Arthritis pain relief?

[Twinmom]

I have pretty severe osteoarthritis in my hands, knees and shoulders. I'm fairly young considering how bad it is (I'm 45 with a long family history of this problem) and it is making daily life fairly difficult. My joints are popping in my fingers just typing this post! I have large nodules on my fingers already, one of which is seeping fluid and hurts like the dickens. I have arthritis in a shoulder joint that has abraded my rotator cuff and gives me trouble anytime I raise my arm in a certain way. It can take me out for a week or two.

 

Okay, whine over...now, I need to know what is working for pain relief in others! I have some surgical options I may need to pursue, but it is too costly for the moment. I already take large doses of pretty pure glucosamine, chondrotin, MSM and curcumin daily. I try to avoid NSAIDs, but am needing them more often than I'd like. I try to keep moving. I eat a Paleo diet. Supposedly, I'm doing just about everything right, but there has to be something else. At this rate, I'm going to be crippled by the time I'm 50! Uggh.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

[Myeightkiddies]

Have you seen a Rheumatologist lately for proper diagnosis?

[laughing lioness]

Do you take any anti-inflamatory supplements? If I eat bread at all, my joints pop. I've been using coconut oil - 3 tbs a day. Swimming- easy on joints. I'm sorry you're going through this!! I can relate on a small level- praying that you find a solution SOON!

[Jilly]

My mom has terrible arthritis and has had it since she was quite young. The only thing that seems to provide relief for her is massage therapy, especially for her hands. It seems to bring immediate relief to her.

[Jilly]

Also wanted to add that she does some of the exercises found in this

. She can't do them all, but she tries to do what she can.

[prairiewindmomma]

Ditto the others on seeing a rheumatologist. If you are popping that many pills and are still uncomfortable, it's time for a change.

[Twinmom]

I haven't seen a rheumatologist, but I have been tested for rheumatoid arthritis by two docs and it has shown up as negative. My orthopedist has also done multiple X-rays, an MRI and one surgery...never changing the diagnosis. It does worry me, but no one in my family history has ever had rheumatoid, so I hope I am okay. Would you still recommend seeing a rheumatologist?

 

 

[Pawz4me]

I haven't seen a rheumatologist, but I have been tested for rheumatoid arthritis by two docs and it has shown up as negative. My orthopedist has also done multiple X-rays, an MRI and one surgery...never changing the diagnosis. It does worry me, but no one in my family history has ever had rheumatoid, so I hope I am okay. Would you still recommend seeing a rheumatologist?

 

 

Yes. A rheumatologist is a specialist who treats all types of arthritis. Not just rheumatoid. And with so many areas of your body involved, and given your relatively young age, I would think your situation certainly warrants seeing a specialist.

[Twinmom]

Thanks, I didn't know that...

[Twinmom]

According to some of the websites I've looked at, the only real options left for me seem to be surgical. Hmphh. In that case, I'm best off going to my orthopedist, who has already done surgery on one finger. Seems I've done about all there is to do. Suck it up or cut it up may be the only options now.

[Myeightkiddies]

Yes. I do recommend a visit to a Rheumatologist. Surgery is not the only option. I'm not sure if you have anything other than OA. However, negative RA tests mean little. There is such a thing as sero-negative RA. It's RA but it doesn't test positive. The nodules on your hands are certainly interesting. Do you have any small ones as well - on hands, elbows, wrists, etc.? There is also the possibility of PSA (Psoriatic Arthritis). Many people have PSA without having any signs of psoriasis. It is similar to RA, but it won't test positive for RA.

 

It's easy to play the "could be" game. However, in the end, only a Rheumatologist will be able to pin-point the cause of your pain. Even if it isn't auto-immune-related, there are still medications other than OTC ones which may help. Surgery is not the only option, and a visit to a specialist may result in quicker relief for you. Joint pain is not an easy thing to tolerate. We use our joints in practically everything we do. Be good to yourself and see if someone can help you.

 

I understand how it is, and my heart goes out to you. :grouphug:

[Lizzie in Ma]

I am so sorry you are having such a rough time.

A few years back, when my hands began to get really bad, swollen and painful, I took up knitting again.

It was really hard at first but it seems that it really helped. I don't know why, maybe the constant, gentle movement but they began to behave much better on a more constant basis.

Storm fronts still make for the worst days and it is just regular old arthritis but for what it's worth, I thought I'd offer it up.

[Twinmom]

The nodules on your hands are certainly interesting. Do you have any small ones as well - on hands, elbows, wrists, etc.? There is also the possibility of PSA (Psoriatic Arthritis). Many people have PSA without having any signs of psoriasis.

 

 

My nodules reside only on the knuckles closest to my fingertips. I've been told they are "impressive" for my age! ;)

[Twinmom]

I am so sorry you are having such a rough time.

