liitle longer, but it has side effects. Everything does. I myself am willing to oversee the risks for a better today. They also dim the pain.
There are "working dogs" trained to assist people instead of being a burden. It's an alternative.
Praying it get better for you.