Arthritis pain, what do you use for it?
- Thread starter Angie
- Start date
my father has been taking glucosamine. It's works amazingly for him. Took about 6 months, i think he said, before he began to see any type of results. He is 79 this year and has little to no pain anymore. It does not work for me though. Everyone is an individual and what may work well for one doesn't always mean it will for another, even where the genetic make-up is very close. It's worth trying many different things and different types of things. i spent a few yrs trying to find what worked for me, and my RA Dr nearly gave up... (i had already given up). Then my neurologist found something for my migraines, and it worked Amazingly for my fibro as well.
Another helpful tip i learned about many of the meds built for arthritis pain... they lose some of their ability to help... something along the lines of your body gets used to it and resistant... so sometimes people will trade off with another medication for a month or so then move back to the original medication. i have no experience with this.
Another helpful tip i learned about many of the meds built for arthritis pain... they lose some of their ability to help... something along the lines of your body gets used to it and resistant... so sometimes people will trade off with another medication for a month or so then move back to the original medication. i have no experience with this.
Angie, I’m sorry you are having finger arthritis pain. I also get shooting pains in my fingers, usually if I’ve done a lot of hand work during the day.
I was taking naproxen (Rx strength, but you can get it OTC as Aleve). It worked wonders…but the antidepressant I was on was not the best combination for it. Additionally, in a bad flare, I’d be taking naproxen for perhaps 3-5 days in a row. I suddenly realized that I was breaking out in a body rash that I connected it to the naproxen. Same thing used to happen with aspirin. Now I use ibuprofen (Advil) and so far so good. Again, it’s not the “best” with the antidepressant I’m on, but if I make sure to eat something with it, I seem to be okay.
Voltaren (the topical stuff) works quite well.
Other things to try:
If you can get one, a hot wax machine offers lovely though temporary relief. It also makes your hands feel very soft and smooth.
See if your local hospital has a hand arthritis rehab clinic…they can teach you exercises that keep your fingers more limber, and eventually, that seems to help at least a bit. They can also recommend splints if you are having any issues with your thumbs and/or wrists.
The other standard one that everyone has suggested to me is “watch your weight.” I always wonder how a big tummy can make my fingers sore…lol. I gather that it’s something to do with what kinds of foods I’m eating that don’t let me lose weight readily. Salads, veggies, lean meat, legumes, turmeric and other anti-inflammatory diet foods help. My sister swears by her low fat, low sugar, high legume diet.
If your hands are stiff and sore in the morning, running them under warm (not hot!) water can help. The challenge with that in the winter is that warm water dries out skin. You need to use a nice lotion after.
I hope you find some relief soon. You can vent to me about this anytime. I so understand it at least from own experience. Take care!
I was taking naproxen (Rx strength, but you can get it OTC as Aleve). It worked wonders…but the antidepressant I was on was not the best combination for it. Additionally, in a bad flare, I’d be taking naproxen for perhaps 3-5 days in a row. I suddenly realized that I was breaking out in a body rash that I connected it to the naproxen. Same thing used to happen with aspirin. Now I use ibuprofen (Advil) and so far so good. Again, it’s not the “best” with the antidepressant I’m on, but if I make sure to eat something with it, I seem to be okay.
Voltaren (the topical stuff) works quite well.
Other things to try:
If you can get one, a hot wax machine offers lovely though temporary relief. It also makes your hands feel very soft and smooth.
See if your local hospital has a hand arthritis rehab clinic…they can teach you exercises that keep your fingers more limber, and eventually, that seems to help at least a bit. They can also recommend splints if you are having any issues with your thumbs and/or wrists.
The other standard one that everyone has suggested to me is “watch your weight.” I always wonder how a big tummy can make my fingers sore…lol. I gather that it’s something to do with what kinds of foods I’m eating that don’t let me lose weight readily. Salads, veggies, lean meat, legumes, turmeric and other anti-inflammatory diet foods help. My sister swears by her low fat, low sugar, high legume diet.
If your hands are stiff and sore in the morning, running them under warm (not hot!) water can help. The challenge with that in the winter is that warm water dries out skin. You need to use a nice lotion after.
I hope you find some relief soon. You can vent to me about this anytime. I so understand it at least from own experience. Take care!
May I suggest if you havn't done so already to get it assessed by a doctor so as to ascertain whether it's rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. That way an appropriate management plan can be set up for you.
Regarding the use of NSAIDS though potentially effective, I would advise against self treating with them. Better to let that be a medical professional's decision having taken into account co-morbidities, currently prescribed meds plus other possible associated risk factors as amongst other things are associated with adverse cardio, hepatic and gastro-intestinal effects.
Regarding the use of NSAIDS though potentially effective, I would advise against self treating with them. Better to let that be a medical professional's decision having taken into account co-morbidities, currently prescribed meds plus other possible associated risk factors as amongst other things are associated with adverse cardio, hepatic and gastro-intestinal effects.