donnette,

that sounds like how bad my hand was after that really bad dq "tendonitis" / "tendonosis" / lots of scar tissue.

had a hand PT who worked with me before and then after a well placed cortisone shot. my hand / wrist / thumb had atrophied so badly that i could not brush my hair or teeth with that hand, could not snap my fingers, and lots of other things i couldn't do.

what got me there was having my hand in a brace per doctors orders. when he saw me after that month, he was shocked how much damage had occurred. sent me off to the PT who got me back functioning.

ultrasound, lots of contrast baths, and hand exercises, but not too much exercise as that just reaggravated the tendons.

took awhile, but the strength did come back. it does seem like immobility is one of our biggest enemies.

your "therapy" sounds way fun! mine was lifting washers on rubber bands with my thumb, not nearly as exciting, though did get my husband into laughing fits!


sue

Spondyloarthropathy, HLAB27 negative
Humira (still methylprednisone for flares, just not as often. Aleve if needed, rarely.)
LDN/zanaflex/flector patches over SI/ice
vits C, D. probiotics. hyaluronic acid. CoQ, Mg, Ca, K.
chiro
walk, bike
no dairy (casein sensitivity), limited eggs, limited yeast (bread)