Arthritis

Al1944

Al1944

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I suffer from arthritis in my fingers and the thumb/wrist joints in my left hand which is now spreading up my wrist. It's quite painful and is affecting my ability to do anything which involves carrying or moving anything with that hand. I've been looking at various supports and wondered if anyone here could recommend anything.

Thanks,
AL
 
Osteo or rheumatoid? Have you been to your GP about it? And are you sure it's arthritis not a tendon injury? If it's OA or tendons cortisone injections can really help settle it down (just don't use your hand for several days afterwards to give it chance to work). Failing that the sort of brace sometimes used in place of a plaster cast, that have a thumb splint built in, may help. They're readily available online. Two types. The yukky cheap looking beige thing that a GP might give you is the most uncomfortable thing ever invented and may make the pain even worse. The big, overkill black thing has an elasticated insert which you slide your hand through, and is well padded, so doesn't need to be tight. That's the sort to try. Nothing will help your fingers - you just have to learn to do things differently. Only use a support when you have to as losing muscle really doesn't help, hence you need to use your hand, not stop using it.
 
I'm a great believer in not going to the doctors unless I'm carried there, but I suppose I should pay him a visit.
 
Jannyfox said:
Osteo or rheumatoid? Have you been to your GP about it? And are you sure it's arthritis not a tendon injury?
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This is critical.

My wife has rheumatoid arthritis which affects her small joints - hands and feet. She used to be an "expert patient" for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society whereby she would offer help and advice to people who were newly diagnosed with RA. So I know a lot of stuff from just being with her, and I can happily pick her brains for you. But not without more information about your diagnosis etc.
 
Thanks very much indeed. I think I'd better see my doctor before guessing which I have, but the problem with my left hand started when I took my dog to the vet about 18 months ago! He was on the table and I had my thumb under his collar to hold him steady. He decided he wanted to get down and twisted my thumb in the process! The joint at the base of my thumb and forefinger has been a problem ever since, but recently the discomfort has travelled a couple of inches up my wrist. Seems that the bone has increased in size too - the vet thinks I might actually have broken something initially. But as I said probably best to go the doctor.
 
Al1944 said:
I'm a great believer in not going to the doctors unless I'm carried there, but I suppose I should pay him a visit.
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I share your feelings about doctors, however some things are not worth suffering with and may well get worse. Whatever it is, it can at least be treated (arthritis can't be cured). With the right treatment and a bit of modification to the way you do things it may not cause you any problems at all. If you have a choice, when you make the GP appointment ask to see someone who knows about joint problems, as some of them seem to know nothing and some are really switched on. You definitely need an xray.
 
neil_g said:
Nobody here will be able reliably recommend something that works for you. Something that works for someone else may not work for you etc.

Let your GP take a look and offer advice.
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Everyone's different and most doctors only offer the advice that works for 'most people'. However without a diagnosis all advice is useless.
OP - just don't be tempted to self diagose on Dr Internet. You'll have only days to live before you know it!
 
Jannyfox said:
Everyone's different and most doctors only offer the advice that works for 'most people'. However without a diagnosis all advice is useless.
OP - just don't be tempted to self diagose on Dr Internet. You'll have only days to live before you know it!
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:eek::)
 
Your doctor will likely fob you off with anti inflammatory meds first.
If this doesn’t work, you will need to go back and get them to refer you to a specialist. This will probably take many months (current waiting list for rheumatologist here is 7 months).
 
TCR4x4 said:
Your doctor will likely fob you off with anti inflammatory meds first.
If this doesn’t work, you will need to go back and get them to refer you to a specialist. This will probably take many months (current waiting list for rheumatologist here is 7 months).
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Probably - and one of the main reasons I try not to go.
 
I am(was) the same, but things got worse and worse and I had to relent. The stupid thing is, because I hadn’t been to the doctor for about 15 years before hand, I was in no way taken seriously when I did go, which to me seems like completely the opposite reaction.
It seems the people who go in every week with something new are the ones who get treated, the people like me and you who refuse to go unless they are actually dying just get fobbed off in the hope you won’t come back.
 
