Arthritis - How do you deal with it?

[Connecticut]

As I am 60 years old and have worked in the trades for 40 years I have very bad arthritis now. It's been developing for years but these days its painful, fingers lock wont move fully etc. Is anyone having these difficulties and how do you deal? Any tips tricks etc?

 

[myredstrat]

I am 70, my arthritis isn't terrible yet, so mostly, too many advils and on occasion a few drops of taro-diclofenec 1.5% rubbed into my hip when I can't sleep. That, and a fair bit of moaning and groaning, when I stand up

 

[Bob the builder]

I'm in the same boat
Had a few finger lockups today
Needed my other hand to pull em apart
That's usually how I deal with it 🫤

 

[joebtone]

Chiropractic helped a bit with what I had been chalking up to arthritis in my finger joints.
Carpel tunnel on my wrists is better but it feels more like a pipe dream to get to 100%
Been going for neck and back so I mentioned guitar playing and this was the first dr that gave a hoot about it.

Just a thought.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

Yeah woodworking trades took their toll.
I hurt
I do less
I have financial struggles
I add fish oil, garlic, turmeric, glucosamine complex, Tylenol, aleve, EVOO, eliminate or reduce processed sugars, processed foods, burned red meat, weight lifting, dirt bike racing.
That’s about it!

 

[amstratnut]

Use lighter strings?

 

[Stratafied]

Former tradesman also. Went through a period where the arthritis was pretty painful. Was put on prescription strength medication. All of which were taken off the market, the arthritis was the lesser risk, all it did was tear up your stomach. My wife had really bad arthritis at the age of 30, thankfully with time it subsided quite a bit. One thing you can try is paraffin wax treatment, we bought an inexpensive home unit . It’s melted how wax , that you dip affected areas in . It’s worth a cheap try. Hope you get some relief.

 

[Stratattack72]

I haven't found the answer really . Other than finger stretches and warming up a bit . I've had my hand lock up after a fast song at a local jam and every once in a while they will just do it . Not in my 60's Early 50's here and have played for over 35 years

 

[Slacker G]

I have had Rheumatoid arthritis,Osteoarthritis, and Inflammatory arthritis since my 20's. Now days it bothers me most when I eat too many sweets. My index finger would "snap into place" as opposed to gradually moving where I wanted it to go. The thing called prayer healed it. A group of Christians spent some time praying for it to be healed. It was. I'm still stiff all over but moving around a lot gets my stuff bending again.

 

[Della Street]

Former tradesman also. Went through a period where the arthritis was pretty painful. Was put on prescription strength medication. All of which were taken off the market, the arthritis was the lesser risk, all it did was tear up your stomach. My wife had really bad arthritis at the age of 30, thankfully with time it subsided quite a bit. One thing you can try is paraffin wax treatment, we bought an inexpensive home unit . It’s melted how wax , that you dip affected areas in . It’s worth a cheap try. Hope you get some relief.

how do trades cause arthritis?

 

[Alex_C]

Turmeric works wonders for me. I put a tablespoon of the powder in a glass of water and drink it every evening. If I don't use it for a week or receive a crappy batch of it, the pain returns. My pain level without turmeric is about an 8. The pain will wake me up at night and I can't turn a door knob without shooting pain. Turmeric has changed all that. It is amazing. Proven as effective as competing pharmaceuticals.

 

[Alex_C]

how do trades cause arthritis?

Overuse of the hands. If you are strong, it is even harder on your hands.

 

[The Strat Dude]

I will 2nd and third Tumeric, I also take Beet root, reservatrol, glucosamine, krill oil and a few other proven natural anti inflammatories. I also have worked with my hands for all my life and a few years ago a was a worried I may not be able to keep working in my trade. Then I started my quest, it works.

 

[thomquietwolf]

As I am 60 years old and have worked in the trades for 40 years I have very bad arthritis now. It's been developing for years but these days its painful, fingers lock wont move fully etc. Is anyone having these difficulties and how do you deal? Any tips tricks etc?

83 here
Life choices
{
Farmer. (Navy)
Rodeo
Racing
Laborer
15 years at terminals
}
I've held arthritis at bay with fairly good alcohol...
But he ran off N left me in February...
So
I'm working on ignoring it...
Advail makes a dent...

 

[Sixstringer107]

I'm 63, and so far, so good with the fingers. The hips and lower back are another story. When it gets bad enough on some days, I break out the 800mg Ibuprophen.

 

[JamesE]

Change your diet!
It may depend on the type of arthritis you have, but giving up RED MEAT and POTATOES has done wonders for my hands. Try it for one month and see if you notice any improvement. Obviously, potato is part of the Nightshade family, so cut down on tomatoes and peppers. I still eat a little red meat, and just about any soup has a few bits of potato, but I keep an eye on what I'm eating.

 

[Mbroady]

I dont have arthritis but I do have mild cervical spinal stenosis. in addition to staying active and getting exercise, staying and living an anti inflammatory life style is what makes life close to normal.

 

[Voxman]

Giving up red meat for arthritis is misinformation. Meat is not inflammatory, actually the opposite.

For my arthritis, I gave up sugar, all grains, and all vegetable seed oils. All those are highly inflammatory.

I'm no longer in pain, and I can walk for long periods of time now, where before I could barely stand even with cortisone shots.
Of course, doctors won't tell you to change your diet, they want to just giving you shots and prescribing meds.

 

[uncle daddy]

I have Psoriatic Arthritis after a lifetime of psoriasis. It's getting more painful over the years, especially in my hands and feet. I cope with it by being grumpy and complaining a lot.

 

[Neil.C]

I'm 71 and have spinal arthritis which results in lower back/hip pain.

Although my fingers aren't too bad, playing guitar gets very uncomfortable after half an hour.