Arthritis

[Bruno28]

I've just found out I have arthritis in both my thumbs. Its in the joint at the base of the thumb and the one below that at the wrist.

Anyone have any advice on managing it?

[LBTC]

Bruno, I'm sorry to hear that. Two things I've heard about arthritis: keep moving and take glucosamine.

I wouldn't be surprised if these may provide a good type of movement for your hands and thumbs:
http://www.natashascafe.com/html/balls.html


Hugs and pain reducing butterflies,
~T~

[spokewench]

I have something very similar. It is actually instability of that joint area, which leads to arthritis. The instability of the tendons and ligaments around the area causes the bones to rub together when you do squeezing type movements i.e. when you use a manual can opener! There is a type of brace that I wear for stability (which actually does not work well for biking however). Advil (antiinflammatories help), not much else does. I try to avoid some of the things that really hurt my joints i.e. the manual can opener (i bought an electric); so if I avoid the stuff that hurts it that I don't have to do; it gives me less pain when I do the stuff I love, like ride mountain bikes, etc.

Sorry, I can't give you a cureall or anything of the kind, but you just have to learn what really hurts you and if you can devise a different way to do it, devise that way. There will always be something that hurts, but like I say, minimize those things you can do another way and it will allow you to minimize the pain when you do stuff you want to do but can't find any other way of doing!

If it means anything, there are others out there in the same boat! I've been having problems for at least 10 years if not more.

spoke

[arielle]

Why not try moving your thumbs once in a while. Exercise them. Take medicine if it hurts too much.

[bmccasland]

Bruno,
When I was diagnosed with arthritis my Doc said to buy a bottle of the glucosamine, enough for a month. I can't remember the dosage, but 1000 mg / day comes to mind. Anyway if I didn't notice a difference in a month, don't bother buying another bottle. Apparently the glucosamine doesn't work for everyone. It won't hurt you to give it a try.

But keeping moving is important. I find keeping warm is also important, so I'll wear gloves in the winter now, when in the past I'd just tolerate my hands being a bit chilled. Of course at this very moment, my cat Bonnie is doing her very best to keep my left hand warm - she's partially on my lap, and partially draped across my hand. At least I can still type (sort of).

[Trek420]

But keeping moving is important. I find keeping warm is also important, so I'll wear gloves in the winter now, when in the past I'd just tolerate my hands being a bit chilled. Of course at this very moment, my cat Bonnie is doing her very best to keep my left hand warm - she's partially on my lap, and partially draped across my hand. At least I can still type (sort of).

What she sez. Keep moving, find things you like to do with your thumb. Knit, learn sign language, juggle, play piano or another instrument, use those Chinese medicine chromed ball thingies that you rotate in your hands, stage finger puppet shows .... just keep moving the joint and surrounding muscles.

If you stop moving Arth takes over, don't let it win. Then it becomes a cycle of "I hurt so I can't do the finger puppet show so it hurts so I...." Keep moving. You'll have to adapt, warm ups first, gloves under the finger puppets .... keep moving.

There's anecdotal evidence that ginger, turmeric and garlic help so Thai food!

Glucosamine helps me but bmc' right, it does not work for all.

Then drape the effected area with a warm and soothing cat

[OakLeaf]

Bruno,
When I was diagnosed with arthritis my Doc said to buy a bottle of the glucosamine, enough for a month. I can't remember the dosage, but 1000 mg / day comes to mind. Anyway if I didn't notice a difference in a month, don't bother buying another bottle. Apparently the glucosamine doesn't work for everyone. It won't hurt you to give it a try.

Quality of glucosamine is important, too. From the studies, hydrochloride is worthless, sulfate definitely allows cartilage to rebuild but may or may not bring a resulting decrease in pain. (Whether it prevents increased pain from joint spaces that continue to narrow is, obviously, impossible to quantify.) Sulfate is way more expensive, not surprisingly.

I've actually been getting better relief of pain and crepitus lately with shark cartilage than with glucosamine/chondroitin. Unfortunately there was an issue where one manufacturer had one lot of contaminated shark cartilage, and now it's really hard to find.

Also try an Omega-3 supplement like freshly ground flaxseeds or Udo's Choice oil. Capsaicin rubs (probably not the best thing if you wear contact lenses though...trust me on this one).

Set up your computer so you don't use your thumbs for mouse clicks. Tap on a touch pad or do finger-clicks. Clicking is incredibly stressful to the thumb joint.

If you don't like Thai food, Indian food also is full of ginger, turmeric and garlic.

And +1 to keeping the joint moving. You'll both help keep it supple, and keep the muscles stronger.