Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Looking for clever ways to handle hand holding/handshakes. Here is my experience
I belong to a group that holds hands and prays together. When we pray, inevitably someone starts squeezing tighter and tighter til the prayer ends. Well you can imagine how painful this is, and to top it off every time we meet it might be a different group of people.
I have started taking their hands by the base of their hand near the thumb so that only the tips of my fingers are in their palm and tell them, please don't squeeze, or I take their arm at tell them my hands hurt.
The hand shaking thing is much more difficult. I am so used to shaking hands with ppl it's automatic to stick my hand out when they do. Then about half way there I remember I can't take shake hands because of the pain and sometimes I quickly draw my hand back which really confuses them. Then I smile and say "sorry, but my hands hurt, nice to meet you". When I'm wearing my IMAK gloves it's much easier to remember not to shake someones hand, but does anyone have any better ways to handle this one??
Suggestions and your experience are always appreciated.
I belong to a group that holds hands and prays together. When we pray, inevitably someone starts squeezing tighter and tighter til the prayer ends. Well you can imagine how painful this is, and to top it off every time we meet it might be a different group of people.
I have started taking their hands by the base of their hand near the thumb so that only the tips of my fingers are in their palm and tell them, please don't squeeze, or I take their arm at tell them my hands hurt.
The hand shaking thing is much more difficult. I am so used to shaking hands with ppl it's automatic to stick my hand out when they do. Then about half way there I remember I can't take shake hands because of the pain and sometimes I quickly draw my hand back which really confuses them. Then I smile and say "sorry, but my hands hurt, nice to meet you". When I'm wearing my IMAK gloves it's much easier to remember not to shake someones hand, but does anyone have any better ways to handle this one??
Suggestions and your experience are always appreciated.
I, however, tell people what is wrong...but I am on a mission to educate people about RA! I can bore people about it forever!