Hi, I hope someone will be able to help me. I don't know if someone has experienced this before or not but here it goes. For the last few days I have pain in my thumbs (especially on the top near the hand) each time I use them to push (like piping icing). I was thinking to use the wrist glove that Wilton sells for decorators, but wonder if it'll work. I don't want to buy them for nothing it's a lot of $$$. I went to the pharmacy but they don't have the same things, it doesn't cover the right part of the hand or they aren't made for your hands to move, and costs more anyways. I make 2-3 cakes a week, and I want to expand but I don't want to have to stop because of my hands. I can't decorate with my feet yet 
Any suggestions? I'm taking Advil for the pain and some Lakota rub-on, but it's only for relief, I want to protect them now.
Thanks every input will be appreciated!!!
Hi Pootchi! One of those gloves will probably give you some relief, particularly if you wear it during the times when your hand is most stressed, typing, decorating, etc. I have major arthritis problems, and my right thumb goes into a cramp sometimes and hurts like crazy.
Piping puts your whole hand in a strain, so I found an alternative...I use a canister called an Easy Icer.
I'm having trouble trying to describe it, so maybe you should just Google it, and see their description.
Here's one link: http://www.cakecraftshop.co.uk/shop/2/81/168/index.htm
One of mine came from almondart.com but they don't seem to have it right now. I liked it so well, my DS got my second set for Mother's Day last year from eBay at a good price.
Sure saves my hand and wrist. Janice
you are describing REPETITIVE MOTION INFLAMATION. or Carpel Tunnel.
Yes, the glove will help. Also the massage..
I was at the point that I needed surger..the pain was hittng me all the way up the arm to the neck!
if you can get someone that knows how to do ROLFING that would be the best! I had 6 months of rolfing..it hurt like heck..but spent many years pain free.
It's acting up again..so I need to find another rolfer...
Well, it's by my experience that the gloves and supports do nothing for me. They get nasty dirty and just get in the way.
I can totally empathize with the pain. In addition to freelance I work 50+ hours a week at at commercial wholesale bakery. There are days when I literally do nothing but pipe rosettes on 1200 cheesecakes.
The best thing I've found to combat the soreness is by thoroughly stretching my hands and forerms before I begin working. I know it sounds silly, but I open and close my hands, extend my fingers, etc for about 5-10 minutes every morning and every evening. When I'm particularly achy, a combination of Aleve and a little Icy Hot does the trick. Some days are worse than others, but I think this is just one of those industries where long term damage to your body is just unavoidable. I'm 33 and I've been a chef for about 8 years. That makes my hands about 85 in "chef years"! 
While I'm on the subject, I'd just like to remind everyone how important it is to wear the right shoes. Even if you're baking at home, as tempting as it is to wear your fuzzy slippers, proper footwear aligns your posture, allows for proper circulation in your legs and helps protect your back. We've all had one of those cakes that require us to stand and lean over for a few hours! I love love love "Klogs" shoes for my home kitchen. They are ergonomically correct, completely washable ( rubber) and so comfortable. I buy them at uniform stores like Work N Gear and Life Uniform. They are marketed toward nurses, but chefs love them too.
That's all I have! Hope it helps!
Sharon
Thanks for the very quick response!!! I never thought about stretching, I'll have to do that. I'll probably check for the gloves anyway. I've google the Rolfing and found it interesting. I'll check it also. Never thought about working with shoes in my home. I'll have to check on that too. I'm so glad to have asked this in here!!! I knew I could count on my CC friends!!!
I'll check any tips anyone will give me! I'm only 32 too, and I want to decorate for a long time....
thanks again and keep the tips coming....
I'm a massage therapist by profession, so I get pains from that and cake decorating!
Espom salt soak really helps. Also Arnica cream (found at health food stores or GNC). The stretching is a good idea, but don't try to stretch too far. Easy stretches are best. Here's a link for some good stretches:
http://www.will-harris.com/yoga/rsi.html
I also got pain in my thumb when I at first was working fulltime in a bakery, but learned that the best way to avoid it is to use both hands and not use your thumb to push with. Use the rest of the hand to push the icing bag and try to have the thumb relaxed.
Is this making sense? My english leaves a lot to wish =)
Wow.. how coincidental .. I've been having a lot of pain in my left, top thumb area... I'm not left handed either.. it's been bothering me for about 2 weeks now and I thought, can't be carpal in the left hand since I don't use it that much .. when I reach over to pick up a cup of coffee or a soda, I can barely grip it and it hurts so bad, I just stop and use the right hand instead ... I don't wish this on anyone! It just hurts!
I'm a massage therapist by profession, so I get pains from that and cake decorating!
Espom salt soak really helps. Also Arnica cream (found at health food stores or GNC). The stretching is a good idea, but don't try to stretch too far. Easy stretches are best. Here's a link for some good stretches:
http://www.will-harris.com/yoga/rsi.html
Thanks for the tip! and I'm glad this popped back up....going to do those stretches right now!
so I can be good to go on Monday!
Every night I sleep in a wrist brace that I bought from the pharmacy it really helps a lot by supporting and stabilizing the wrist, since I use the computer a lot at work. Also stretch your wrist by sticking your arm straight out palm pointing up, take your other hand and bend your fingers towards the floor, do this several times a day for about 30 seconds.
I have arthritis in my entire body. I also have had a titanium Plate and screws put in between my elbow and wrist (major head on car crash shattered my bone). I use the gloves while decorating and a brace while I am sleeping as well, also I wrap my arm in something like an ace bandage to offer support where my plate is, and then I bought a parrafin wax bath for the hands and feet. OMG the parrafin relieves so much of my pain. And with the other supports I use it helps out a great deal. It doesn't remove the pain completely but it does help. All of these were recommended by my orthopedic surgeon that put the plate in my arm and skull. Too bad I can't dip my head in the parrafin. HTH
Ann
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and have found the Wilton's Decorator Pro to be great 
.
They are pricey at $29.99 but worth the money. Luckily, I only paid $9.99 each 
(brought five) because the department store was discontinuing them...I just love great bargains 
Clean-up is easy and you can even write with it
The only draw back, you can't use stiff icing 
. The thumb lever is easy to break with the stiff but the medium and thin icing is great. I just call Wilton and they send me out new ones at no charge 
They send me five to ten at a time.
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