Hands
Things I can hardly do with my RA hands. Open a bottle, large or small, open the tab on a soda, scratch an itch on my shoulders or anywhere. I do it, but it hurts,play the piano, type, do my cross stitch that I love! Cut up vegetables, hold a knife, put my hair up in an elastic, hold a cup of coffee by handle, carry grocery bags on different fingers, anyone want to add to list?
Hi
. Thanks for posting this! Sometimes it can be a great relief to just vent for a bit about stuff like this. I hope you get lots of responses. Thinking of you and wishing you the best. - Lori (Team Member) 
Hello and thank you for posting about your hand strength. My hands started giving away about 2 years before my RA diagnosis. I asked my son for a jar opener for Mother's Day and he had noticed my struggle and took me to a kitchen store and we picked out a jar opener together. I used it very frequently. My hands were weak at that time but the pain didn't start till my diagnosis. I am an artist 🎨 so my hands are important too. Just like your counted cross, my hands bring me joy. I really hope treatment helps your hands feel better. RA is a diagnosis that qualifies us for occupational therapy and they work with our hands. Please update us on your progress. 👋🖐🙌Hi
. Thanks for chiming in here with support. Has treatment helped your hands? Are you able to continue with your art? Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member) thanks for letting me know that we qualify for occupational therapy...makes sense...because we frequently use our hands for so much.
hello and thanks! My hands were much better when I was started on Hydroxychloroquine. That lasted about 2 years but 3 months ago I started having flair again. I started on Methotrexate yesterday along with folic acid and prednisone to kick start the new program. After my second dose of prednisone I feel better all over! 🤣😂🤣😂 Of course.
I still do art daily and love my art time. 🎨 Thank you for asking!Hi, I like to know by taking Methoteraxte continuously has it helped your hands and reduced inflammation and stiffness? What strength of prednisone made you feel completely better and how long you took prednisone? I am really struggling with the hands hello! Unfortunately I was only able to take methotrexate for about three months. I had too many side effects after the prednisone kick start was done.
For me, 10mg of prednisone daily and after my second dose I am feeling better.
Everyone is different so please do not assume my treatments or my results are any indication of how your body will act or react.
Keep your rheumatologist updated. If you have the patient portal or my chart, keep sending your doctor messages on how you are doing.
I hope you find answers and that you are feeling better soon. 💐
my hands... especially certain fingers have recently been sore....I was diagnosed about 6 months ago....also fingers a little swollen....so using hands has been more challenging....sigh 
Hi
. It is pretty common for the hands to be one of the first areas impacted by RA. I want to share with you this article from our patient leader Kat on keeping the hands strong and the joints stable (note: she is also a trained occupational therapist): https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/stronger-hands-exercises. Please feel free to keep us posted on how you are doing. Best, Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)
