Arthritic hands

Because of the advice regarding tumeric on this thread I went to the local health shop to buy some as I was in a lot of pain from arthritis. The woman at the health shop told me about food alkaline and acidic food. It wasn't until earlier this year when I was in pain and limping because of my swollen foot, and the pain I was experiencing from my shoulder and hands. My arms were very weak and felt I awful from continual heartburn and indigestion. I was having trouble swallowing and I felt lousy, I finally decided that enough was enough and started eating alkaline food. Nothing will entice me to go on medication and changing what I ate has worked for me!

Faye; which food did you eliminate? I sometimes used to have a week of eating nothibg but chicken soup with lots of garlic and turmeric, and felt really good for it.

anno your thumb/wrist joint sounds very like my current problem, I had never realised how much one uses one's thumb and so many activities are excruciating. I find it particularly hard to pick up the grandsons and have to sort of loop my arms round them with my hands together round the front as the usual "hands under the armpits" is out of the question. Seeing GP next week so I am hoping I might get a referral to a rheumatologist and maybe an x-ray of hands to see if anything can be done. This has come on so suddenly and nothing else can quite make me feel old and decrepit It is a comfort to know I am not alone, but I am so sorry to hear how many of you are in constant pain - that puts mine in perspective but doesn't make me feel better - just sorry for you others! Also still hope DD's psoriatic arthritis can be properly diagnosed and that she gets some relief. I used to put hers down to DH's and his family's auto immune problems, but maybe it comes from me?

My right thumb, at the base, is very painful at times and I just can't grip anything anymore, and find it very difficult to use secators. i don't want to take anti-inflammatories all the time, and gel does not seem to help - although it does for my knees. One day I shall have it operated on- but it locks the joint and makes that thumb pretty useless (mind you it is at the moment anyway).

Crimson I eliminated most dairy food. I now make my own bread. I started juicing, so that I get the nutrients of lots more vegetables that I wouldn't normally eat, such as beetroot, ginger, celery, carrots, parsley and whatever else is available. I read a lot about alkaline/acidic food and also the benefits of the fresh food I eat. I also take a glass of water to bed with a small teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. I started using it when my foot was swollen during January, February this year, it also helped with heartburn. I don't eat meat which is acidic and don't eat processed food which are also acidic. Eating chocolate has also got a lot better, it used to give me heartburn but not lately, not sure why.

I did a similar diet a few years back and felt fantastic but it's so easy to slip into bad ways. My current poblem is drinking coffee, something I never did much, but lately I seem to be drinking several cups a day again. I'm feeling very acidy which isn't normal for me and I put it down to the coffee, but I seem to be a bit addicted to it. Very much stuck betwen either being at work or being in the house; think when I can start getting out and about more I can improve my diet. I also used to juice a lot of stuff but found cleaning the juicer a real chore; making lots of healthy soup was easier [although not with the vitamin content I guess].

Just another angle on painful hands, DH had extreme pain in his fingers and the knuckle on ring finger was swollen. He had his wedding ring removed and the pain subsided, not just in the ring finger but the rest of the hand too. The pain has not returned which proved it was not arthritis.

Interesting harrigran, it must have been his ring.

crimson it was you who started me eliminating dairy. I used to eat a lot of cheese but can happily live without it now. Juicing is the best thing I have done, I could nearly live on veggie juice. One of my sons in law even emailed me a link on beetroot juice this morning. www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/legal-blood-doping-a-juice-to-help-beet-your-best-20120918-26392.html

granjura, my thumb joint isn't locked. Although the op was called a trapeziectomy, the surgeon used a procedure which he had devised himself whereby he didn't remove the joint, but cleaned it up and put it back with a lining of surgical sponge to prevent further wear and tear. At least, I think that's what he said. It was wired and wrapped up like a rugby ball for six weeks when the wires came out and I had physio for about another month. I can use scissors, secateurs and a pen.

But presumably no driving? I'd be completely stuffed. Better grin - or grimace - and bear it.

Yes, I had about ten weeks without driving. Luckily no-one depended on me for transport and I can get to the shops and the station by bus. I must have saved a lot on petrol.

Thanks anno - for now, I shall just grin and bear it - but the day may well come!

gracesmum, granjura, have you thought about asking your GP about a cortisone injection? I'm not saying it would work, but itmight be a solution of a kind.

My medical 'advisor' advised me against it, as it can make things worse long-term.

Glucosamine + chondroitin works for me. It doesn't help my fingers and thumbs but definitely has eased my knees and ankles. Worked wonders for a friend's dog who could barely walk and made a complete recovery.

Our last dog used to have special "arthritic dog" chews, bur I haven't been reduced to trying them yet.

Diclofenac was originally developed for veterinary use...

I found acupuncture very good for stiff and sore hands but it can get a bit expensive. But thirty pounds a month is a good investment in your health if it works.

Also found my dads Circulation Booster machine for his feet and legs very good. I put it on the table and put my hands on the foot pads. Took about three days at a half hour session a day but definately made a difference so if you or a friend has one of those you could try it.

All arthritis responds to immune problems and possibly gut problems too so think about your diet and what you have eaten when the flare ups happen. Mine is worse when I eat too much bread and other wheat products and also with red wine. Fortunately white wine seems to be ok at the moment.

As an aside, I have to stop drinking cows milk sometimes and go for goats milk or other as I get very sinus-y. Once I am off that for a few weeks and it has cleared up, I can gradually go back on it. It's mainly for convenience for others that I gradually drift back to cows milk...and laziness!!

No need to be shocked, anno. We're animals too.

You have set me wondering if my better health could be related to the fact that I am no longer living with three grandchildren who were not great lovers of the type of food I now eat. Perhaps the fact that I am also free to take long walks is just a coincidence?

I once had acupressure when I was in agony with a lumbar disc problem, and was walking with a stick. After one session (pressure on my inside elbows and my knees) I was free of all pain. I was extremely sceptical, so it wasn't a placebo effect.

I have also had relief with a Tens machine.

Better nutrition, more exercise, less stress.......?

Just found NSD Power Ball accidentally while looking for another product to help ageing dad.

Sounds like it could be really good for sore hands as it is an exercise ball but meant to be fun too and to strengthen muscles and tendons. £18 I think.

Strength training and functional life exercises are becoming more and more acceptable ways to help the ageing population deal with getting older and staying fitter. The kind of things we would once have only associated with gyms and young folk are being adapted. More universities are using computer simulation to look at older folks walking habits, other functional problems such as foot flexion and general fitness to assess ways to help.

Always assuming we live long enough, the future looks brighter!

I just checked out the powerball on Ebay (£11.95). It sounds frightening! When I had to strengthen my hand following surgery, I bought squashy foam balls from John Lewis's toy department. And to improve my fine grip, popping bubble wrap was fun!

Wow that's cheap in comparison. I thought it sounded fun and kinda wished my problem was bad enough for me to warrant the expenditure when spent lots this month for various reasons.

DH has a powerball. Got it to deal with RSI. He uses it every now and then and has stopped complaining about RSI.