Comments on: Rheumatoid Arthritis Hand – Safe Handshake

By: melissa

melissa — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:48:25 +0000

I always give my left hand, because it is not as tender as the right. But there is one gentleman at church who squeezes way too tight. I will think about how to implement your suggestion, though the moving forward first part will be difficult, as I don’t stand during Greeting time — greeting time is over before I’m out of my seat! Thank you for your continued service to the RA community! God bless and Merry Christmas!

By: Michaela

Michaela — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:03:08 +0000

Sadly even when I say I have arthrtis people like to test to see if it is true or flat out refuse to believe me and so give extra hard handshakes.

I avoid them all now. I don’t care if it is rude considered rude. If I have already explained it causes physical damage to do then than a hard handshake is an assault. And one that I get to pay for for the rest of my life. Not them.

Sadly my worset damage is in my wrists, there are bones literally worn to less than half their size and my ulnar sits on top of my wrist. There is no handshake in the world I can do that I can go too.

Who still really believes a firm handshake is important? It shows nothng other than that you can shke hands hard. I used to be able to. I’m actually a much stronger person now mentally than I was when I could pull your arm off

By: Carol Smith

Carol Smith — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:33:51 +0000

This is what I do nowadays i used to dread shaking hands.

By: Karen Austin

Karen Austin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:22:25 +0000

I love this handshake – it is such an easy way to avoid the pain and not look anti-social. Come to think of it, I realize now that I myself have done this very handshake, instinctively, on particularly bad days!

By: Coral Otway Luke

Coral Otway Luke — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:08:52 +0000

Here in France there are various ‘handshakes’ especially around the more rural areas and these are nothing to do with RA!

A normal handshake, clasping the wrist or even offering the elbow! this is normal if someone has messy hands and still want to follow formalities.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:18:20 +0000

However, I tried this handshake with another woman who’s RA didn’t let her fingers straighten out at all, and it bothered her, I think. In that case, the problem was that I couldn’t look down first to notice how her hand was. So if we can notice that someone else has a disability too, I think just a gentle pat on the hand would be a good substitute.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:14:20 +0000

I do it so automatically that I did it recently to a new dr & he seemed to reciprocate.

By: Dawn B

Dawn B — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:56:07 +0000

Kelly, I love this handshake and am glad you posted the video. I have practiced on my hubby a few times so it will be automatic. I am not afraid to shake hands anymore.Thank you:)

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:12:18 +0000

Thanks, Vlad. I can see how that would help.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:03:40 +0000

I have found when shaking hands to keep my pointer finger extended, like im pointing past their wrist. im not sure why but it somehow it lessens the pressure. im a big guy and other guys like to squeeze my hand and this helps alot