Arthritis: Fix my bones!

[Kalmado]

Just to get it out of the way I do realize doctor is the first/best place I should go. Waiting on benefits from my job for an appointment. At 34 I think I'm starting to get signs of arthritis. My mother is 56 and has had rheumatoid arthritis for a very long time. Her joints will swell very badly and she's had moments where she can't even pick things up.

A few months back I was working on a pc and and when trying to position my screwdriver in the case my hand had incredible pain and I dropped my screwdriver. At that point I couldn't move my left thumb. I literally had to use my right hand to straighten out my left thumb. At other times I've had shooting pains from my elbow area that will go all the way down my hands as well as my shins down to my toes. Lately I've been having a lot of wrist and hand pain. Nothing dramatic. Just that dull sense of pain and a very light burning feeling in some areas.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar happenings and what they have learned. Also, any tips to help reduce pain (acetaminophen or aspirin regiment?). I've read gluten can cause flare ups and I definitely have a minor allergy to gluten.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to any responses.

[Melena]

At least on the hand issue, sounds a bit similar to possible carpal tunnel syndrome as it can cause elbow pain. Astylla can attest to that.

[synistar]

I had tendinitis in my hand 6 years ago from repetitive motion. I was using a micropipettor as I did many many times before. My right hand wouldn't function. Pain radiated from my hand all the way up to the shoulder joint. Best thing is Rest and NSAIDs. My hand was in a brace for 3 weeks, a larger brace 3 weeks longer, a cast 3 weeks after that, then 3 weeks physical therapy. I can't say I fully recovered since I now have chronic shoulder and elbow pain.

And I do have a history of arthritis on my mom's side. It usually flares up when it's really cold or after I had a lot of pork product. It could be gout issues since my mom had the same triggers for flare ups.

[Kalmado]

I just ran out of Kroger brand Aleve so I'll need to get some more. That stuff does work. About the steroid type drugs, that's something my mom always complained about. I can't remember what the name was, but she said while it helped her arthritis pain it would make her feel like crap otherwise. My wife has been getting at me to get on an aspirin regiment anyways due to my father dying of a heart attack last year. My family and I aren't close (hadn't talked to dad in about 20 years) and at the funeral everyone said he hadn't shown any signs of problems. Family as far as I know doesn't have a history of heart disease, but if taking an aspirin once a day calms wifey and could help my hand/wrist pain I'm all for it.

[FNH]

While I don't have any advice for the topic, I would say do research on an aspirin regimen and the cons vs. pros of it. I suggest fish oil supplement over the aspirin.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...-20046797?pg=2
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/n...yone-fda-warns
http://www.safemedication.com/safeme...sks-of-Aspirin
http://time.com/91726/who-should-and...daily-aspirin/

[myreality]

See doctor, Diet, and yoga in that order.

[Psion]

D: dont remind me of yoga, i'm so unstretchy that when i lie down and bend my arms at the elbow, i can't touch the floor with them outstreched like that at shoulder height. and downward dog is impossible for me to maintain more than a few seconds. >_< makes me feel like im part stone golem.

[myreality]

Practice makes perfect. That saying fits yoga perfectly. Besides your not going to be able to hold positions for very long when just starting out, just like when a person begins cardio training is not going to run 10 miles just starting out.

[james098]

if these sensations and pain goes through your thump to your 3rd finger but not in little one then it might be carpal tunnel syndrome and you may need surgery to get a fix

[vivbiibasjiu]

Take 30 excedrine and down a bottle of jack, that seems to be the BG-approved cure for all your ails

[Melena]

Take 30 excedrine and down a bottle of jack, that seems to be the BG-approved cure for all your ails

You really are a fucking idiot

[Kalmado]

Take 30 excedrine and down a bottle of jack, that seems to be the BG-approved cure for all your ails

Stick to the FFXI forums where you can be a low key retard. It's better for you in the long run.


Side note, I appreciate everyone's comments (except for the above jackass) so far. Once my insurance kicks in I'll go to the doc. For now, taking one naproxine when the pain hits is helping.

[Cyn]

I have a pretty steady pain in the larger joints of my middle fingers that flares up a lot after intense physical activity. Not sure if it's arthritis or a work related injury (I have to climb ladders and pull ropes a lot), but Naproxen works pretty well for it.

[dasva]

Take 30 excedrine and down a bottle of jack, that seems to be the BG-approved cure for all your ails

Well I suppose death is a "cure"

On a more real note been reading a lot of good stuff about cold therapies as backwards as that sounds. And on a personal note I've noticed that while for years my joint etc pains do get worse in colder environments and can tell when storms coming etc this year I said fuck it and tried forcing my body to adapt to the cold. So far except a few days where I got sick and my temperature was all over the place it seems to have worked and feel warm and less pain and even have the guy from Minnesota telling me I should wear warmer clothes lol

Another thing as somewhat mentioned already is diet. Pretty much any with anti-inflammatory effects or things that directly help bones/cardiovascular should help. Among other things I like to drink 1-2 cups of green tea with ginger and honey. It's not an instant cure to current pain but can certainly notice the difference if go without for a day or 2. Green tea is just good for cardiovascular (among other random things) and a little caffeine is nice unless you already consume some daily. And ginger can actually be a substitute for NSAIDs and is something actually used for various pains like arthritis and just generally good for you. Then there are the normal things eating more garlic or broccoli or Omega 3s other "healthy" fats/oils etc

[nyralucas]

Just to get it out of the way I do realize doctor is the first/best place I should go. Waiting on benefits from my job for an appointment. At 34 I think I'm starting to get signs of arthritis. My mother is 56 and has had rheumatoid arthritis for a very long time. Her joints will swell very badly and she's had moments where she can't even pick things up.

A few months back I was working on a pc and and when trying to position my screwdriver in the case my hand had incredible pain and I dropped my screwdriver. At that point I couldn't move my left thumb. I literally had to use my right hand to straighten out my left thumb. At other times I've had shooting pains from my elbow area that will go all the way down my hands as well as my shins down to my toes. Lately I've been having a lot of wrist and hand pain. Nothing dramatic. Just that dull sense of pain and a very light burning feeling in some areas.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar happenings and what they have learned. Also, any tips to help reduce pain (acetaminophen or aspirin regiment?). I've read gluten can cause flare ups and I definitely have a minor allergy to gluten.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to any responses.