any new posts?

Emily,

Everyone must be sewing up a storm (or hibernating)!

Doreen in Alabama

Same here.. So it is not your USEnet server having some sort of problem... It is so very quiet in here, I can hear the moths chewing people's wool stash....

me

Emily beat me to with her comment on the lack of posts. I was hoping to do a little vicarious sewing this week since I'm starting to get more use from my arm now that I'm doing PT. I hope to do some real cutting and sewing within the next week. My shoulder feels good enough that I think I can start cutting out a simple project. Maybe some flannel pants for a DGS that he was supposed to get for Christmas. Juno

I was wondering the same thing myself. I have been sewing up a storm getting to know my new best friend (Designer SE). I am having a blast! I have fallen behind in my paperwork but don't care too much.

Kirsten

Yes, I suppose that's it. Thanks Juno, me, Doreen and Kirsten for responding to my post. I have also been busy getting acquainted with my Christmas gift, the Ellageo BLL, just not as busy as you, Kirsten. None of my family except DS, with whom I live, resides within 400 miles of Houston, but I am lucky all but 2 have internet, so we can keep in close contact. I go online once a day, at least, to see what they have to say and & tend to check the sewing newsgroups at the same time. Emily

I am happy to know your arm is well enough to do something like pajamas for DGS. They should not be too much of a strain on it. Emily

That's great news, Juno. The more you can use it, the more rapid the recovery, I suspect.

Now, if we could just figure out what to do about worn-out arthritic thumbs.....

The best thing I find for painful hand/finger joints is warm parafin treatments.. I have a heating machine for this. I don't like to take a lot of pain killers, and I just won't take NSAID anti-inflammatory drugs as I am fond of my kidneys, and want them to keep healthy.

me

Yes, for continuous pain, I turn to heat and aspirin. Aspirin is the only thing that works for me - not aleve, motrin, etc. But I can take sporadic pain. It's the loss of strength and the pain when trying to do something that I have done for nearly 70 years without a qualm. It always takes me by surprise, too. I tend to forget that I'm older'n mud and go about my business as if I were the same as before, but get pulled up short when some part of me objects strenuously. ;-) Getting old is not for sissies.

If you are so inclined, please write more about the warm parafin therapy that helps you. The pain in my thumbs and wrists seems to be getting worse every day and I am just lost without my handwork.

Doreen in Alabama

Ibuprofen doesn't help me, either. It's never occurred to me to try aspirin! but I surely will now. Thanks for mentioning it.

Doreen in Alabama

I have arthritis from my eyelids to my toenails and of all the prescription drugs and over the counter NSAID I've tried plain aspirin works the best of anything for me. I always use the ENTERIC coated aspirin, it's easier on the tummy. I also made rice bags I heat up in the microwave. I have various sizes and they give wonderful relief when things start to really throb. The cat loves them too. As soon as I put one in the microwave he runs to sit on the back of the couch knowing he'll soon have a nice stationary human with a warm spot to curl into. lol

Val

When my wrist was crushed some 11 years ago, the therapist wanted me to use paraffin treatments, I could not stand to put my hand in that pan of hot wax, so they had to find another treatment for me; I know it works well for other folks though. I used to take aspirin, the doc always told my DM 2 every four hours during the day was good for arthritis, but it seems blood-thinners & aspirin don't agree, so I use Tylenol, after I was taken off Celebrex. My DS, who is a nurse practitioner, tells me I just have to remember that at age 75, I am not going to do things I did at age 45 or even

Aspirin is truly a wonder drug! It got its start as willow bark tea, and was dispensed by the old medicine women. Our aspirin today is made in the lab, but of the same formula. It's consistent in strength, and one of the cheapest remedies on the market. I just have to use it sparingly, because I already have blood that flows freely - at the blood bank, and after every cat claw or rose thorn scratch.

Rice bags are great. I have one that has some herbs in it, including tea tree oil. My latest discovery is the Therma-care disposable heat wraps. Perfect for my knee when it gets angry with me.

He didn't have to rub it in!!!

Great, another push that will make me try aspirin. I'll get some of the coated kind. And I have a rice bag made like a fanny pack, for pulled lower back muscles...prolly could wrap it around my hands and see if that helps. Thanks!

Doreen in Alabama

Asprin has a blood-thinning quality, so it's unwise to take it along with any antocoagulants like Warfarin. My mum is on Warfarin, so asprin and ibuprofen (an asperin derivative) are 'off'. She finds a combination of paracetamol and codeine works well for her.

I like the anti-inflamatory effects of ibuprofen, and find it a more effective pain killer over all than paracetamol, but because of my stomach problems I have to be careful not to take too much... Codeine has no effect on pain for me at all, and makes me hallucinate and feel seasick into the bargain! Ugh! (Followed by ikk, if not careful!)

We all have to experiment to find the combination that works for us. As of yesterday, the doc put me on 320mg of gamolenic acid (star flower oil) per day for a couple of months to see if that helps a new lot of pain! It's supposed to be very good for breast cysts and breast pain, the first of which I have, leading to the second, which has disturbed my sleep every night for the last three weeks. It may also help with the fibro... Every little helps! And he was willing to give me a 2 month prescription, which means 240 capsules for my prescription charge rather than £15 a tub for 120! I don't bother the NHS often, but as he says, when I do it's usually well worth bothering him about!

Oh yes he did - he's a son! ;) At least he's no longer a teenager... :D