Thumb arthritis

[Catrin]

Thanks for the tip I will certainly try it. Do you have problems with the pain waking you at night?

[marni]

Thanks for the tip I will certainly try it. Do you have problems with the pain waking you at night?

yes the pain does wake me a bit at night but its mostly on waking up and trying to move and then depending on what I am doing on and off during the day which is why I wear them both sleeping and waking.

[Catrin]

yes the pain does wake me a bit at night but its mostly on waking up and trying to move and then depending on what I am doing on and off during the day which is why I wear them both sleeping and waking.

I should have never experimented with a less strong/toxic medication, that seemed to have really set me up. Or my timing for the experiment was just plain bad - the break-through pain isn't as bad as it was, but I think it is as good as it is going to get. After 3 full years on the Voltarin I HAD to try, though I probably could have done it smarter than how I approached it. Such is life, I can still use my hands and that is a blessing - and as aggravating as it is, it is MUCH better than when I was taking the Celebrex (or nothing).

Are you talking about something like this? Merino wool Here is something else at Amazon, still a wool blend and less expensive - I do have long fingers, but small hands. I like the price of the Amazon version, but am wondering if the cable knit might be bulky. Still looking, but it is probably down to these two to choose from - it is nice that the Etsy version isn't from China...

[Dogmama]

Hi Catrin
Regarding experimenting with less strong NSAIDs - I did that too. It took 3 weeks to get back to a normal blood level and less pain. Won't go there again.

I had bad thumb arthritis and saw a hand specialist. He did an "anchovy" surgery where (I'm probably going to botch this) they take out part of the bad joint and fill it with a wadded up tendon. He was supposedly the best surgeon in town, as attested to by other people in the medical field.

The result - I have less mobility and I still have pain (but not nearly as bad.) He assured me that I would regain 95% of my strength - not true. I'm still leery of lifting dumbbells over my head during a bench press. When it is cold and damp, the pain is bad. I now have pain in my other thumb and I'm going to live with it.

My PCP was right. Avoid surgery at all costs. That's my experience.