So, I've been making orders and samples of cookies like CRAZY for the last two weeks. I know I've done at least 400 cookies. I'd love to do more, but my hand feels like it's going to fall off, and my upper body is so sore from rolling cookie dough out.
How do you guys deal with it? Am I completely out of shape? lol HELP! 
I certainly don't do that many cookies, but lately between doing cookies and peeling a million apples for canning(4 bushesl so far)my hands are taking a beating.
What really helps me(and I am looking forward to it tonight) is my hot wax thingy. I don't know the actual name. It uses parrafin and really rejuvenates my hands. I also have arthritis, that is why I got it in the first place. If feels awesome and makes your hands so soft. They make special very lightly scented wax for it. I think you can get them at most places.
I have seen a special glove you can get for support also somewhere. I was thinking of trying that sometime.
Good luck, hope you can get some relief!
Your cookies are great by the way also 
I had a wax thingy once but gave it to my mom cuz I didn't think I'd ever use it. I believe it was called a wax bath by HomeMetics. The lady that gave it to me said you can use it on hands, feet, elbows and said you could even put cotton gloves(?) on overnight. I did do a hand treatment once, and it did make them soft. I've also heard of the wrist guard (almost sure Wilton makes one).
Uh oh, I get that a lot...I think it's the beginning of carpal tunnel syndrome. 
Check out this link and see if you have the symptoms I did:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm#82223049
It started with my hands getting cold and numb while I slept, which was so uncomfortable! It took an hour or so of moving them around after I woke up to be able to be ready to get back to work.
You have to give your hands a rest from all that piping, even using one of those rubber squeeze balls for a few minutes every day helps. Try to give yourself a break every 30 minutes or so and don't pipe for hours and hours a day if you can help it. 
I was trying to do way too much and was actually piping for about 13-17 hours some days. That's a fast way to destroy your hands for good! 
i get the same thing all the time. i find that if i'm making a lot of cookies, that if i wear a brace on my wrist to bed, it helps a ton.
grumpyx7 - you're cookies rock! I haven't attempted rolled cookies since I got bit by the baking/decorating bug in summer. It's on my list for fall/holiday baking. No wonder you're getting oodles of cookie orders, if I saw those, I'd want a few dozen for myself too.
Hugs,
Diana in VA
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