A few years back, when my hands began to get really bad, swollen and painful, I took up knitting again.

It was really hard at first but it seems that it really helped. I don't know why, maybe the constant, gentle movement but they began to behave much better on a more constant basis.

Storm fronts still make for the worst days and it is just regular old arthritis but for what it's worth, I thought I'd offer it up.

 

 

I've heard that fine motor exercises make a difference, so that makes sense!

[Pawz4me]

My internist says one of the best things one can do for osteoarthritis is to do exercises that strengthen the surrounding muscles, so that the muscles help stabilize the joint. When I first started having trouble with arthritis in my fingers, he recommended getting a stress ball and squeezing it as much as possible every day to build up the muscles.

[Twinmom]

My internist says one of the best things one can do for osteoarthritis is to do exercises that strengthen the surrounding muscles, so that the muscles help stabilize the joint. When I first started having trouble with arthritis in my fingers, he recommended getting a stress ball and squeezing it as much as possible every day to build up the muscles.

 

 

Ouch! Can't even imagine that right now, but I can see how it would work! I'll give it a try!

[CupOCoffee]

I have sero-negative RA and Fibromyalgia. I was on all the big guns RA meds and stopped them; I never felt worse after stopping such drugs, so I figured why bother. I am now on base-line meds for the Fibro only as my new doc seems to think that the Fibro is my primary issue. I also have started a vitamin and supplement regimen that seems to be helping as well. I take Vitamin D, a B-complex, magnesium at night to help me sleep, CoQ-10 and will be adding a few others, such as SAMe.

 

I found TONS of information/recommendations just from doing a Google search. I also downloaded a free book on dealing with Fibro and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I know that's not what you have, but I found the information in this book to be very enlightening. Google Dr. Roger Murphree.

 

One thing that always soothes my painful hands is using IMAK gloves; they are compression gloves. There have been times when I've worn them 24/7 to get relief from the deep aching from using my hands too much. You can find them on Amazon.

 

Lastly, I agree with previous posters and strongly urge you to see a rheumatologist. Just because the test results come back negative doesn't mean that you don't have RA. There are many of us who are sero-negative.

 

Good luck and gentle ((hugs)).

 

~coffee~

[Miss Innocent]

Sero-negative RA here too. I must say it does sound much more like RA than osteoarthritis. The treatment for the two is very different so do see a Rheumatologist. If it is RA and it is flaring up at the moment, I would say resting the affected joints, rather than 'keeping them moving', is what is needed, which is pretty much the opposite of what OA needs.

 

Warmth and rest and NSAIDs are what help me most with the pain. Also joint braces and compression.

 

I hope you get the help you need soon.

 

Emma x

[Marylou]

Do this for 30 days (be strict about it):

 

1) Do not eat ANY of the nightshade vegetables (NONE)

 

2) Do not eat anything made with refined SUGAR.

 

3) Cut WAY down on any processed food.

 

Evaluate after the month is over. I would love to hear how you feel after that.

[Twinmom]

I certainly need to look into sero-negative RA...I'd not known about that, and I'd hate to be doing the opposite of what I need to be doing!! IMAK gloves sound very interesting, too...gonna try those!!

 

I'm already doing a strict Paleo diet, so no sugar (even fruit at the moment) and no processed foods. I've been doing it for almost two years and it definitely does help! I've not gone the whole anti-inflammatory route, though, so perhaps I need to try that. I could definitely eliminate nightshades (boo hoo) and eliminate the cheese I sneak in every so often!

[magnificent_baby]

My Dad and sister use tart cherry juice. It's very concentrated, so just a little and can be added to water, oj, etc. They swear by it, and say it helps a lot with their arthritis pain. They find it in the organic section at local grocery stores. It's expensive, but lasts a long time. You may have to google to see how much to use, a tablespoon perhaps? They both are very close to knee and shoulder replacements, but this has really helped keep the pain tolerable.

[kathkath]

Do this for 30 days (be strict about it):

 

1) Do not eat ANY of the nightshade vegetables (NONE)

 

2) Do not eat anything made with refined SUGAR.

 

3) Cut WAY down on any processed food.

 

Evaluate after the month is over. I would love to hear how you feel after that.

 

Is this specifically for rheumatoid or osteoarthritis?

 

[IrishMum]

Do this for 30 days (be strict about it):

 

1) Do not eat ANY of the nightshade vegetables (NONE)

 

2) Do not eat anything made with refined SUGAR.

 

3) Cut WAY down on any processed food.

 

Evaluate after the month is over. I would love to hear how you feel after that.

 

 

I would also add dairy and wheat to this list.

