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Date: 14.03.2012
From: Paula

Subject: Splints.

Hi Guys,
Hope you are all hanging in there, have a question, wondered how many of you are wearing splints especially if you have RA? Am having huge problems with my hands and wrists, and everytime I use my hands They just flare and swell up even more and the pain. The stiffness lately has been bad it feels as though I have liquid concentre in my hands, and at times I cannot move them at all. I am on mtx and i am due to see the rhumy on 5th April. I saw the GP yesterday, and she wondered if i needed a short term course of steroids to help but will not prescribe them as she thinks it is for the rhumy to do.Sorry to rant, I just do not know what to do and i can't touch my hands, it is getting to the point where i will get someone to take me to the garage and take my hands off. Any advice would be appreciated, hang on in there all of you.x
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Date: 14.03.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Splints.

Hi Paula, It it horrible when your hands are like that, i have had r/a for over 11 years and my hands have not been too bad until recently but now in the mornings i can't open them out, as i am typing this they are so stiff. I have splints that i wear when they hurt and also when my wrists are sore. Some people say that paraffin wax helps. If you have not been on mtrx for too long then they can take a while to work, when i was prescribed them i had to get plaquenil added in and they made a difference, you could always phone the hospital and see if they would ok it with the doctor to allow you to have small dose of steroid. hope you feel better soon. x
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Date: 14.03.2012
From: Paula

Subject: Re: Splints.

Thanks Rhona, appreciate your reply, they were going to add plaquenil to mtx, but could not because of some of the other meds i am on does not work well with plaquenil. have noticed the damage is spreading to some of the other fingers, and when i typed my earlier post, the fingers were not playing much ball, have left a message for the rumy, see what happends. Take it easy Rhona, x
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Date: 14.03.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Splints.

Yes you have to be careful with the interactions of some tablets Paula. I started enbrel 10 weeks ago and until then my hands were not too bad but today they have been really bad, i can hardly open them so i know where you are coming from. I also take 20mg mtrx and suphasal and plaqueil and low dose steroid. i think when i go to the Rheumy in april they will have to change the drugs, I hope they call you back and sort something out for you, take care. xx
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Date: 14.03.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Splints.

By the way Paula, even when your fingers look damaged sometimes when the drugs are effective it sorts that out and they can look normal again. x
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Date: 14.03.2012
From: Val

Subject: Re: Splints.

Really feel for you Paula as my hands, wrists and feet are the areas I am mainly affected. I have splints and also soft support gloves that I wear at night. These help with the swelling. I am also on mtx, 2omg, and have very recently been reduced from 25mg and taken off naproxen as bad reactions. Through physio I had 6 weeks of hot wax treatment and found this helped. I have now bought a small one myself so can use it whenever I need. Argos sold them but they are not in recent catalogue although someone said they saw they on the Tesco website. Mine was £29.99 and glad I bought it. I also try immersing my hands in hot then cold water recommended by the OT. Are you seeing a physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist? I have found them a great help and they have informed me of so much about RA. If you aren't seeing them ask your consultant.I don't know if you are like me but I find that the wet weather makes them more painful than cold weather. I also use a computer programme called Dragon Naturally speaking which enables me to work without having to type a lot. I speak into a headset and it automatically types it for me.A brilliant little thing.Keep going though and I really hope things improve to some degree for you soon.
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Date: 14.03.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Splints.

I must try immersing my hands in hot and cold water, it does make sense. Could i ask you where you got the soft suppport gloves Val. I agree the dampness doesn't help.
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Date: 15.03.2012
From: Val

Subject: Re: Splints.

Hi Rhona,

The soft support gloves came from the OT at the hosp. as well as the splints. Let me know how things go and if you find anything that helps.
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Date: 15.03.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Splints.

Thank Val, i will do, take care. Hope you feeling a bit better Paula x
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Date: 15.03.2012
From: Paula

Subject: Re: Splints.

Hi guys,
thanks for your replies val and rhona, I have not been seen by ot or by a physio, i have only had 2 appts at the hosp since being diagnosed in January, and the stuff i have found out has been thru here and other places, i was diagnosed given the meds, and it has been get on with it, probably a lot of people in the same boat, no support in dealing with the diagnosis or anything realy, My first appt was so rushed, i was pushed a leafet about RA accross the desk, with two leafles about the meds and that was it, you guys have given me a lot of help since i have found this awesome dite, it has been all of you that have helped me through the last few months. Thanks guys, and hang in there rhona and val, thanks for your replies. x Ps no news from the rhumy yet, wait and see I guess.
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Date: 15.03.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Splints.

Hi Paula, I do think there should be more support for us as it can be very hard coming to terms with it all and i agree this site has been great to talk to people that understand. In Scotland we can refer ourselves to the physio i don't know if you can do that or not where you are, i have also been onto the OT but waiting on them getting back to me. I hope your hands are a bit better today, take care xx
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Date: 16.03.2012
From: Paula

Subject: Re: Splints.

Hi Rhona, thanks for your reply, no we can't refer ourselves to physio, the dr has to do it, hope you hanging in there, take it eassy. x
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