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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / September 2005Hand Paiins after RT
Hi all, I've been here lurking and trying to get my energy back and not think too much about my PCa. Don't know if I said in my last post that the oncologist thinks my higher PSA after RT may be due to my large prostate. the effects of ADT wearing off, and a tem-delay for the RT to take full effect. Anyway, my next PSA is a couple of months away and I am relaxed about the whole thing. The oncologist thinks it will t ake a year to assess it all. O, and I took all that advice about diet and am not torturing myself with foods I don't like and thinking about it all the time. Just normal, fairly healthy diet. But now I am writing about something I mentioned before--really bad pains in the hands, inability to make a fist, fingers getting stuck, all that. I had some good replies and tried exercises (little squeezing device that was recommended, a small ball to squeeze, etc) but for me they just made it worse. Then I found Arnica cream, a homeopathic thing, and it has helped a lot. So I want to pass that idea along to you. But I'm also writing to see if I can test a theory about it here. During the RT I was given a circular device to hold onto with my hands (to keep my arms in place) and I really think that may have caused the problem. I was gripping it fairly hard. I was very unsure of this hunch of mine urn till the other day when I drove the car a bit (getting back to normal) and the next day the hands were much worse and have still not gotten back to the improvement they have been showing I think it was from gripping the steering wheel. So I wonder if anyone else who has had this problem had been gripping onto that wheel during RT? If so, I want tot ell my oncologist because he doesn't have a clue about this, just says, O yes, I hear about that once a year, it will eventually go away.  SignatureJuly 2005 DX PCa Age 75 PSA 26.5 Gleason 7 (4+3) Stage T2a Biopsy (15 samples), digital examination, and CT body scan showed the cancer confined to a single nodule in the prostate. August 2004 ADT First injection (2 drugs--I have forgotten their names) December 2004 ADT Second injection PSA 4 April 2005 PSA 2.6 May 2005 Started RT 33 treatments, high beam, powerful doses August 2005 Six weeks after ADT PSA 2.9 I'm sorry, Fr. I've had EBRT and ADT and never had what you're describing. I have soreness in my hands and cannot easily make a fist. But, I attributed that to being 50 and slightly arthritic. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > have a clue about this, just says, O yes, I hear about that once a year, it > will eventually go away. So you didn't have it BEFORE the treatments? Apparently very few do. It strikes me that you are young to have this problem. > I'm sorry, Fr. I've had EBRT and ADT and never had what you're > describing. [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > it >> will eventually go away. You may be right. I busted my knuckles as a mechanic for about 10 years, but that was always part time while going through high school and as a second job. Otherwise, the most abuse has been at a keyboard. So, maybe ti is another side effect. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum > So you didn't have it BEFORE the treatments? Apparently very few do. It > strikes me that you are young to have this problem. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Anyway, > >> my next PSA is a couple of months away and I am relaxed about the whole > >> thing. The oncologist thinks it will t ake a year to assess it all. O, > >> and [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > it > >> will eventually go away. > Hi all,> diet. > > But now I am writing about something I mentioned before--really bad pains in > the hands, inability to make a fist, fingers getting stuck, all that. > So I wonder if anyone else who has had this problem had been gripping onto > that wheel during RT? It's not the radiation, it's the hormones. Search on Lupron and joint pain. It's very common. I got it bad in my toes, the left worse than the right. It might have a basis in arthrytis but the Lupron seems to aggrevate it. >> Hi all,> diet. >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > worse than the right. It might have a basis in arthrytis but the > Lupron seems to aggrevate it. I also got it in my toes - though it was much worse in my fingers. Apparently it hits the small joints. My toes also responded to frequent exercise - pushing down with the toes, then lifting them up - over and over again. Alan Having seen these messages, I am firmly convinced that my problems are related. I used to think it was an early onset of arthritis. But, the pains I've had in both sets of fingers and right set of toes are concidental with my Lupron treatment. