Arthritis in the fingers

[AlRob]

I'm 53. In the last few years I've developed what seems to be arthritis mostly in the last joint of my left hand index finger. Initially it only bothered me in the morning and if I played the guitar for a few minutes it would work its way out. There are certain chords, even a basic C chord, that are difficult until the joint has warmed up. Lately though it's become worse and it crops up at all times of the day and takes me longer to warm up to be able to play. At this point fortunately, I can always get the arthritis to work its way out in a short time - just by noodling around. Anyone else experiencing this problem? Any suggestions dealing with this? I would be interested in hearing others' experiences. I realize this will probably always be with me and most likely get worse and possibly spread to other fingers as well.
Isn't getting old fun? ;-)
Thank you!

 

[teleman1]

Glucosomine/Condroitin not the correct spelling, but it will be your friend.

 

[guitarmook]

47. Have stiffness every morning in both hands - 1st/2nd knuckles, fingers and thumbs.

Some days they stay stiff for hours (today), some days it clears quickly. I first noticed it about 4 years ago, but it was more intermittent then.

Have had some relief taking glucosamine and chondritin, but am not good at taking them regularly, which is the whole point.

Will be making an appointment soon to talk to my Doctor at our annual physical about that and my knees. But since I have a history of arthritis on both sides, it's not so much about whether I have it, but what I can do about it...

 

[spamsponge]

I have the beginnings of arthritis in my lower back. Sometimes the only thing that gets me going is 20 minutes of heating pad, 40 minutes off, repeat.
I didn't believe something that simple would work, but it does for me.

 

[bluesjunior]

I was diagnosed with Osteo-arthritis some years back and although mine is worse in my big toes and left shoulder, like you I also have it in the outer joint of my left pinkie which eased a lot as I played but then would be stiff and painful again. I can't take NSAIDS like Ibrufen etc as they upset my stomach and after trying various prescribed painkillers eventually came to find that Tramadol gave me the most relief for my general symptoms. This didn't help my pinkie when applying pressure like playing guitar though. I tried the glucosamine/condroiten etc but never found it a great help to be honest. The thing that has worked best for me in easing specific points like my pinkie has been a prescribed cream called Capsaican(Zacin 0.025% w/w cream). You must rub it completely in and as it is more or less the same as chilli peppers be careful not to touch around your eyes or private parts, please don't ask how I found that out . Anyway give it a try and I hope it helps, it has certainly helped me.

 

[jzgtrguy]

Active Release technique might help. http://www.activerelease.com/

Here is a link I posted a while back about essential stretchs for guitarists.
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/1005435

 

[Soul Man]

You must rub it completely in and as it is more or less the same as chilli peppers be careful not to touch around your eyes or private parts, please don't ask how I found that out .

 

[Soul Man]

Here's another thread where we talk about the same stuff - let's keep these threads going. I find the information essential because I've had CP surgery but in addition, have chronic pain in both of my thumbs.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/958032

 

[BlackStrat_Fan]

Another vote for Glucosamine.

 

[Sidmore]

...I also have it in the outer joint of my left pinkie which eased a lot as I played but then would be stiff and painful again. The thing that has worked best for me in easing specific points like my pinkie has been a prescribed cream called Capsaican(Zacin 0.025% w/w cream).

same here, left pinky joint at the hand is regularly sore & I've also found that capsaican-based cream helps some

 

[GuitslingerTim]

I started having trouble with my joints in my late thirties. If I tried to play on 46-10 strings on an electric it caused so much pain I would have to stop playing for a week or so to get them to heal up. Playing an acoustic guitar was impossible it caused so much pain.

I eventually all but stopped playing. Then, at the age of 46, I started taking MSM/Glucosamine, started lifting weights and exercising, started drinking nothing but water, lost 50 lbs, and within two years I was a new man. Although I still experience a slight twinge of pain once in while, my fingers are as flexible as they ever were. I play acoustic guitar for a couple hours every day, and my playing has never been better. Keep in mind that I lift a lot heavy weight during my workouts, which probably contributes to the minor aches I experience.

 

[Structo]

I think most of us will develop arthritis as we age.
I'm 55 now and sometimes when I wake up my hands just plain hurt.
My left thumb particularly seems to hurt in the morning.
I had what is called a trigger thumb in the left thumb where the tendon would hang up
then pop when I extended it.

I had a couple cortisone injections that seemed to cure that but it still aches most mornings.
Basically what happens is the cartilage shrinks back or wears out and the joints narrow, causing the nerves to trigger with pain.

exercise is probably the best thing unless you have something that can be fixed with injection or surgery.

Years ago I tried the Glucosamine for a bad shoulder but that turned out to be my AC joint that was worn out and I had surgery on that which cured that pain.

Basically it's all part of getting old.

Ain't that just dandy.

 

[Soul Man]

Basically it's all part of getting old.

Ain't that just dandy.

Dandy isn't the word I would use but you're right, LOL!

 

[Tony]

35 here; been having stiffness/pain in my fingers for about 5 years now. When I make a fist w/ my left hand, my joints sound like popcorn popping.

Doc told me a few years back that the best thing I could do for myself is keep using the joints, keep playing, don't baby it, etc.

