Arthritis in one finger

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Babylon

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I'm developing some kind of arthritis in the middle finger of my right hand (unfortunate choice of finger!) due to having as a teenager dived vertically down into a deep swimming pool; this particular finger, at the end of my perfectly rigid and outsretched arms, absorbed the full momentum of my body as it contacted, still at some speed, with the bottom of the pool. Ouch!!

The problem now is that the demned thing swells and locks under the slightest duress - eg hauling on ropes, carrying shopping-bags, working, holding the car steeering wheel on longer journeys, etc - so to ease the pain I've taken to wearing a sailing-glove on my right hand to support it.

I suggested to my woman the other day that - if there isn't a medical cure - I might consider having the thing amputated. (That would make for some ironic gesturing to other drivers!)

What's the consensus?
 
Bad news for you. I don't know how old you are but at 45 I developed Arthritis in one finger. Now at 56 I have it in 8 and sailing is now becoming very difficult. Fortunately, for some reason, my thumbs are still ok.

I can't make a fist anymore so holding lines is very difficult. Sometimes I have to commit the cardinal sin of wrapping a line around my hand in order to have sufficent grip. I only do this when there is a clutch to control the line but I still hate doing it.

You can have finger joints replaced ( http://www.fingerreplacement.com/DePuy/about_arthritis/index.html ) but you won't have full strength or full mobility. I am considering this for the future but want to leave it for a while yet.

I have managed to get all aound the world with this affliction so don't get too worried about it.
 
Diclofenac sodium could be your answer. I have had arthritis in both thumb joints for 15 years now and keep taking the diclofenac pills which keep them pretty much pain free. There are some side affects to watch out for but manageable.
 
Not sure if it works for Arthritis - but a copper bracelet - possibly with magnets - may help the symptons. My hands quite often hurt from too much typing and a bracelet has practically removed all of this. It's not arthritis though - so may not be any good - but for a few quid worth a try?!
 
Jeannius said:
Bad news for you. I don't know how old you are but at 45 I developed Arthritis in one finger. Now at 56 I have it in 8 and sailing is now becoming very difficult. Fortunately, for some reason, my thumbs are still ok.

I can't make a fist anymore so holding lines is very difficult. Sometimes I have to commit the cardinal sin of wrapping a line around my hand in order to have sufficent grip. I only do this when there is a clutch to control the line but I still hate doing it.

You can have finger joints replaced ( http://www.fingerreplacement.com/DePuy/about_arthritis/index.html ) but you won't have full strength or full mobility. I am considering this for the future but want to leave it for a while yet.

I have managed to get all aound the world with this affliction so don't get too worried about it.
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Thanks... I'm late 40's and have had this problem for 30yrs, athough its only now that its becoming quite painful and locking. I wonder if it'll remain an isolated problem or whether it might spread? I suppose my first port of call is my GP - and I might just as well buy a copper bracelet to see whether that makes any difference.
 
fireball said:
Not sure if it works for Arthritis - but a copper bracelet - possibly with magnets - may help the symptons. My hands quite often hurt from too much typing and a bracelet has practically removed all of this. It's not arthritis though - so may not be any good - but for a few quid worth a try?!
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Going to give it a try, however did come across this piece on the NHS website which suggests that copper/magnets have no palliative effect for arthritis sufferers: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/10October/Pages/Copper-bracelets-and-arthritis.aspx
 
I had a similar problem with a finger "locking" - saw the GP and was told it was a common enough problem called "trigger finger" (or something of that nature). It was sorted by a cortisone injection into the palm of my hand - unpleasant, but it works and is a one off. I have had several minor joint problems that have been sorted by a cortisone injection; I gather its use is governed by whether your GP is confident of doing deep injections into joints. It happens my local practise has a history of being "good" with minor orthopaedic problems. Of course, you may have other conditions or allergies that preclude the use of cortisone, but it may be worth asking your GP if it would be worth trying it.
 
IIRC mine cost £8 from ebay - just a plain copper band with 3 magnets set in each end ... not a fortune and worth trying for me - just lucky it seems to work.
Why it works I don't know - may be a mind/matter thing ... just wish it sorted my knee as well!
 
I developed osteo arthritis in both hands about 10 yrs ago and some days it becomes difficult even to write with a pen. Diet is very significant in helping to hold the problem at arms length (ahem). To be avoided, tomato in any guise, strawberries. diet drinks, coffee, booze and dairy products. of course I love all the aforementioned products and now and again do enjoy them. I think you should chat to your GP re the injection as its only in 1 finger. Good luck and I hope it doesn't get worse.
 
