Monday, November 12, 2012

Arthritis

I have arthritis in my thumbs. The legacy of a lifetime of hitting the spacebar and being the only one in the house with hands strong enough to twist off stubborn jar tops (also I suspect from a lifetime of exercise on a keyboard - and learning to type on an old fashioned sit up and beg Underwood).

Who remembers carbon paper, flimsies in a range of colours for different departments, those flat round typewriter erasers? Good grief, it feels like museum piece now. Well, obviously it is. Like me - another reason for the arthritis!

I've tried glucosamine - the doc's only suggestion. It's not working. Any ideas? 

10 comments:

Carol Warham said...

I once read an interesting article about a book on dealing with arthritis. The writer had suffered for years badly and this was how she managed. She believed one of the things that made it worse was acitic acid, which is found in so many things. She said avoiding this helped her actually walk again. I'm sorry I don't remember the book or writer's name but perhaps googling it will help. Hope this is of some use.

Carol Warham said...

Oops. I may have got this the wrong way round!
Citric acid may be the culprit, some people swear that Acetic acid helps, there may be a health food called Honeybar or Honeygar (or similar) that is supposed to be beneficial and contains acetic acid (vinegar) and honey.

Laney4 said...

I have osteoarthritis in so many places of my body that I've quit keeping track. Definitely in my fingers/joints. Most likely because I too trained on a manual typewriter (a Remington), I did NOT crack my knuckles (which they say can affect your joints later), and I have been typing for a living since my high school days in the early seventies. Thank GOD that modern keyboards are MUCH easier on our fingers than the manuals, the electrics, and the electronic typewriters.
I find that exercise in moderation is the key (for most anything). Too much is bad for you, and too little is bad for you. Sometimes I take my ice/heating pak and put it in the microwave for a few minutes, then I warm my fingers up inside the pak. (I also use it for my cold feet, styes in my eyes, and rosacea.)
Best of luck to you, Liz....

Caroline said...

Awww hugs Liz. My DH suffers with "Arthur". Giving up acidic food is the key for him. So no tomatoes, oranges etc. And my aunt says that beef is a no no as well. So all the nice things in life then! Caroline x

Ann Q said...

I have arthritis in thumbs also. Usually in winter can hardly move my thumbs at all. For a year have been taking krill oil tablets and liquid glucosamine (can not swallow those horse size tablets)and this winter no pain and full movement.Good luck.

Liz Fielding said...

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. I love tomatoes, Caroline. Would be hard to give up.

Obviously I need to do some research on diet and having nearly finish the bottle of "horse" pills, Ann, will look for liquid glucosamine and the krill oil.

Vince said...

Hi Liz:

Have you tried to use voice recognition software? I am told it gets better every year. Dragon is supposed to give you 99% accuracy right out of the box. It’s about $90 USA.

Vince

Liz Fielding said...

Hi Vince - yes, I used Dragon when I did something to my elbow. It's pretty good, but typing doesn't bother me - much. It's when I pick up a plate, or a cup and saucer that the thumb occasionally lets me down. And I can't open new jars any more, but I have a little gadget for that.

Sometimes they just hurt, that's all. When dh's finger got cranky he started taking cod liver oil and it cleared up and he has no bother. It just doesn't work for me.



joye said...

My doctor told me to eat a tablespoon of mustard daily which i did for a few months until he said to get the pill from NatureMade vitamins called TURMERIC Curcumin. Guess what? it is one of the ingredients in prepared mustard! I take those and it really helps the stiffness in my hands. My doctor recommended that each morning I run warm water over my hands and clinch and unclinch my hands for 5 minutes. This really helps too.
JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

Liz Fielding said...

Mustard? Ohmigod! I've made a note of the pills and will look for them when I'm in town. Thanks. And yes, warmth does help.