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum > >> Hi all,> diet. > >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Alan Hi Guys...... Perhaps you can help me out with a major problem Ron is having and while the oncologist says it is not related to HT, 3 other doctors have said it is (family doc, gynaecologist & chiropractor, grin). Women also get Zoladex shots, so my gynie knows of the side effects.....just as an explanation. Plus the chiro has 3 other patients on HT that are complaining of the same problem. As he put it....."do you feel like your legs won't support your torso"?? Yes.....says Ron. (He is on Zoladex, Casodex and Megace) How to put it best......his legs and hands sometimes swell with water retention.....but his legs feel like *someone else's*......they are leaden or weak and he feels very unsteady. He is out of breath very easily and has to rest a lot. Ordinary gardening or house chores are too much for him on hot days. All of the above didn't start until we got the extremely hot & humid weather and according to the oncologist, none of his 200 patients have reported this. And he cites that this didn't show up till some 8 months after he started HT. But perhaps they don't realize that the weak legs are part of this. On cool days he feels quite good. No water retention either. He has had all sorts of blood tests and it is not thyroid, low iron or any other weakening-type of problem. In fact, other than a higher level of creatinin, his tests came back totally normal. Anyone else on Zoladex, Casodex and Megace feeling like the above? Oh.....the Megace worked like a charm on the night sweats. And I should add that he has been on HT since last October. I will explain the whys and wherefores later, but I was way too devastated for way too long to tell any of you. Never knew I was that private!! Not to mention immensely depressed. A special thank you to Curtis and Steve K for just being there while the doctors figured it out and we were able to cope with the dx. It has been one hell of a year!! 8-((( Best....Heather > Having seen these messages, I am firmly convinced that my problems are > related. I used to think it was an early onset of arthritis. But, the [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > > > Alan > Hi Guys...... > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > creatinin, his tests came back totally normal. > ... Hi Heather, I had Lupron for about 6 months, before, during and after radiation. During that period, my stamina went down, and my ability to jog went way down. I had been jogging about 4 miles at a time, 9 minute miles. During the Lupron and radiation I was down to 1 mile in 12 minutes and feeling like I was barely making it. I never knew whether the radiation or the Lupron was the cause of this, but I suspect the Lupron was at least a major factor. I know this will sound facile, but I recommend exercise as the best way to fight through it. If Ron's legs are weak, then walking, bike riding, or riding a stationary bike may help. The goal of this exercise is not to become athletic again. It's just to keep enough strength and stamina to be able to resist the negative effects of the drugs. It may be that if Ron walks a couple of miles a day he'll build and keep enough muscle and stamina that he'll be able to get around normally without feeling like his legs are going to collapse under him. I kept jogging throughout my treatment. My mileage went way down and my times went way up. But I never felt that I lacked the energy for ordinary life. I never felt that I couldn't climb a few flights of stairs, or go on a long walk with friends. I suspect that my efforts to continue exercising gave me enough reserve that I could do all that. Ron's situation is worse than mine. He's older than I am, and he's been on the drugs for a longer period than I was, and he's dealing with all this in the summer whereas my treatment took place from November to April. He may not be able to do as well as I did. But I think it's worth a try. I'm hoping he can stabilize his condition and improve it just enough that it's no longer a significant problem for him. As for the oncologist not believing any of this - well, I sometimes wonder if they give special classes in arrogance at the medical schools. Best of luck, Alan > > Hi Guys...... > > > > How to put it best......his legs and hands sometimes swell with water > > retention.....but his legs feel like *someone else's*......they are leaden > > or weak and he feels very unsteady. He is out of breath very easily and has to rest a lot. Ordinary gardening or house chores are too much for him on hot days. > > All of the above didn't start until we got the extremely hot & humid weather and according to the