topic Re: arthritic hands in Wellness

arthritic hands

halfpint1 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:01:31 GMT

What if anything do you take? My back is being affected again altho I had an operation a few years ago. The doctor said he cleaned it out.

Re: arthritic hands

qualitygal — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:23:36 GMT

between arthritis in hands and back disk degeneration, Ibprofen helps.

Re: arthritic hands

judy0330 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:26:00 GMT

I was diagnosed with "very bad arthritis" in both hands in January. I am the biggest shot phobic you could ever meet. (I literally passed out in the waiting room after having a flu shot years ago.) I decided I had to try a cortisone shot because the pain was terrible. I had actually had cortisone shots in the past which did nothing and I ended up having 4 orthopedic surgeries. (Two rotator cuff and two wrist surgeries for DeQuervains.) Honestly -- I had zero expectation that the shot would do anything. Well -- it was like a miracle. It took awhile but the pain just about went away. By September (actually earlier) the shot had worn off and the pain was back full force. I had another shot and once again -- the pain is gone. I still can't open jars -- etc -- but at least I am not in constant pain. I am also taking Meloxicam but I have taken it before and it did very little to ease the pain. I am sure that it is the cortisone that has made such a huge difference. There is also the possibility of surgery which would be a permanent fix (too complicated to explain here) but it is not an easy surgery and I would like to avoid it. I hope you are able to get some relief. I totally understand how bad the pain can be.

Re: arthritic hands

blackhole99 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:27:33 GMT

Make sure you check with your doctor, but both my husband and I have osteoarthritis in our hands and I have it in my feet too. I use Arnica gel when I get up in the morning and before bed which is pretty effective for me. My husband whose hands are very painful uses a product called Australian Dream Cream the active ingred. is Histamine Dihydrochloride. It really works for him and he also wears hand splints at night. I had a bout with bursitis in my shoulder a few months ago and that product worked instantly on the pain for me and also the swelling. Hope you can find some relief.

Re: arthritic hands

shaggygirl — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:32:51 GMT

Those cortisone shots help but not long term. I had one in my thumb about a year or so ago at the base of the thumb, that joint is a swollen mess from arthritis, OMG TALK ABOUT HURTING!!. Never again in my thumb, I'll deal with the arthritis pain before I do that again. The shot only gave me a few months relief. God Bless You for going back for a second shot, you're a braver woman than I am.Two Advil works pretty good for me to take most of the edge off of a flare up.

Re: arthritic hands

nana59 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:41:48 GMT

@shaggygirl wrote:
Those cortisone shots help but not long term. I had one in my thumb about a year or so ago at the base of the thumb, that joint is a swollen mess from arthritis, OMG TALK ABOUT HURTING!!. Never again in my thumb, I'll deal with the arthritis pain before I do that again. The shot only gave me a few months relief. God Bless You for going back for a second shot, you're a braver woman than I am.Two Advil works pretty good for me to take most of the edge off of a flare up.

had one of those shots in my thumb.....doctor told me it was gonna be painful and he really didn't like giving that type of shot......boy, was he right.....i have a very high tolerance for pain, but blacked out for a few seconds during that procedure.....you're right, NEVER AGAIN!!

Re: arthritic hands

ALRATIBA — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:45:26 GMT

My left hand is the problem .... the doctor gave me an injection of cortisone w/novocaine and sent me to have a splint made to mobilze my hand/wrist/thumb when I have flareups. After a day or so of wearing splint, I'm usually okay for a few more months.

I had some serious side effects with NSAIDS ... Tylenol is all I can take for pain.

Re: arthritic hands

SXMGirl — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:51:54 GMT

I have some arthritis in my left hand in the soft spot between my thumb and forefinger. I will go through times when it gets really uncomfortable and then no pain at all, like now. What I do at night, when there is pain, is to use one of the roll-on meds like Icy Hot, Biofreeze, or Dr. Hoy. I then use one of the small Salonpas with lidocane patches (I get the 60 pack from Amason). I also have a brace so that I do not put undue pressure on my hand--again, only when I need it, especially if I am working out. No way am I getting a cortisone shot in my hand. I have had so many of them that I truly believe that my blood is being replaced with cortisone.

Re: arthritic hands

RedTop — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 19:02:06 GMT

My mother has severe arthritis in her hands and neck. She takes Aleve every day, and often soaks her hands in hot water to warm them and loosen them up a bit.

Re: arthritic hands

lulu2 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 19:48:22 GMT

@halfpint1

Everyone is different. Some of us can get by with Arthritis Strength Tylenol, Advil or Aleve. Some have relief from cortisone shots. There are prescription drugs that may help. Please see a doctor so the two of you can come up with a plan for you.

Re: arthritic hands

LilacTree — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 20:11:50 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
between arthritis in hands and back disk degeneration, Ibprofen helps.

@qualitygal

If I could give you a thousand hearts, I would.

Put my delivered groceries away today. Had to sit in a chair and get up, reposition the chair, and get up, reposition the chair, all the while my hands and back screaming at me . . . STOP!! It wasn't even a large order, but it took me two hours.

