Arthritic Knuckles?

[diablo175]

Been noticing the left (fret) hand, pointer finger knuckle has been acting up lately. It would flare up every once in a blue moon when I was stretching the fingers to accommodate some ungodly wide finger placement technique. Lately, it's pitching a fit for much less. Hurts almost round the clock. Possible culprits include arthritis and some kind of tendonitis via excessive repetitive use.

Anyone else deal with this and have any suggestions for addressing it?

 

 

Edited October 28, 2024 by diablo175

[RobB]

15,000 IU Vitamin D3. Tumeric. Both excellent for joint inflammation. 

[bruce919]

oh yes. One thing that seems to help is limiting carbs and alcohol, reduce the inflammation. I noticed a correlation as my diet has changed. 

[Jimbilly]

Flexible/stretchy band aids are as good as athletic tape, and pre-cut. I like the WinCo house brand 100 pack. A little bit of the sticky stuff can get on the back of the neck, but those band aids can be helpful to stabilize an inflamed joint, you could 'tape it up' for better recovery when you're not playing.  Ice helps too.

 Acupuncture works for a lot of people to help with inflammation. 

 A good CBD paste/ointment is helpful for some, and there are topical ibuprofen type things, but I avoid 'masking' the discomfort.

[diablo175]

24 minutes ago, bruce919 said:

oh yes. One thing that seems to help is limiting carbs and alcohol, reduce the inflammation. I noticed a correlation as my diet has changed. 

I'm f*cked then. Those 2 food groups are essential to my existence.

[scottcald]

18 minutes ago, Jimbilly said:

Flexible/stretchy band aids are as good as athletic tape, and pre-cut. I like the WinCo house brand 100 pack. A little bit of the sticky stuff can get on the back of the neck, but those band aids can be helpful to stabilize an inflamed joint, you could 'tape it up' for better recovery when you're not playing.  Ice helps too.

 Acupuncture works for a lot of people to help with inflammation. 

 A good CBD paste/ointment is helpful for some, and there are topical ibuprofen type things, but I avoid 'masking' the discomfort.

Indeed.  You don't just want to relieve the pain, then you might make it worse without realizing.  At some point, you may just have to forego some of those moves or find a less stretchy way to play them.   

[DaveH]

24-3/4 starting to look better? 😂

Seriously, I got nothing for you except it sucks. I have psoriatic arthritis, Meloxicam helps with the swelling.

[hamerhead]

51 minutes ago, diablo175 said:

....some ungodly wide finger placement technique.

Well, there's the problem.

[diablo175]

29 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

Well, there's the problem.

I don't do that all the time. Especially now that my knuckle is giving me the finger whenever I do try.

[Jimbilly]

there's a 'home remedy' that some people swear by: 9 white raisins soaked in gin, once a day. I tried it for a while, it didn't help for me.

Also identify other things that might be straining or twisting the knuckles: like yardwork, cleaning up the kitchen, doing dishes, vacuuming are all to be avoided. But seriously, pinching hard at your nose/ear hairs, or twisting a sticky key can aggravate a knuckle without you realzing it.

[ArnieZ]

Gotta pic of said knuckle?

arniez

[mudshark]

Voltaren

[BoogieMKIIA]

My left index finger, especially the joint at the fingernail has started bothering me. Maybe from the way I hold my iPad. Have found arnica gel helps some. Maybe physical therapy would help?

[HamerCustomEr]

Glucosamine/NEM works well for me.

https://www.costco.ca/webber-naturals-glucosamine-with-nem®-natural-eggshell-membrane-750250-mg----2-x-60-tablets.product.100149222.html

[diablo175]

3 hours ago, DaveH said:

24-3/4 starting to look better? 😂

Seriously, I got nothing for you except it sucks. I have psoriatic arthritis, Meloxicam helps with the swelling.

Already play 24-3/4" scale for 1/3 of our setlist. Doesn't help.

 

[atomicwash]

5 hours ago, bruce919 said:

oh yes. One thing that seems to help is limiting carbs and alcohol, reduce the inflammation. I noticed a correlation as my diet has changed. 