oncologist, none of his 200 patients have reported this. Hi Heather, > I had Lupron for about 6 months, before, during and after radiation. > [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > wonder if they give special classes in arrogance at the medical > schools. Thank you so much, Alan. It was so disconcerting to hear the oncologist say it had nothing to do with the HT. Ron thought he was going to end up in a wheel chair......seriously. And this has physically & mentally aged him a lot, which breaks my heart!! He is 73 but used to look about 60. He was just fine until early June when the humid days started. He is walking every morning when it is cooler (still hot up here).....but some mornings he is totally pooped out. He thinks it is helping build some stamina, but if it gets very humid, it does him in. Today was not a good day. And going up to 30+ by Monday. (about 86F??) He has been on the meds since Oct. 26th and this started in early June. So roughly 7 months. That is why the oncologist refuses to consider it as a side effect. He is an excellent doctor, btw......and quite outgoing. Which is why it surprised me. I am tempted to call the rad onc at Sunnybrook who gave him his first shot....he was going to alternate with the local oncologist, but the latter wanted to look after him. I have always liked this man and he is an excellent oncologist. But he and I are at loggerheads over this. One other question for the HT guys......the doc at Sunnybrook was adamant that the tri-monthly shots had to be given exactly to the day. The local guy fits him into his schedule (and he is really busy)......but the next shot is just 10 weeks from the last one.....not 12. Does this matter a lot? I have had so many questions since June......but because I had not told many that his cancer had metastasized to the lungs, I couldn't post them. One saving grace tho.......his PSA shot up a year ago and they found it quickly, once they ruled out *someone else's results and infection*. Had it been ordinary lung cancer, he would have had no symptoms. And there is no sign of it in the prostate area......or bones.....or lymph nodes. So it must have spread before treatment. Thanks, Alan......I appreciate your answers. Perhaps I will look into a bike for him. But getting him to use it may be a battle, grin. He does enjoy the walks, and goes only a mile or so. I feel so bad for him. He hates being like this, but what choice does he have.....he can't go off the meds. Cheers.......Heather > One other question for the HT guys......the doc at Sunnybrook was adamant > that the tri-monthly shots had to be given exactly to the day. The local > guy fits him into his schedule (and he is really busy)......but the next > shot is just 10 weeks from the last one.....not 12. Does this matter a lot? I don't know, but my doc changed my next shot by one full month. I'm guessing it's not a terrible problem. I'm hoping it gives me a month to play, but it sounds like the half-life of Lupron will work against me. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum Interesting. One doc was adamant about the number of days....the other shifts a week or two either way. I shall look into this more. Heather > > One other question for the HT guys......the doc at Sunnybrook was adamant > > that the tri-monthly shots had to be given exactly to the day. The local [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > guessing it's not a terrible problem. I'm hoping it gives me a month to > play, but it sounds like the half-life of Lupron will work against me. Hi Heather, I looked at the FDA labelling information for Zoladex. It's not up to date on the website. They have the 1998 labelling and they said that new labelling came out in 2004 but was not yet posted. See: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Searc h.Label_ApprovalHistory for all their info on Zoladex. I did notice in the 1998 label that "edema" and "peripheral edema" were mentioned as possible side effects - which I presume accounts for the water retention and swelling in the legs. > Perhaps I will look into a bike for him. But getting him to use > it may be a battle, grin. Here are two suggestions for the use of a stationary bike: 1. Put it in front of a TV set. 2. Get one of the recombent style bikes where the rider sits back and it's easy to put a book on his lap. The recombent bike might also be better if there's edema by raising the legs. I read books while riding a stationary bike and, when I used to run on a treadmill, I watched TV. Rip-roaring, rock-em sock-em, shoot-em up TV shows like "Walker Texas Ranger" turned out to be great for getting the heart rate up and running faster. I could always run faster when watching a show like that :) Incidentally, if the doctor prescribes this kind of exercise, will the Canadian insurance pay for the bike? I guess it would be too over the top to ask them to pay for the TV :) Alan Hi Alan...... I read the information and yes, the edema side effect would account for what he gets on the really hot days. He has gained at least 20 lbs, which does not make him happy. 