Post by followyourarrow on Nov 14, 2023 16:59:54 GMT -5
I saw an ortho today and he said I have arthritis in my hand and wrist. It's not super bad yet, but I did have a bad flair up over the weekend. He said when I have a flair up I can get steroids and anti-inflammatories. I asked about preventing it and he just shrugged his shoulders. Said this is only the beginning (I'm 45) and it will get worse. If you have arthritis any suggestions? Should I try to find someone who offers more than this guy did?
There really isn’t a lot they can do, other than handle the symptoms. I have been deal8ng with it for nearly 40 years, since I was 24.
NSAIDs are the main help. Heat helped me. There have been some recent reports out that injecting steroids into a joint can hasten deterioration, so would try to do this only as a last resort. I found steroids effective, until they weren’t. Then I scheduled surgery. I knew the joint was toast, just wanted to kick the surgery can down the road a little longer.
About NSAIDs, there are a lot on the market and IME not all are the same effectivess for me. I have tried a lot of them, including some that were pulled from the market in the mid 2000s. So if one doesn’t help, try another. For me, Bextra was my all time favorite. I found it very effective and only needed to take it as needed, once/day. It was yanked from the market and found out when I tried to get a refill. My second is diclofenac. Third is ibuprofen. Celebrex works well, but needed to take it daily and wanted to take it when it was needed. The rest I found largely ineffective.
I am sorry. I have significant osteoarthritis in several joints. It was severe enough to mean right knee replacement in my 50s. I'm sure my hands, hips, neck and ankles are impacted as well. If I've been sewing a lot-- especially bigger projects with lots of fabric like gowns, bathrobes or curtains-- my hands pay a price. Some nights they keep me awake. I try to pace myself.
Suggestions I was given by sports medicine and orthopedics:
Eat a good diet and maintain normal weight and blood sugar. I struggle here.
Some folks fine supplements help-- Osteo-Biflex, Omega-3s, collagen, turmeric. I've not trialed turmeric yet, but of the others, only collagen seemed to maybe help a little. YMMV. Mom swears by Omega-3s.
"Motion is lotion"-- exercises to gently work through a range of motion daily. I do a 20-minute routine to get things moving daily.
Hot/cold therapy-- generally ice is used to relieve swelling after use while heat is best to loosen stiff joins and increase range of motion. Plus heat feels good. Mom has a paraffin bath for her arthritic paws that feels amazing.
Long term NSAID use can be problematic even OTC stuff. I've only done Naprosyn and Ibuprofen and have dealt with stomach ulcers and subconjunctival hemorrhages. Plus it raises my already high-ish BP. Your doctor is best to advise you. My doctor suggests Arthritis Strength Tylenol-- it's somewhat helpful.
Topical medication can help. Some are just warm and feel good, but there's also a topical NSAID that is rubbed in. Ask your doc if you can use that on your hands. Voltaran is the one I use.
I've only done injections into my knees. In the right I did cortisone injections which offered no relief. I also did a Synvisc injection which was just as ineffective. My left knee is bone-on-bone in a single compartment (so not as bad as the right), cortisone injection did seem to offer some relief but I am leery of further joint damage so I would make it more of s "special event" treatment-- like if I was touring Europe or walking the beach somewhere. Sand is hard.
Compression feels good. I don't know that it slows things down, but it reduces pain and swelling. I wear knee sleeves if I know I'm going to be walking more than usual or on very hard surfaces. I also have hand wrist compression I wear when I sew sometimes.
I feel your pain, literally. I only have one kidney and am advised not to take NSAIDs, so I use mostly tylenol. But Voltaren is amazing. It helps with my wrists, fingers, shoulders, whatever hurts. Also, I have one of those wrist braces that is really for Carpal tunnel, but I find it helps if I wear it when I sleep when my wrists are bothering me. It may be completely in my head, I don't know.
Post by chickadee77 on Nov 15, 2023 10:21:47 GMT -5
Voltaren is nice. As a pp said, prolonged nsaid use can be problematic, but I will occasionally pop a naproxen if heat, cold, movement don't do anything.
I have it in my lower back and my hips, and I've started feeling twinges in my hands. My H has had arthritis and gout since his early 20s. It is really dependent on what feels good in the moment; some days ice feels amazing, some days I want to jump in a hot bath or shower and never get put. Some days a walk loosens everything up, and others it exacerbates the pain 🤷♀️
Not helpful, maybe, but listen to your body and find several different coping strategies for your arsenal.
I feel your pain, literally. I only have one kidney and am advised not to take NSAIDs, so I use mostly tylenol. But Voltaren is amazing. It helps with my wrists, fingers, shoulders, whatever hurts. Also, I have one of those wrist braces that is really for Carpal tunnel, but I find it helps if I wear it when I sleep when my wrists are bothering me. It may be completely in my head, I don't know.
It’s not in your head at all! I find that keeping certain joints immobilized (especially when sleeping) really reduces pain and stiffness.
Post by childofhiphop on Nov 16, 2023 17:24:14 GMT -5
I have had osteoarthritis since I was a teenager.
I had injections (first supartz - provided relief once then was worthless, then steroids - hit or miss).
I had my knee scoped (minor surgery) in the hope that minute debris was causing the inflammation and pain. Nope.
I have had more than a cup of fluid drained off in a single injection. Ouch. Relief for a week or so.
I made it to 48 before my full replacement due to bone on bone. I think because I was relatively young when I had the surgery that I have excellent range of motion. I cannot lie, the first 3-4 weeks after the surgery, I was questioning why I had it since there was not only pain still but all of the work of recovery. Then one day I woke up and the pain was just gone and I felt normal and like I could walk flights of stairs.
Fast forward 10 years… My 2nd knee is acting up currently. I am in the queue for replacement (booking 7-10 months out). I manage with multiple facets. I use heat and wrap it at night. Depending on inflammation, I take OTC NSAIDS. If it is bad, I take Mobic and it calms to more manageable inflammation within a day or two. Daily, I take turmeric and omega three and magnesium supplements (I don’t know that they help immediately but I’m certain I’d feel a difference if I stopped them for a week or so.
Feel free to PM me if you want more info. Sorry you are suffering.
I was just diagnosed last week with arthritis in my neck, which is causing nerve pain down my right arm. I’ve tried steroids, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxer and Gabapentin for nerve pain with no relief. I go in 12/7 for a steroid shot. I did ask my doctor about managing it, and she said there’s not much to do, since it’s already there.
Post by Jalapeñomel on Nov 17, 2023 13:00:31 GMT -5
I have arthritis in all kinds of places: back, ankles, wrists, knees. The arthritis in my back is coupled with other issues, so that one I treat with a pain management doctor (epidurals and trigger shots and daily meds), the rest I treat with over the counter pain meds—-Motrin or Naproxen (they work better for some aches so I alternate)