Mo*Bee's Blog #14: Seeking Relief For Hand Pain

Like most people, I rather enjoy this time of year, autumn.  The trees give one last hurrah with a vibrant color display.  Gradually, cooler weather is ushered in.

The Mo*Bee-mobile in the beautiful fall foliage in Western NC.

So, surrounded by beauty and crisp temperatures, I looked over my yard to survey the neglect from the hot summer.  I was overtly inspired to tackle the job at hand.  (Pun intended and more to come!)  I was now ready!  It was time to get my hands dirty.

I have spent hours at a time blowing leaves, raking leaves, fertilizing plants, spreading mulch, digging up dead bushes, gathering downed branches and even small trees.  I have gotten a lot done, but there is certainly more to do.  I have my hands full!  For one, those leaves are not done falling.

With all this work to do and just a few short optimal weeks to do it in, “take a break” does not readily come to my mind.  I know that I should take a break, but time is of the essence.  The problem is you see, these middle aged hands are starting to complain.  Chalk it up to another case of the mind is willing but the body is weak.  

Rather than throw my hands up in the air, I made good use of Mo*Bee’s Class Finder.  I found a free class about caring for the painful hand at St. Luke’s Hospital.  Dr. Karol Young, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, is an old hand in these matters.   

St. Luke's Hospital Rehabilitation 

Gripping device to help open jars.

Let me share a little of what I learned.  While I have never been diagnosed, odds are that I have some hand arthritis.  Fifty million Americans are affected by some form of arthritis with osteoarthritis being the most common followed by rheumatoid arthritis.  Both conditions result in degeneration of the cartilage (cushioning in the joint) and underlying bone.  This allows the bones to rub against each other and not move smoothly.  Common symptoms can include:  Pain, stiffness, swelling, weakness, deformity and limits in function.  Consequently, hand arthritis can make it difficult to perform tasks that require gripping and pinching.  And that certainly includes my yard work!

What can you do about it?  The good news is there are several treatment options, but it begins with respecting the pain in your hand!  Because the hand is comprised of many little joints, one should be wary of the stresses applied to them.  Just 1 pound of pinch pressure through the tip of thumb translates to 7-9 pounds of pressure at the CMC (carpometacarpal) joint which is at the base of the thumb.  This is a prime reason this joint commonly develops arthritis.  Pain is the body’s way of warning you something is not quite right.  Ignoring the pain and proceeding with activity can cause further damage to occur.  Quite simply, listen to your body, pace yourself and take that break when you need it.  Perhaps ask a friend or neighbor to lend you a hand. 

Until your hands hurt, one might take for granted how frequently they are used in normal day to day activities.  

















This is yet another reason why the hand joints are prone to degenerative changes.  Fortunately, there are many hand friendly tools readily available online or in your local retail store.  Generally speaking, larger handles permit the hand to work effectively but require less grip strength.  Therefore, there is less wear and tear on the joints in your hand. Pictured below are a few examples. 

Fiskars spring loaded scissors

Pen with large grip

Garden trowel with enlarged grip

Arthritic joints tend to respond well to the old standby, heat.  This can be in the form of a warm water soak, heating pad or even paraffin bath which is now available to the general public for purchase.  Thermal modalities help decrease joint stiffness and pain.

If after trying the above suggestions you still require a hands-off approach to life, you might should seek the help of a professional. Occupational therapists have a variety of tools on hand to get you going again.  Once you have been evaluated, a treatment plan will be specifically designed for you.  Let he or she know what activities you find difficult to perform with your hands.  Therapists can instruct you in joint protection techniques such as using 2 hands to lift something heavy.  The larger wrist joints can withstand the pressure much better.  For example, people typically use one hand to lift a gallon of milk out of the refrigerator.  Look at your index finger supporting all this weight!  According to Karol, this position is termed a posture of deformity.  In other words, this causes undue wear and tear on the joint. 

Once the occupational therapist is familiar with your needs, he or she can also suggest adaptive equipment to make the task at hand easier.  For instance, if you are having trouble writing, there are several helpful options to try.  Look for a pen with a larger grip or modified writing instrument.  Also, gel pens do not require as much downward pressure to apply the ink to paper. 

Pen Again

There are many treatment options available in the clinic to help alleviate your hand pain.  While you can apply heat at home, your therapist may use other thermal modalities such as fluidotherapy, moist heat packs, paraffin baths or ultrasound to decrease pain and stiffness.  Manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue massage, mobilization and stretching may be used to improve your function by decreasing pain and edema as well as improving range of motion. You likely will be required to perform a home exercise program to ensure hand mobility and strength.  “No pain.  No gain.” is not the adage to follow here.  After all, if you are like me, following this mantra likely got you into this predicament.  

Try these home techniques and modifications to gain the upper hand on your particular situation.  If you still need some help, individualized care from an occupational therapist might be necessary to address your specific needs.  Let Karol from St. Luke’s Hospital give you a hand with some therapy or a splint to rest and protect your joints.  Rest assured, you will be in good hands!

Don’t live near Polk County North Carolina.  No worries.  Visit the American Society of Hand Therapists website or call 856-380-6856 to locate a hand therapist in your area.  

Until next time...

Kelly & Dee (a.k.a. Mo*Bee)

Mo*Bee’s Class Finder.Com can help you find the class you want or need to take.  It’s so easy, we practically hand it to 

you on a silver platter!