8-(( Btw...it was the chiropractor who suggested either a bike or a treadmill. I did talk to him about the bike, but for now he just wants to walk while the weather is good. He usually goes out early in the morning.....I am the night owl!! Grinning at your comment re the Gov't. paying for a bike......or a TV!! LOL. Not bloody likely. But my neighbour has an extra one and I may cadge the older one from her. Just to see if he will use it. He does have a rowing machine from eons ago, which is gathering dust in the basement. He tried it, but prefers a brisk walk. I really see the difference in him......we were out shopping this afternoon and he uses the grocery-type cart to lean on. Not much else he can do for any of this. But I will most definitely print out a lot of what you guys have found for me and take it to the oncologist. He is as outspoken as I am, so it will be interesting. He is a very good oncologist, which is why it baffled me so much when he insisted this was not a side effect. We shall see. Thanks again...I really appreciate your help. Cheers....Heather > Hi Heather, > > I looked at the FDA labelling information for Zoladex. It's not > up to date on the website. They have the 1998 labelling and > they said that new labelling came out in 2004 but was not yet > posted. See: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Searc h.Label_ApprovalHistory > for all their info on Zoladex. > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Alan > > Hi Guys...... > As for the oncologist not believing any of this - well, I sometimes > wonder if they give special classes in arrogance at the medical > schools. Personally, I think that anyone considering a career in urological surgery or oncology ought to have the archives of this news group as required reading. There is no substitute for prostate victims frankly discussing their issues with other prostate victims. Heather, for that reason, I'm very happy you decided to come out of the closet. You cannot get information like this from a doctor. I guarantee, as close as my doc and I have become, he doesn't know 90% of what y'all know about me, my cancer, and my side effects. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum My thanks again to you and Curtis.......you know how hard it hit me and probably didn't really understand why I couldn't talk about it. I frankly don't know either, but I was in a severe depression to say the least. Just when you think life is getting back to normal, you get hit by a semi, so to speak. And the fast rising PSA was most abnormal. It *does* feel good to be able to talk about it. I have gotten more info and confirmation in 24 hours than I do from doctors. You are right.....there is more info here than anywhere. XX Heather > Heather, for that reason, I'm very happy you decided to come out of the > closet. You cannot get information like this from a doctor. I guarantee, > as close as my doc and I have become, he doesn't know 90% of what y'all know about me, my cancer, and my side effects. Heather, I was on Lupron for about 6 mos. prior to and 6 mos. post seeding, with the side effects (lethargy, hot flashes, some joint discomfort) noticably diminished about 6 mos. after the last 3 mo. injection. While the two drugs are different, the the results and side effects are similar. Here's a link to the AstraZeneca Zoladex site. http://www.zoladex.com/professional/zoladex/ Look at the FAQs for dosing intervals, click on the Zoladex tab then Important Safety Info. at the bottom of that page for the expected side effects. Tom > Hi Guys...... > [quoted text clipped - 66 lines] > > > > > > Alan Thank you, Tom. Yes, I was right. 12 weeks is the proper timing. Dr. Loblaw at Sunnybrook Hospital was adamant that they be given at the right time. This oncologist here is a bit loose on that. I guess I could get the Zoladex kit and have the family doctor inject it......which would probably tick the oncologist off. Puts me between a rock and a hard place due to him being local in case of trouble. The hospital doctor is a 3-4 hour round trip. In his defence, he runs an incredibly busy practice (doctors in Toronto refer their patients to him out here)......plus he runs the Oncology Ward at the hospital. He surprised me when called here late one night just as we were leaving for a Quebec holiday.....to make sure Ron felt OK. Ron's first shot of HT (by the hospital doctor) was called *Suprefact* which is not available in the US. I checked that site too and it particularly mentioned *leg weakness* as one of the primary side effects and to tell your doctor if you have it. But it is not mentioned for Zoladex. Which could be why this oncologist doesn't acknowledge it. He only uses Zoladex. I feel so much better being able to talk to you folks about this......keeping it all inside was not a good thing!! But I am past the stages of shock, depression and anger now........I just worry if he seems a bit weak. It never stops, does it. All the best.....Heather > Heather, > I was on Lupron for about 6 mos. prior to and 6 mos. post seeding, with the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Tom > Thank you, Tom. Yes, I was right. 