@Do you ever think it's just not worth it, @qualitygal? I don't always feel that way, but today I sure do. I am used to, but so sick of constant pain.

Re: arthritic hands

Coquille — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 20:50:19 GMT

@halfpint1 I can't take Advil, Aleve etc. I've had two pancreatic surgeries so those medication are a no subject for me. My Orthopedist gave me a rx for Voltaren for my arthritic knees. He said I could use it on my hands if I wanted. It's Advil but in a gel form so the stomach isn't affected. I use it every couple of days from the top of my thumb down to my wrist. It really helps! It comes with a strip which shows you how much to use. I use half of the recommended dose. If I pull a muscle, I use it for that too. I find it amazing at times. I bought it before I went on Medicare (few months ago) so I don't know how much it costs.

Re: arthritic hands

febe1 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:19:10 GMT

While waiting in line at the pharmacy one day, an older veteran told me what worked with him for the pain of arthritis. He said he takes golden raisins and soaks them in a glass of gin. Removes raisins and drinks the gin.

Re: arthritic hands

shaggygirl — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:33:46 GMT

@febe1 wrote:
While waiting in line at the pharmacy one day, an older veteran told me what worked with him for the pain of arthritis. He said he takes golden raisins and soaks them in a glass of gin. Removes raisins and drinks the gin.

Have heard of that one before but the other way around....eat the raisins after they've been soaking in the gin for.........uhm, think it's at least 5 days. Or maybe it was only eat 5 of the gin soaked raisins a day. Well whatever it was it had to do with gin & raisins.

Re: arthritic hands

on the bay — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:37:33 GMT

@febe1 wrote:
While waiting in line at the pharmacy one day, an older veteran told me what worked with him for the pain of arthritis. He said he takes golden raisins and soaks them in a glass of gin. Removes raisins and drinks the gin.

Or forget the raisins and just drink the gin lol! I bet that will take care of it!

I have heard some people say the raisin/gin thing works but its not proven scientifically. I actually tried it and didn't notice any help at all.

Re: arthritic hands

febe1 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:51:29 GMT

@shaggygirl wrote:
@febe1 wrote:
While waiting in line at the pharmacy one day, an older veteran told me what worked with him for the pain of arthritis. He said he takes golden raisins and soaks them in a glass of gin. Removes raisins and drinks the gin.

Have heard of that one before but the other way around....eat the raisins after they've been soaking in the gin for.........uhm, think it's at least 5 days. Or maybe it was only eat 5 of the gin soaked raisins a day. Well whatever it was it had to do with gin & raisins.

It was so long ago, @shaggygirl. I could have it backwards.

Re: arthritic hands

Sweetbay magnolia — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 23:12:56 GMT

I find ibuprofen to be helpful, though I have learned (and am still learning) that I just can't do what I used to.

My work in horticulture is pretty hand-dependent. Maybe someday I'll answer phones or something.👊🏼

Re: arthritic hands

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 23:23:04 GMT

@halfpint1

Get yourself a tube of Aspercreme and use it like hand cream for a few days ... that should be long enough for you to determine how it works for you. Best price I've found is $5 at Walmart.

Re: arthritic hands

twinkies — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 18:02:46 GMT

t drink the gin .lol

cathy from ma

Re: arthritic hands

hckynut — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 23:05:05 GMT

@halfpint1 wrote:
What if anything do you take? My back is being affected again altho I had an operation a few years ago. The doctor said he cleaned it out.

@halfpint1

Have had 2 back surgeries and am minus 3 discs. Of course that includes arthritis, but 2 of those disc were removed(9" scar on my back) over 40 years ago. Didn't or has never kept me from my heavy lifting jobs, or any of my active lifestyle(playing hockey/a ref, and thousands of running miles).

From my job I have arthritis in 3 fingers on each hand. Many mornings I cannot open my hands until I run very warm water over them for varying amounts of time. Pain? To my pain versus discomfort is subjective. Pain to me might be discomfort to you or others.

I cannot take any anti-inflammatory meds because of my colon bleeding issues(125+ blood transfusions and 30+ iron infusions)/I will not take any Opioid pain meds, I will take the pain(discomfort) any time. My only med is 500mg. Tylenol, so seldom take anything.

Sure, I have backaches, but I am once again ice skating 2-3 times a week(skating on cold ice has a tendency to contract/tighten back muscles. I do at least 10-15 minutes every day doing abdominal strengthening exercises, along with at least that long stretching all rear side muscles and connective tissues. This does not include my 10-15 minutes on my Teeter Inversion table.

That is what I take(do) to be able to function living my still pretty active lifestyle. As for pain(discomfort)? So far I am able to deal with it and still function at an active level with which I am satisfied.

Everyone, if they live long enough, runs into different levels and types of arthritis. Not saying pain and movement restrictions are the same as that is not realistic. I can relate to some who suffer from arthritis and how they deal with it.

hckynut(john)