I have finally given in and made a trip to the drug store in quest of some supports for my arthritic thumbs. The knowledgeable lady there sent me home with two different types....a pair of fingerless lightweight, yet supportive, gloves for stitching with and a pair of heavier supports for nighttime wear. I think, despite the weight of the night versions, that they are helping because I've gotten through a couple nights of not being awakened by the pain in my thumbs. These are what I came home with...
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BTW - do any of you have any experience with copper bracelets? I've read that they're good for arthritis, but I don't want to invest in any if they aren't helpful.
- I don't know if any of you will want to try THIS, but I thought the process (and end result) were interesting. While you're there, click on her 'tutorials' and have a look at some other great ideas.
- Rhubarb is in season right now, so perhaps THIS might be a good use for some.
- THIS looks like a really nice little sweater for summer.
- THESE would be cute to make for summer and a great scrap-buster too.
- And I love THESE (there's a link there to take you to the PDF pattern).
I hope the gloves help. I've heard various verdicts on copper, from helpful to not helpful. It may depend on body chemistry interaction. Funny note: I used to have a beautiful handcrafted bracelet in three metals, an artwork. A friend said oh, is that a medical thing for arthritis?? Well, noooo..
ReplyDeleteSo far the jury is out on the fingerless gloves but I think the heavier-duty ones seem to help at night. At least I haven't been awakened with my hands paining since I got them. You are likely correct in thinking body chemistry might have something to do with the copper being helpful.
DeleteGloves! I have a pair of the fingerless copper threads. A friend recommended them as she has good results wearing them. They do feel comfy to wear.
ReplyDeleteMay
The gloves I got have copper in them - or say they do. I haven't really had enough time to give them a good trial to see if they help but I'm hopeful.
DeleteI've worn a pair of fingerless gloves (with copper) much like yours for knitting, and if nothing else they made me conscious of how I was using my hands, which was good. They were not as compressing as others I'd tried on (and found too restrictive), and I was able to knit quite easily. They must have helped because I kept wearing them. Then I discovered I could wear them inside my leather barn gloves in cold weather, and LOVED them for that. I was also "given" a pair of rigid thumb stabilizers by a hand surgeon, but they were so uncomfortable I only wore them when in unrelenting pain, for short periods of time. I'm so glad the ones you've got are comfortable enough to sleep in, and are giving you some relief!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried these gloves with knitting yet, but this afternoon I'm hand stitching with them and they seem okay. I know I wouldn't be able to use the thumb stabilizer ones for any sort of needlework but they are working to keep my hands in a more comfortable position when I sleep. Time will tell!
DeleteI need some support on my middle finger on my right hand. While it isn't really arthritic, it locks up on me quite often now, which is a real pain. Love the strawberry coasters!!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I know all about fingers locking up - my thumbs do it all the time. I've learned not to hold a cup of hot liquid with only one hand, just in case.
DeleteI haven't tried the copper ones--but when my thumbs get really bad I wear my "Comfort Cool" brand braces...
ReplyDeleteI don't use the hard plastic stabilizers as for me, they hurt...I also use them for driving--great on the steering wheel and
cutting...it is really difficult to find a comfortable position while sleeping I think...
Hope they work out for you and you get some relief...hugs, julierose
I am finding (albeit it's a limited timeframe yet) that keeping my hands supported when I'm sleeping is a good thing. At least they're not waking me up half a dozen times.
Deleteno experience here to relate, so i'm no help at all ... the only thing i know about copper is it left a green stain on my fingers from a copper ring a looooong time ago...
ReplyDeleteYes, copper will stain me too, along with silver.
DeleteGlad you found gloves that are helping - and how nice to get a better sleep because of that. I asked my brother about the copper bracelets a long time ago as I remembered people I knew swearing by them. He's a Pharmacist, and he says they do nothing whatsoever which is why they're in the jewellery department and not in the Pharmacy. I hope things continue to improve for you. I have learned through various credible resources that an anti-inflammatory diet can help with arthritis and have noticed a big difference when I reduce the amount the gluten in my diet. I'm not gluten-free, but limit it and it's helped.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jillayne! Good information to know. I wondered about the bracelets because, like you, I've heard of people that think they're great. I don't think I'll invest in any and will stick with what our pharmacy suggested. Interesting about reducing gluten - I'll look into that further, thank you.
DeleteSherryofcreateology: I like Jillayne’s info on the copper bracelets. I have similar to what you got at your pharmacy and mine help me. May your pain be reduced to almost gone so you have relief. What would we do if we could no longer create?!!
ReplyDeleteI know - I can't imagine what my life would be like if I couldn't create. I refuse to give in and so hopefully these 'aids' will help in the long term.
DeleteYou have my sympathies, friend. I'll be interested in reading your results wearing the gloves. I've been noticing some of my fingers stiffen up from time to time, and I know it's arthritis. Since my thumb surgery a few years ago, I will say my hands don't ache like they did before I had surgery on the worst thumb. It sounds like your pain is slightly different from my situation, though. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to avoid surgery if I can, although I suspect it could very well be on the table in the future. I can't say that my thumbs ache overly much but they are painful and often will lock up (sharp pain then!) and I will drop whatever I'm holding. Makes drinking a cup of coffee a two-hand job, just in case.
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