12 weeks is the proper timing. Dr. > Loblaw at Sunnybrook Hospital was adamant that they be given at the right [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > him being local in case of trouble. The hospital doctor is a 3-4 hour round > trip. The package insert, which is available online, specifies "12 weeks (84 days)" IIRC. Judging from what I've seen Stephen Strum write to a patient on P2P, the timing is critical. > I feel so much better being able to talk to you folks about > this......keeping it all inside was not a good thing!! But I am past the > stages of shock, depression and anger now........I just worry if he seems a > bit weak. It never stops, does it. No indeed, this damned thing never stops. I no sooner clear one problem than another crops up. Regards, Steve J "Never -- never -- never give up! Never go gently. There will be plenty of gentle after we die, so until then -- fight -- control the rhythms and tempo of the dance, even when you have to let the PCa dancing bear lead for awhile -- even when you have to wear the lead suit as you dance -- never let the bear set the rhythm and tempo of your dance with life -- when the bear finally takes control, it will be a very hollow feeling for him, because I will be gone -- dancing in a better place." --E. B. (Burns) Mixon, PCa survivor, June 14, 2005 on The Prostate Problems Mailing List Thank you, Burns. Live long and prosper. Heather, The Zoladex info. states that 22% of patients receiving a combination of Casodex and Zoladex reported asthenia (from The American Heritage Dictionary: NOUN: Loss or lack of bodily strength; weakness; debility.) Tom > Thank you, Tom. Yes, I was right. 12 weeks is the proper timing. Dr. > Loblaw at Sunnybrook Hospital was adamant that they be given at the right [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > > > Tom Thanks again, Tom. I missed that one. I think I will do some printouts and take them with us when we next visit the doctor. The odd thing is that it didn't start until the really hot, humid weather hit. He had been on the 3 of them since the end of October. Coincidence? Or does the weather exacerbate this sort of thing. Just musing on this. I can't thank all of you enough. I wanted to ask so many times, but just couldn't. I always seemed to find *reasons* not to post the bad news......sometimes I don't even know ME (G). I hope this makes sense. We wives go thru our own peculiar set of emotions when dealing with this and while a lot are the same, they are also much different in many ways. It is so hard to deal with. Thanks again to you all...... Cheers....Heather > Heather, > The Zoladex info. states that 22% of patients receiving a combination of [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > > > > > Tom On September 10, Heather wrote, in pertinent part: (snip) > I feel so much better being able to talk to you folks about > this......keeping it all inside was not a good thing!! But I am past the > stages of shock, depression and anger now........I just worry if he seems a > bit weak. It never stops, does it. Here is a support site for families, especially wives, of PCa patients: http://www.prostatepointers.org/circle/ Regards, Steve J "No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee." -- John Donne > On September 10, Heather wrote, in pertinent part: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > http://www.prostatepointers.org/circle/ Thanks Steve.....I tend to keep things to myself, which is obvious, but realized a few weeks back that is not the best way. I spoke to the family doctor and his door is open any time I want to talk. I will look into a family support group. Best....Heather A brief comment on the timing of HT shots. My husband is on Medicare and they will only pay for his Lupron shots every three months not counting the day of injection, so we make sure to count 92 days between shots. Don't know how critical this would be under other insurance plans. Bowich > Having seen these messages, I am firmly convinced that my problems are > related. I used to think it was an early onset of arthritis. But, the > pains I've had in both sets of fingers and right