Quote:
Originally Posted by enchilila  I was wondering if there were any others who had osteo-arthritis? I have it so bad in my fingers. I've used a keyboard for the past (cough-cough) years.  This has to be the cause of mine. My fingers are like pencils and won't bend very well, especially in the mornings. I don't take medication for this. I'm not even sure there is any "safe" meds out there for OA. My doc wants me to take glucosamine, but I have a hard time swallowing pills. You would think as much as this bothers me each and every waking minute of the day that I would learn to swallow pills.
Just wondering if anyone could tell me what they do for their OA. Thanks. |
Okay glucosamine and chondrotin should be available in a liquid form; ask your doc for the brand name. If not available to you, crush pills up and put in OJ or water and drink it. This homeopathic remedy does have some evidence of efficacy.
The other thing you can consider is to up your calcium and Vit D to 2000mg a day.
I too have RA which is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Now if your OA is NOT an inflammatory kind, here are some things that might help ease your pain.
a) Hot wax bath - I think many beauty supply stores sell a pretty inexpensive bath - just add parafin wax and dip hands into the hot wax.
b) Hot packs -5 no more than 10 minutes on hands.
c) Massage either you do yourself or go to a therapist
d) After inital morning stiffness has resolved somewhat, get one of those soft balls, and despite discomfort exercise your hands. Squeeze the ball, finger press into the ball. Practice piano scales with your fingers. Finger climb a wall.
Consider overall health, get active as you can, swimming is a low cost yet effective way to keep up cardiovascular health, and give your body a good overall workout. More on the water theme, consider water aerobics, I do that what my joints are in a flare.
Walking is always good
Yoga gentle with a teacher that can modify poses for you as needed.
Contrast bathing with epsom salts ; two bowls of water one very warm with espon salts in it, one cold. Place hands it warm water 2-3 minutes , then dip into cool 1-1.5 minutes.