 

[9fingers]

What works for me- I had arthritis (OA) rampaging through my joints (fingers included) in my 40s until I started this regimen. It stopped it completely- didn't heal the joints that are totally shot from OA but stopped those in progress and any new:

Glucosamine/chondoitin complex WITH manganese and Vitamin C (1500 mg gluc & 1200 chond/ day in divided doses + the Manganese & C: see the book The Arthritis Cure)
Vitamin C is a powerful anti-inflammatory 2-3000 mg/day
Ginkgo Biloba
MSM 750 mg 2x/day
Hydrolyzed collagen 400mg/day
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) 600mg/day

Plus a low inflammation diet (basically very low in sugar & simple starches - see the excellent The Anti-Inflammation Zone by Barry Sears)

Also common sense stuff like exercise, stretching (yoga is THE STUFF) & visits to a good modern chiropractor for specifics problems.

This all sounds like a lot & it is a big lifestyle management thing, but compared to giving up guitar & taking a bunch of meds with side effects I'm very willing. Different bodies work differently but the preceding has done wonders for me. I'm not a doctor but have OA & have found things that work. The doctors told me to take 12 ibuprofens per day and get a cane (literally).

 

[Rockledge]

My health has been destroyed because of drugs to treat arthritis.
I don't take any drugs now and feel better than I have in about 15 years.
I mostly use herbs, avoid food that doesn't look like it did when it was picked, and use a few over the counter rub ons.
And aspirin, the one legal drug that has never given me a problem.
But mostly I don't even need the aspirin, the longer I go on the wagon the less the arthritis pain bothers me.
Capsicum cream works but man, that stuff stays on you for at least 24 hours. I use Tiger Balm on my hands, you have to find it in tiny jars that look like they are full of half melted wax. There is other stuff called Tiger Balm that isn't the same.
And like somebody else says, don't use any of it then scratch your balls, or you will be teaching the neighbors dogs how to bay at the moon.

I know one thing without question, when I quit eating "food" that has been processed or that has ANY chemicals in it in favor of eating real food, my health improved to a degree I would call near miraculous.
I also eat organic when I can. Which is much of the time.
I had a spell of a few years where I was nearly bedridden or completely bedridden much of the time.

My left leg is partially paralyzed from back surgeries, and I walked with a cane for at least 5 years, I taught myself to walk without it and now I seldom need it again since shedding the drugs and the frankenfood.
It was torture gigging back then, because I wouldn't carry the cane in a club with me.

 

[AlRob]

Thank you for the suggestions everyone. I will definitely try the glucosamine/condroitin and the stretching exercises.
I also worry about arthritis cause I see what its done to my father who has it everywhere. It's led him to a sedentary lifestyle which than has led to more serious illness.
Anyway - this is a bummer of a topic isn't it? We can end it here.

 

[cr8z4life]

I am 52 and have it. I wake up in the morning and I can barely make a fist......fingers hurt. Within a few minutes of stretching and contracting fingers it stops, but I definately dont have the speed I had on the guitar when I was younger.......my fingers just dont respond that quickly!

I will say glucosamine/ condroiten helps but make sure it has msn otherwise not as effective. The absolute best I have found is by a company called liquid health... the liquid is way better than the pills. Within days of using I feel alot of improvement (which reminds me I am out and need to get some!!)

 

[Soul Man]

My health has been destroyed because of drugs to treat arthritis.
I don't take any drugs now and feel better than I have in about 15 years.
I mostly use herbs, avoid food that doesn't look like it did when it was picked, and use a few over the counter rub ons.
And aspirin, the one legal drug that has never given me a problem.
But mostly I don't even need the aspirin, the longer I go on the wagon the less the arthritis pain bothers me.
Capsicum cream works but man, that stuff stays on you for at least 24 hours. I use Tiger Balm on my hands, you have to find it in tiny jars that look like they are full of half melted wax. There is other stuff called Tiger Balm that isn't the same.
And like somebody else says, don't use any of it then scratch your balls, or you will be teaching the neighbors dogs how to bay at the moon.

I know one thing without question, when I quit eating "food" that has been processed or that has ANY chemicals in it in favor of eating real food, my health improved to a degree I would call near miraculous.
I also eat organic when I can. Which is much of the time.
I had a spell of a few years where I was nearly bedridden or completely bedridden much of the time.

My left leg is partially paralyzed from back surgeries, and I walked with a cane for at least 5 years, I taught myself to walk without it and now I seldom need it again since shedding the drugs and the frankenfood.
It was torture gigging back then, because I wouldn't carry the cane in a club with me.

FANTASTIC POST!



Very informative, very real and very helpful. I for one appreciate your honesty.

I'm guilty of eating the sh*tfood that makes us all feel horrible so I have been slowly trying to get away from all of that and it isn't always easy. The transition to clean eating seems simple but for me at least, it's a learning process.

I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands over a year ago and while they are 99% better, the pain I still have hurts a lot.

My thumbs are always aching / dead feeling due to arthritis and my pinch strength is way down but I'm trying to rehab, eat &/or supplement as needed to find a way to get all the toxic flow out of my body.

Rockledge your post hit me big time because I truly hear what you are saying. I believe you 10000000%.

 

[Soul Man]

Anyway - this is a bummer of a topic isn't it? We can end it here.

AlRob - No way!

No need to end it, this is a great way to share info and help each other out. The post above from Rockledge hit me hard because I completely understand what he is saying and his thoughts / experiences have really made me think about ways to feel better.

Sharing info among friends here is a great help. Keep talking and keep trying to get better.

None of us like feeling like SHAT!