I'm clueless on this one....just wondering what it is about the parafin treatments that are supposed to help? I've gotten a paraffin 'dip' before to help with dryness (when getting a manicure and/or pedicure) but I don't see that dryness is related to arthritis. Is it the heat that is supposed to help? If so, wouldn't it make just as much sense- and be so much cheaper and easier- to throw a couple of hand towels in the dryer for 15 minutes and then wrap your hands in the hot towels until they cool?

The fsu (former spousal unit) has arthritis in his shoulder, and his doctor told him he should hold off on the drugs for as long as possible, because 1. once you took them on a regular basis (daily, every other day) you wouldn't stop and 2. long-term usage of anti-inflammatory drugs did bad things to your stomach and digestive system. So I think your desire to do without drugs is the smart one- I know that he takes very hot showers and stands with the water beating on his shoulder. Sometimes he'll get one of those instant hand warmers and put it against his shoulder.

Just a couple of pass-along suggestions for what they're worth.....good luck!

I rec'd one of those wax machines as an XMAS gift 2 years ago and never used it. (I forgot I had it). Anyway, like Lucy said, I thought their purpose was more for getting rid of dryness rather than a treatment for sore, arthritic hands. Good luck with finding something to make your hands feel better!

The paraffin is for moisturizing. The heat is the "therapy" part of the treatment. I'd skip the paraffin mess and just order the heated mitts for about $35. Kind of like electric heating pad mittens. Slather on some cream and sit and watch t.v. or something for a while. Feels good and no mess!

The paraffin is definately messy. I'd go to the salon for a treat, now and then, but I'd buy those nifty heat patches. I like those because there is less of a chance of burning my skin with them as opposed to home remedies and heating pads.

I severed a tendon in my hand once...as part of the therapy, I did parafin wax treatments. They rocked. Since my whole hand was isolated for six weeks, I lost a lot of muscle and getting it back to normal was rough...but the wax treatments definitely helped and felt REALLY good.

Hi. I have had arthritis in my hands and have had lots of paraffin wax treatments. They feel wonderful, help pain/stiffness, and as an extra make your skin feel wonderful. I live in the UK and I had them free at the physiotherapy department. I would imagine in that case the same wax was used over and over though, so in retrospect a bit of an icky thought. Recently I have noticed small paraffin wax units for sale fairly cheaply in shops over here, but I imagine with the exchange rate they wouldn't be much cheaper than your $70. These days I have fibromyalgia(?) & I use wheat filled bags that I can heat in the microwave a lot and they are cheap, clean and easy, and more importantly work! If you buy small ones they contour around your hands better. Hope this helps. Oh, and by the way, my eldest son was born on August 5 and will be 14 this year.

My mother-in-law suffers from arthritis. Her doctor told her to use the parafin wax therapy. She loves it. She says it does help her. She has bought the home machine. She had just called me this morning to ask me where she might get refills cheaper than ordering them from the people that makes the machine.
I found them at Sallys Beauty supply on sale for her. She is also on medication but has it bad enough it doesn't always help. Hope this helps.

My doctor just wrote me a prescription for paraffin wax treatments for pain and swelling in my hands. He wants me to buy a machine and do the treatments on a weekly basis. I am curious to see wether or not it will help... at this point anything would be better than the pain and swelling!