set of toes are concidental > with my Lupron treatment. I'm sure it's the Lupron. While I have a "touch" of arthrytis, a few months after the first shot, I noticed that I was stamping my foot because there were stabbing pains in my toes. I had some pain in my fingers too. I declined the 3rd shot about 8 months ago and the pain has faded to a mild nuisance. Hi Stavros......... Alan Meyer must be away, but he reported a few times that the hormone therapy caused his arthritis to really flare up!! Particularly in his hands, if I recall correctly. Cheers....Heather > But I'm also writing to see if I can test a theory about it here. During the > RT I was given a circular device to hold onto with my hands (to keep my arms [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > have a clue about this, just says, O yes, I hear about that once a year, it > will eventually go away. After I came out of the OR and woke up in a hospital bed.(Feb 1st) My left hand was DEAD! No feeling like asleep but I could use it. Both shoulders were RAW from the bracket they had me in to do the robotic sugery. The hand woke up in a day or so..but to date I have hand pains..started in right hand now into left..hurts to clench a fist..feels like swollen? Then hurts a bit to stretch out fingers..hands just feel sore and puffy end of day. Howie Just back from having a kidney stone removed, so I missed some of these posts. But the connection between the therapy and the hands is clear. My oncologist is so cavalier about this, but it is a scary thing. Really crippling. I will tell him of these messages. Don't know if I ever posted about the absurd, comic opera tale of the kidney stone, and I won't now as being OT, but it's a lesson on how important it is to have a good doctor and hospital. . I warn everyone now here in Toronto to stay away from Western and Scarborough. St. Michael's is superb.. > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > doesn't have a clue about this, just says, O yes, I hear about that once a > year, it will eventually go away. Hello Stavros, I've been out of town and just saw your message tonight. I also find that clutching something hard for a long time causes pains in my hands. However I'd have to say that, except for that, my hand pain problem is entirely cured - or at least entirely under control. I don't know if you did as much exercise as I did. I did the exercises 10, 20 or more times each day. I did them when I woke up at night. I did them early in the morning when I got up and late at night just before going to sleep. I did them while driving my car and during quick breaks while working. I found a hand squeezer or a rubber ball both to be useful, but if your hands are hurting a lot, then I'd recommend just exercising them with no equipment. Open and close your fists, many, many, many, many times. 100 times, 20 times per day is not too many times. If 100 is too hard for you, then try 50 times, 20 times per day, or even 25 times 20 times per day. I think it's better to do 25 hand squeezes 20 times per day than to do 1000 of them all at once, just once per day. Try putting the finger tips of one hand against the finger tips of the other and pushing. Try putting the finger tips of one hand over the tips of the other so that you push in with one hand and out with another. Try pushing each finger against the thumb of the same hand, first pushing down on the thumbnail, then pushing up with the fingernail against the pad of the thumb. If the exercises hurt, then try running your hands under cold water before and during the exercises, and do them gently. But don't give up. I think the absolute worst thing is too much rest. If the hands aren't moving, they seize up, become stiff, and become painful. Your problem may be completely unlike mine. But if it's like mine, exercise can do wonders if it you pursue it. One other thing I did, and still do, is to sleep with my fingers curled up rather than extended straight. At first this was difficult for me. Now it's second nature. With the fingers straight, I'd wake up at night and in the morning with very stiff fingers that wouldn't bend. But with the fingers bent all night, I'd wake up with them more flexible. I personally had no luck at all with anti-inflammatory pills, and only a little luck with the creams, but I never tried Arnica. I'm generally suspicious of homeopathy, which I think is scientifically invalid. But I think I may have gotten some small benefit from the mentholated creams that cool the skin. Best of luck, Alan > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > during RT? If so, I want tot ell my oncologist because he doesn't have a clue about > this, just says, O yes, I hear about that once a year, it will eventually go away. |
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