Some of us need help. Whether it's a brace, a walker, a paraffin spa... hopefully you can find it here. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia - many medical conditions require braces, heat therapy, and other items to make daily life bearable.
For me, my daily paraffin treatment is essential. Fortunately, Medicare paid for my in-home unit but even if you have to buy it outright, a really good one is not horribly expensive. You can buy a paraffin spa here for under $200. These gentle, soothing heat treatments can relax and invigorate and are good for anyone who does a lot of work with their hands every day.
Make sure you buy a paraffin spa deep enough to cover your wrist. My physical therapist taught me the most effective manner in which to use the paraffin treatment. The instructions given by the physical therapist who treated me are available on a separate page in this website. Please understand -- these were the instructions for ME, expressly for my treatment. I have done some research and found the techniques I was taught are universal and this leads me to believe it is alright to pass them on to other paraffin bath users. So that's the disclaimer, you see -- my treatment may not mirror what a therapist would tell you but my treatment tips are very generic.
Don't forget to soothe the spirit. Pamper yourself with health and beauty products like scented lotions and bath salts. And if you have a caregiver, remember him or her with something nice. My husband takes wonderful care of me, so do my daughters. I try to purchase small "I love you" presents for them from time to time, to show how much I appreciate them.
As I learn of products and treatments, I'll offer them here for you to purchase. If you have a particular product you swear by, drop me a line and tell me about it. For example, I love my Black & Decker rechargeable screwdriver. My arthritis hands get a real vacation when I let it do the work for me.
As my conditions worsen, more medical equipment will be required. Here's hoping you and I find what we need to assist us. Steady on! Keep going! Exercise! Eat right! We can do it, ya'll.
Check back often ... it's going to take me some time to get this store loaded with useful items.
--comments at arthritis dot com--