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...

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Is there hope for me?

GrammyKat
GrammyKat
I was dx in Mid November. Will not see the Rheumy until the 23rd of this month. Here is my question.......
18 years ago I started having these problems with dizziness and pain in my hands. Went to so many doctors it wasn't even funny. They poked and prodded EVERTHING! The only dx they could come up with was Fibro. Over the years I have given up all of my needlework, knitting, crocheting, and cross stitch. Is there a chance that when I get on the proper meds, I may be able to do some of those things again? I have really missed it. And it kept me from munching everything in sight.
Am looking forward to hearing how this has worked for you.
Thanks!
Kathy
deleted_user
deleted_user
I love to do so many things! Bake, write, paint, draw, knit crochet... the list is endless. I have my good days and my bad days. I did have to give up crocheting and take up knitting, much easier on the hands. I tell everyone newly diagnosed what I think is one of the most important things to keep in mind with RA.

You don't have to stop living the life you have. You just have to re-learn how to do it all.

Hope this helps a little. Take care and God bless.

-Tanya
aggie83
aggie83
Last spring, when the monster hit me, one of my biggest fears was not being able to do needlework again! I was more worried about that than about being able to dress myself!!! (my shoulders were both out and my hands were swole up!).

Good news is that last week I knit about 20 hours during the holidays. I have made modifications, though. I knit American style and make sure that my left elbow is supported by a chair arm or pillow. I have an android tablet and put all my patterns and charts on there so I can easily enlarge it with one hand and don't sit in an awkward position to read them. I stretch my hands completed (see the Mayo site) at least twice a day, crafting or not.

I quit smoking four years ago and needlwork kept my hands busy!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'd have to agree with the others. I can still do most things, I just have to adapt how I do them and use moderation. When I'm trying to relearn something, the hardest part is remembering to pay attention to my pain. It's easy to forget the pain and overdo it, especially when I'm focusing on doing something I enjoy.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am going to try to convert over to knitting. Crochet a little; want to take it up again. However, the knitting projects I have been seeing are enticing. Going to give it a whirl.
Dreamchaser-Linda
Dreamchaser-Linda
I was so worried too. My hands felt so bad, I couldnt even use the little shovel, to clean out the litter box. Wipe the the counters,or clean my windows. I could barely pull up my blanket at night. I felt for so long, I would never get better. I felt so helpless, I needed help doing almost everything.

And now tonight, I took all the decorations down myself, I had put them all up myself, I feel so normal again, I swear Im tearing up just writing this. I've finally got the right meds.
SO YES! You will do all the things you did before! I crochet, and make rugs. I just do it slower, with little breaks. Not sure about knitting, never tried that.