Watch Dr Wahls on

, what she says is relevant to any disease. Food is the cause, and the cure!

[Miss Innocent]

If you are paleo, I guess you are not eating wheat already, but I would second considering cutting out nightshades and dairy to see if that helps. Paleo also helps me but I must admit I find it hard!!

[Candid]

I also think you need to see a Rheumatologist. There are a lot of arthritis types and not all are tested for by blood tests. I'll never forget having my regular doctor tell me, "I never would have thought of that" when the Rheumatologist connected my joint pain and psoriasis.

 

On diet I remember that the nightshade family has been associated with arthritis so you will want to do some research on them and experiment with them to see if removing them from your diet would help.

 

The People's Pharmacy has a long list of things to try:

http://www.peoplesph...hritis&limit=20

 

However, the gin raisins seem to be the thing most people rave about:

http://www.peoplesph...-raisin-remedy/

[TravelingChris]

I am going to third the recommendation about the rheumatologist. I also have sero=negative RA, as far as I know. My last rheimatologist was fired by me because first he started telling me I had fibromyalgia as my main problem (WHile keeping me on drugs that are only appropriate for an autoimmune disease like RA and others) and then after a year, he suddenly decided I had RA but refused to even he;p me by getting my dose of medication to regular. WHy I say as far as I know= because I don't have records of blood work that he did for many months and I may have become Rheumatoid Factor positive during that time.

 

One thing that many doctors don't tell you is that a lot of bloodwork in autoimmune diseases starts out negative. It doesn't mean you don't have the disease- it means that at the level of detection currently, they haven't detected it. I started out with nothing positive. Over the last 27 years, I have developed more and more positive signs that are detectable. I have had scores of different markers show up over that time. At least one went away with more medication.

 

One more point= look online at photos of RA nodules and OA nodules and read about where they occur. I think that the nodule pattern and look is very different;. Also, read about the typical pain and problem pattern., The joints affected, even in the hands, tend to be different and Ra is more typically bilateral joints and OA is more typically not. BUt there are other joint differences. I believe that psoriasis also has a different joint pattern. There is also a different way you feel- OA may be stiff and painful in the morning but that typically goes away as you move. RA that is in a flare, last for hours in the morning. They are different.

 

LAst point, I am now attending a pain clinic. This particular clinic is very good- multiple therapies are integrated and it is designed in a way to make sure addicts don't come but it is very helpful to actual pain patients. They are doing more to help my pain and even if you have OA, if it hurts so much, I would go to such a place. The pain doctors can explain how untreated pain ends up causing other health problems. Oh, and most people who are on pain medications, including me, are not sleepy zombies. If your body needs stronger medication, it takes it to ameliorate the pain, and not make you sleepy, high, or whatever. (ALso from what I heard from my MIL about my drug addicted BIL, those people don't take pain and muscle relaxants in the normal doses, they take a lot more to get high- enough that I would be probably dead from respiratory failure- I couldn't believe how much she said she found out he took).

 

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[Twinmom]

My mom used to take grape seed extract when she was younger and said it was fantastic! Too expensive for her now, though. :( I wonder if she could do the gin soaked raisins instead!!

[Parrothead]

I have it in both hands and both knees. Some showed up in my left shoulder during an MRI so I'm just waiting on that one.

 

I've had pain for 20 years now in my knees and 10 in my hands.

 

For me the single most important thing is to keep the joints moving. Keep them warm and keep them moving. But when pain sets in I have to stop for a little bit and warm things up.

[walkermamaof4]

Do this for 30 days (be strict about it):

 

1) Do not eat ANY of the nightshade vegetables (NONE)

 

2) Do not eat anything made with refined SUGAR.

 

3) Cut WAY down on any processed food.

 

Evaluate after the month is over. I would love to hear how you feel after that.

 

 

I agree with Marylou - The book Practical Paleo has a 30 day menu for the Paleo AIP diet after which you can reintroduce nightshades, etc and you will know quickly I'd think what it is that is at the root of your arthritis. It can be anything. For my business partner it is beef and almonds. I eat massive quantities of these on our paleo diet. For the author of that book I think it is corn and sugar. This is the only sure way to find out, but just think - in less than 2 months I believe you'd have a solution and be on the road to real recovery.

 

HTH!

[Marylou]

Just know that if you go to the rheumatologist you will probably be highly encouraged to take meds. Then if you take meds and change your diet, when you start feeling better how will you know what helped you?

 

Diet is crucial in how we (and our joints) feel. PLEASE try diet first.

 

The extra good news is it costs nothing to try.

[Marylou]

This website is not kept up-to-date. Dr. Childers passed away a couple of years ago at age 100. Click in the upper left to read testimonials from people who gave up the nightshades and got their life back.

 

http://noarthritis.com/