Thank god, I can still eat pizza and drink beer!!!

I've found CBD oil helps my arthritis and joint pain. Relieves anxiety a bit too.

[diablo175]

4 hours ago, ArnieZ said:

Gotta pic of said knuckle?

arniez

Really nothing standing out, aesthetically. The first 2 are the impacted hand and the other are for comparison.

Edited October 28, 2024 by diablo175

[Cboss]

46 minutes ago, diablo175 said:

Really nothing standing out, aesthetically. The first 2 are the impacted hand and the other are for comparison.

Try not wearing that watch for a few days.. those and phones, any quote device puts out huge radiation; my hand starts to hurt after 10 minutes if I'm holding the phone scrolling on reverb or looking at things on this site, soon as I put it down the pain is gone in 20 seconds

[beezerboy]

not the first article I read about borax but it says a lot of the same things....

 

The History Of Borax And Why You Should Use It To Cure Your Arthritis (alternative-doctor.com)

 

I've been trying it for about 5 weeks because of my shoulders. both started acting up last year. quite painful to move certain ways, especially the right side. I was using "icy hot" and the standard counter meds but it was not working that well. I went to the doctor, got the x-rays etc. yep, arthritis.  they put me on physical therapy and that helped some.  but then I read the bit about borax on a motorcycle forum I frequent. several inmates over there were doing it and claimed really good results.  I gotta say I'm pretty convinced. left side is normal, right side still "clicks" a bit but all the pain is gone unless I reach high, a certain way.  and a rub of cannabis oil stuff on it makes it feel pretty much normal. I don't use the oil every day. one guy on the other forum said his father did borax by wetting his index finger to the first knuckle and stickin it in the 20 mule team box, then schlup it down. once a day. that's what I've been doing. chase it with water. it doesn't really have much of a taste

[ArnieZ]

Based on your hand pose I surmise that the knuckles you are referring to are where the fingers join the hand. That is a worse condition than if in the knuckles of the fingers. Get an x-ray to R/O bone involvement, if only soft tissue inflammation rest and maybe short term anti inflammatories would help. See a hand specialist, don’t bother with anyone else!

arniez

[stedge]

Wonder if it could be gout.  
 

i have osteoarthritis, early dupuytrens, and some other penalties froma youth misspent. Love to hike etc. 

 

i went gluten free and it helped.  Almost never use advil any more, the nodules in my palms shrank, and thenknees feel good enough to hike out from phantom ranch with a decent pack. 
 

Check w your doc and make sure it is not gout. Classically affects the joint at the big toe, but can hit almost anywhere. 
 

[Cboss]

What are the causes of gout? I've always been curious about that as you read about it so much in history

[specialk]

3 hours ago, Cboss said:

What are the causes of gout? I've always been curious about that as you read about it so much in history

Without looking it up, I think it's a buildup of uric acid. 

[crunchee]

It's kinda like the old joke:

'Hey Doc, it hurts when I do this, what should I do to avoid the pain?'

Doc:  'Well, stop doing that.'. 

Growing old sucks, and the alternative ain't good.  Yeah, I know, I ain't getting any younger either.  But there's no quick fixes usually, otherwise more guys would have an entourage of oddly younger women with 'dubious enhancements' and tattoos hanging off of their arms like in the BlueChew ads.  

[stedge]

Not a rheumatologist but even with a uric acid level in the normal range one can still have gout.  Largely genetic, possibly affected by some foods, etc. 

 

deposition of crystals in a joint, secondary inflammation.  Joint paint, swelling, redness, and even tenderness (sometime remarakble).  Classically hits the base of the big toe but can affect other joints. Tbh when i had it i am not sure inhave ever had a worse pain.  Massive shoulder rebuild was easy compared to gout, for example. 
 

colchicine, steroids, and allopurinol are common treatments but you can decrease risk factors with dietary changes and other lifestyle modifications 

 

did not sleep at a holiday inn last eve but ask your doc.