Tools or Tips?

[casuallycrumble]

Do you use any little tools to help ease fibro pain?

For example, a friend of mine suggested getting a Powerball (a gyroscope) as a way to help strengthen my wrists. I am most likely going to try it, but I wonder if anyone with fibro has found any results with this thing (also clutching something that spins around with a force like that concerns

Comments

[fallconsmate]

i will admit to having snuck over to your info page to see if i could see your gender *G* and OH HAI we happen to be on a lot of the same communities!

anywho! i heartily subscribe to the idea of wearing a wrist support while one sleeps. and the reason i mention gender is that the FUTURO brand makes a "for her" line...and it IS different. there's a little gel pad that fits in the palm of the hand and makes it fit better (to my hands, anyway).

another thing is the arthritis gloves that they make for crafters. they help. (the ones that just are just sort of snug on the hands and wrists, with the fingertips uncovered.) they keep my fingers warm, which keeps them from freezing up.

also: a rice sock. those are cheap enough to sew up on your own (make a bag of whatever size/shape works for your needs, fill 2/3rds with raw rice, heat in the microwave and apply carefully. gives off nice moist heat!) and they conform to the shape of the body easily. this works especially for over the shoulders. :)

[katmoonshaker]

::nods:: She's absolutely right! I'll also add a book that was recommended to me. I got my copy off of eBay.

Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual by Devin Starlanyl & Mary Ellen Copeland (2nd ed ISBN 1-57224-238-8)

[casuallycrumble]

Thanks so much for the suggestion! I'll definitely be looking for that book :)

[casuallycrumble]

I do have a rice bag! I made it myself quite a long time ago, but I know I really should use it more often than I do. Actually I do have a little pillow that massages and heats up, and I've been trying to use that more often lately.. it's been a nice alternative to the TENS. I find it really small though.. maybe I need an entire electric blanket to just cocoon myself.

I don't think I've ever really heard of arthritis gloves but I looked them up and they look fantastic.. I'm sure the winter weather hasn't helped my fingers either so I'll definitely have to look into getting those. Same with the wrist support you mentioned. I had one but it's kind of falling apart at this point.. I kind of abuse my stuff!

Thanks so much for all the advice.. I'm about to check out all of your other communities on your list too! I don't really use my own journal anymore but I still love to follow lj ommunities :)

[kath_ballantyne]

I use heat packs and ice packs to help with the pain. Usually heat if it's deap, grinding or joint pain and ice if there is inflammation or swelling but I usually go with what feels right at the time.

I wanted to get the trigger point therapy book as I often have differed and nerve pain that can be helped by it as well as the usual pain in my neck from the muscles being too tight.
I couldn't buy it though as it was too expensive.
Then I found this
http://www.painwhisperer.com/index.html
If you go to the Trigger Point Info link down the side and then the pain mapper you can click on the bit that hurts and it will tell you where the major trigger points are that cause pain in that area.
It's helped so much.

[casuallycrumble]

Thanks so much for the advice. I've only tried heat, not ice, but I'm definitely up for trying a mix of the two. And that site is really informative! Thanks so much for sharing it.

[chibi_lurrel]

I wear splints to sleep which keeps my wrists from getting extra inflamed overnight. I also second crafting/typing/arthritis gloves -- they just provide extra support and pressure while leaving your fingers mostly free for typing.

I would caution against strengthening exercises in the wrists while your pain is still in the unmanagable or unbearable range -- while being treated for wrist tendonitis I was rushed into strengthening exercises, which essentially just exacerbated the issue. Try regular icing and heat (but only wet heat) along with splints and support gloves and move on from there.

[casuallycrumble]

Thanks so much for your input. I don't think I will be jumping into using a Powerball quite yet, not till I can at least ease at least a little of the intense pain first (and maybe wait for a sale.. haha) I definitely will look into getting arthritis gloves!

[casuallycrumble]

I've never seen the Miracle Ball Method but it looks interesting. I have pains in my hands but I do get pain in my neck/shoulders (and it's all probably linked) and those balls look like they could help (similar to using tennis balls, I'm assuming?) Thanks so much for sharing; I just might get this (and the price looks great!)

I remember those zen balls! I used to play with those when I was a kid. I never would have thought to use them but I'll have to see if I can find them again. Thanks for the suggestions!

[die_fledermaus]

This doesn't have anything to do with the post...I was wondering about your icon...What does "Canadian pondering" mean exactly? Pondering going to Canada, or a Canadian who ponders things? =D

[casuallycrumble]

You know, I wish I could be more helpful, haha. I found this icon randomly yeeears ago and never knew who actually made it. I'm Canadian so I just assume it's a Canadian pondering the mysteries of the universe (or.. something like that) but I love the idea of the icon being about pondering going to Canada.. or pondering what the deal is with those Canadians!

[die_fledermaus]

Haha, awesome. I'm American but I live in Vancouver, BC now. I was in a cafe earlier and the two people working there were talking - very loudly - about how much they don't like Americans. They were making some good points, but I was kinda like...ouch...=P