Babylon said:
Thanks... I'm late 40's and have had this problem for 30yrs, athough its only now that its becoming quite painful and locking. I wonder if it'll remain an isolated problem or whether it might spread? I suppose my first port of call is my GP - and I might just as well buy a copper bracelet to see whether that makes any difference.
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I didn't know you hadn't yet been to a doctor. You'll probably need to see a specialist and get x-rays taken to properly diagnose things. It might well not be arthritis so things may not be as gloomy as I predicted.
 
Little Five said:
I developed osteo arthritis in both hands about 10 yrs ago and some days it becomes difficult even to write with a pen. Diet is very significant in helping to hold the problem at arms length (ahem). To be avoided, tomato in any guise, strawberries. diet drinks, coffee, booze and dairy products. of course I love all the aforementioned products and now and again do enjoy them.
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My symptoms and food experience as well, plus food with yeasts, citric fruits and juices. It's a real b****r as I loved the odd pint of beer.
I leave out any packaged food if possible that'll have preservative or MSG.
My neck and hands are worse. Little finger locked up in pain recently and I really jumped with the shock of pain, rather like someone was stabbing the joint with the point of a knife. When I'm driving I sometimes have to straighten my fingers using the other hand and then I mimic playing the piano which seems to help.
I had a stretchy magnet bracelet and lost it first day afloat so can't comment on that, but I used to wear a copper bracelet but that caught on the side of the companionway hatch and cut my wrist so that was taken off.
I get plenty of pains in all the major joints as well.
Sleeping on board is a problem as I need to stretch out and change position regularly so sleeping bags and narrow bunks are a difficult.
Doc' suggested 10mg of Amitriptyline at about 9pm to aid sleep although I dislike taking pills it's sometimes required. Obviously paracetamol is a simple and relatively safe medicine but it's only covering over the problem.
Summer is a lot better than winter for me so I reckon I have to get away for winters and also out of the Thames Valley which is said to be a problem for some???
 
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As some of the other guys said go to your gp.
When my dad was diagnosed with osteo arthritis he was given injections in the affected joints which he reckoned was extremely painful but worked, and put on voltarol which is prescription only he was also recommended by the doctor to take hight strength evening primrose and selenium a mineral which doesnt occur naturally in many parts of the west country. Although it didnt cure it he had some mobility in his affected fingers and thumb. He also noticed that when we went on holiday to a dry warm part of the world such as California the symptoms would lessen. Also since he has retired much of the stiffness has gone.
 
There is a school of thought that stress is a factor in athritis. I have tried to figure. this out with regard to mine but difficult as work is stressful anyway. I would need to have a control period of no work for say 2 months to compare and that ain't going to happen.
As others have said, winter is harder, summer a blessed relief. Oh for a life in the sun!!
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Are you sure it's arthritis? Not Duyuptrons conjecture for example?

What is the point of chopping it off. If you have arthritis in one finger sooner or later you will have it in others. Genetics rather than swimming.
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Don't yet know exactly what it is, but its worth noting that ever since that ludicrous use of the finger as a crumple-zone, the finger has been bent sideways by about 5 degrees more than it should, with the joint area 20% larger in girth than the opposite middle finger.

Will report back once my esteemed GP has looked at it/x-rays.
 
My doctor told me I had mild arthritis in my hip joints about ten years ago and was taking ibuprofen quite regularly. My mothers doctor suggested that she took glucosomine to help with her arthritis so I started on it too, and whilst I do get pain from time to time it is very much less frequent than it used to be.

Mind you I would see the quack and find out exactly what it is, self diagnosis can be pretty inaccurate
 
If its any consolation to all you sufferers, during our last Clyde Scuttle meet up in the Cumbrae centre we raised £127 to give to an arthritis organisation.
I also suffer with it in both wrists and hands and right elbow although it never seems as bad when I am on the boat.
Recently while doing wet n dry sanding I found I had almost no strength in my right forearm.
Think mine comes from years of being a mechanic and plant fitter, and all the wettings and excertion on my joints.
C_W
 
i was diagnosed with rheumatoid artheritus @ 45 chronic pain in my shoulders , doc said i had to live with it & take anti-inflamitories when needed, they in turn messed up my stomach, it then lead to my hips, i struggled even to drive a car.
quite by accident i came across a treatment that really worked, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, to be honest i really didnt believe in it , but i do now, i believe most prem footie teams have one , its expensive and time consuming , but well worth it as a cure , if you ask a doctor about it he'll look at you lke youre mad , i needed quite a number of treatments for the pain to go, but it meant i was able to tour europe & the states on my harley
it is no use for osteoartheritus
check out www.hbot4u.com

p.s.doctors dont like it because its a drug free cure
 
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