TCR4x4 said:
It seems the people who go in every week with something new are the ones who get treated, the people like me and you who refuse to go unless they are actually dying just get fobbed off in the hope you won’t come back.
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I think you're probably insulting a lot of medical professionals there.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Your doctor will likely fob you off with anti inflammatory meds first.
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What you mean is, your doctor will probably try you on anti inflammatory meds first, because they work in a lot of situations like this, and when they do work they're far more cost effective than other options.
 
Just speaking of my 20 years of experience of being massively failed constantly by the nhs.
 
For every utter failure, there's a complete success.
 
Im sure there is, but doesnt help me does it? My life has been effectively ruined by NHS failings, you want me to jump for joy and sing their praises?
 
TCR4x4 said:
I am(was) the same, but things got worse and worse and I had to relent.
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TCR4x4 said:
Just speaking of my 20 years of experience of being massively failed constantly by the nhs.
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OK, time for a reality check.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex disease which is not fully understood. Of people who are diagnosed with it, roughly 20% are in a wheelchair within 2 years; roughly 20% go into remission; and the remaining 60% are on a slow decline which might be manageable. It's nigh-on impossible to predict what will happen to any individual.

There are at least three different classes of drugs that can be used to combat RA. The first level is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are intended to treat the symptoms; there are many different types but it's impossible to predict which ones (if any) will work for any individual, and the only way to find out is to experiment. The second level is disease-modifying drugs such as methotrexate which can gave nasty side-effects and again can't be guaranteed to work. The third level is new 'biologic' drugs which are horrendously expensive.

Bottom line: treating RA is very very difficult. It's really a case of trial and error and for some people nothing works. If I were one of those unlucky people I hope I wouldn't be slagging off the earnest attempts of medical professionals who had tried to help me.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Im sure there is, but doesnt help me does it? My life has been effectively ruined by NHS failings, you want me to jump for joy and sing their praises?
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Jump for joy? No.
As I've said before, I'm sorry you feel failed by the NHS (not pity), but you are, I suspect, in the minority.
The NHS is still, despite it's shortcomings, an awesome system.
 
I don’t have RA or any form of arthritis. I just have a lot of experience with muscular and neurological issues.
A simple blood test can determine if any inflammation is present, if not, then no need to prescribe anti inflammatories.

I don’t understand why people feel the need to belittle others who have had a different experience to them?
It’s great the nhs helps so many people, sadly, for me they haven’t, why does that cause you any concern?

I will quite freely slag off the doctor who told me I didn’t have anything wrong with me despite being unable to walk.
I’ll freely slag off the the GP who told me I didn’t need pain medication, as I was still going to work “so I couldn’t be any pain”
I’ll freely slag off the doctor who refused to listen to my pleas for help and Just told me to “man up”.
 
viv1969 said:
Jump for joy? No.
As I've said before, I'm sorry you feel failed by the NHS (not pity), but you are, I suspect, in the minority.
The NHS is still, despite it's shortcomings, an awesome system.
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So what then? Why jump on me for saying I have little faith in them, when that’s my direct experience? It’s no different to slagging off a shop or retailer if you’ve had a bad experience.

We all know there is good and bad, we all know they help thousands, no doubt if I had cancer they’d perform miracles.

In my case it’s like I’m a lost cause and they don’t want to help, that’s my experience and I will freely discuss.
 
TCR4x4 said:
So what then? Why jump on me for saying I have little faith in them, when that’s my direct experience? It’s no different to slagging off a shop or retailer if you’ve had a bad experience.

We all know there is good and bad, we all know they help thousands, no doubt if I had cancer they’d perform miracles.

In my case it’s like I’m a lost cause and they don’t want to help, that’s my experience and I will freely discuss.
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Where have I jumped on you?
Surely it's you with the resounding "jumping" on the NHS.... again.
 
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