| Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD? |
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12/09/2010 17:39
loonsong 
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12/09/2010 17:39
loonsong
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Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD?
My Internist wants to send me to OT for my hands. I have so much weakness, can not open hardly anything. I use vise grips to open a bottle of water, it is so painful to try and open things.
Has anyone had expierence with OT and is it of any use?
I have heard here and other places that stretching is not good for us so what can they do to help?
I have uncontracted DD and also carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands.
Every since the rolfing experience and getting DD the next day I am a bit fearlul of anyone working on my hands.
loonsong
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12/09/2010 21:59
spanishbuddha  Administrator
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12/09/2010 21:59
spanishbuddha Administrator
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Re: Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD?
I don't really know the answer. I play piano and racquet sports, and have another non DC disability in one hand and now early stage DC on the other (and possibly both).
Because of my activities I regularly stretch and exercise my hands to improve the hand strength derived from the forearm muscles and also the muscles in the hand.
You don't say why your hands are weak?
The only advice my OT gave me was don't force the fingers back (stretch) on the DC hand when the DC nodules feel inflamed, active or sore.
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12/09/2010 23:33
loonsong
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12/09/2010 23:33
loonsong
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Re: Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD?
Thanks Spanishbuddha,
I don't know why my hands are weak perhaps it is the fibro, not sure. But the DD difinety is what causes great pain when I try to open a jar or bottle so I try not to do it, I don't think I am helping my condition when it hurts that much.
I have wanted to strenten my hands but the Dr said weights were out, so I don't know. The OT was supposed to call me back because I had a question about what exactly they would be doing since I had DD and they never called, maybe tomorrow.
loonsong
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12/11/2010 00:21
tam1 
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12/11/2010 00:21
tam1
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Re: Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD?
As part of the 2-1/2 months of hand therapy that I did at one point following injury and other problems, my occupational therapist/certified hand therapist had me roll "therapy putty" across both palms (I rolled on a flat surface) to soothe inflamed flexor tendons in my hands. Then I was told to take the putty, which was softened by the rolling, and form it into a ball, then grip it firmly in one hand and then the other. This latter exercise was intended to work the muscles in my hands, improve flexibility, and strengthen my grip. (I had torn ligaments in both wrists, after which my grip in both hands was very weak; I also developed bilateral DD at the same time, and had finger tendon problems.) Depending on the evaluation your therapist does at the outset, treatment is individualized, of course, so what I'm describing is just one example of how hand/occupational therapy helped me with regaining some strength. My therapist sold the putty; she selected the right one for me, which wasn't too stiff for me to handle or too easy to use, either. The therapy I did wasn't specifically for DD alone, but the therapist did want me to use the hands and maximize flexibility, and I know she kept the DD issues in mind for some of the exercises.
Edited 12/11/10 02:24
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12/11/2010 02:59
loonsong
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12/11/2010 02:59
loonsong
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Re: Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD?
Thanks Tam1,
The OT called today but I was just going into my massage appointment so we didn't get a chance to talk. I will have to wait till Monday.
loonsong
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07/08/2011 19:13
Jennie
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07/08/2011 19:13
Jennie
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Re: Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD?
The weakness in your hands may be more the carpel tunnel than the Dupuytren's. As to excercises, I'm not allowed to use weights either - but resistance can help. I've worked with OTs before and how much help they are often depends on the therapist you get - but they can be a lot of help in finding out how to do things differently as well as finding where to order different assisted devices. I wish you luck.
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07/08/2011 19:49
loonsong
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07/08/2011 19:49
loonsong
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Re: Occupational Therapy is it any help with DD?
That is an older post. The OT did not work out I went twice the exercises she gave me agravated my dups. She had never worked with anyone but post op patients. I am done with it it was very expensive just 2 visits.
My CT is mild it does not wake me in the night. So I don't think it is the whole issue but it is part of it. Have it in both hands worse in L I am R handed but kind of ambidextrous. I am working on learning to write with my L hand it may come in handy. Can eat with chopsticks quickly with either hand which helps if one is hurthing more than the other because of fibro.
My Dr on the Coast of MS said I had muscle wasting disease. (How to fix I do not know) Also my blood test come back for (10 years now) and show me as a vegetarian when I eat red meat (usually once a day) and take OTC iron. So I just don't absorb animal protien even though I take a very good Biozyme.
I am working on my book and will not be available to post much for awhile. Have a great day and thank you everyone for your responces.
loonsong
Jennie:
The weakness in your hands may be more the carpel tunnel than the Dupuytren's. As to excercises, I'm not allowed to use weights either - but resistance can help. I've worked with OTs before and how much help they are often depends on the therapist you get - but they can be a lot of help in finding out how to do things differently as well as finding where to order different assisted devices. I wish you luck.
Edited 07/08/11 23:00
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