A woman from Leicestershire who suffers from severe arthritis has found a novel way of easing her discomfort. She bought what she thought was a massager from a health products catalogue, but it turned out to be a sex toy!
Frances Thornton is in her 90s and lives in south Leicestershire. She has arthritis that affects her whole body, but especially her hands.
When she wakes up in the morning she often finds that her hands are clenched tightly into fists, so she wanted to buy something to ease her pain.
She found what she thought was a massager in a health products catalogue and sent off for it, but what arrived was not what she was expecting!
"When it came I couldn't believe my eyes, it wasn't what I thought it was. It's stainless steel, it's about seven inches long and about an inch round."
Frances's friend quickly told her what she was holding: "I said, 'what is it?', and my friend said, 'well I know what it is, it's a vibrator'. And I said, 'well what's that?'
"She said, 'well haven't you heard of Anne Summers?', well I didn't know who Anne Summers was because I don't know the lady, but apparently it's a shop and you can buy things like that there."
"It really gave me relief"
Frances wasn't going to use her new purchase but one night she woke up and the pain in her hands was especially bad: "My hands were so bad this night, I got out of bed and put a battery in this thing and sat and held it.
"My hands clench up but by holding it between my hands it really gave me relief."
Doctor's Orders Two weeks after she began using her 'massager' Frances had to go and see her doctor.
She told him that she'd found a way to relieve her arthritis, but was reluctant to tell him how.
After he explained he must know what it is to make sure it wasn't going to harm her in the long term, Frances told him: "He laughed, the tears ran down his face. He said, 'oh Frances, Frances, Frances, what shall I do with you?'
"He said, 'I've had a terrible day but my word you've made my day! If it's doing you good like that, carry on using it, don't worry what anybody says.'
"It sets me up for the day!"
Frances is still using her 'pain reliever' and she says she wished she could have bought one sooner: "I didn't know what it was when it came, but by gum it's been worth every penny!
"It's the best bit of equipment I've had. I'd have had one years ago if I'd known all about this - it sets me up for the day!"
