Fingers that can't pull ropes

[pugwash]

I'm going on 70, reasonably fit and active, but my fingers are giving me hell. The knuckles are stiff and the flesh is tight so I can't clench a rope. Especially after pulling weeds, wielding a paintbrush and other stuff requiring lots of finger action. And the fingers are getting very weak: it's tough even to wield a corkscrew. So far I'm coping but things are getting more difficult and painful. I'm sure I will struggle on for a while yet but as I am the only one on board who knows about sailing and pilotage I have to wonder about responsibilities towards others such as grandchildren. One day they will take over but not yet.

Age is the problem, of course. Minor arthritis is the diagnosis and Paracetamol the treatment.

I'm sure I am not alone in having this problem and I wondered if you have any advice or cures. Has anybody found anything that really helps?

 

[Sgeir]

Just wondering if you've tried glucosamine as a supplement. I know many who swear by it, but have no idea if it is really effective or whether it is a placebo.

Incidentally, I use sturdy leather work gloves for rope handling while sailing - makes gripping ropes easier, protects fingers, and are a damned sight cheaper than sailing gloves.

 

[dylanwinter]

Glucosamine

I'm going on 70, reasonably fit and active, but my fingers are giving me hell. The knuckles are stiff and the flesh is tight so I can't clench a rope. Especially after pulling weeds, wielding a paintbrush and other stuff requiring lots of finger action. And the fingers are getting very weak: it's tough even to wield a corkscrew. So far I'm coping but things are getting more difficult and painful. I'm sure I will struggle on for a while yet but as I am the only one on board who knows about sailing and pilotage I have to wonder about responsibilities towards others such as grandchildren. One day they will take over but not yet.

Age is the problem, of course. Minor arthritis is the diagnosis and Paracetamol the treatment.

I'm sure I am not alone in having this problem and I wondered if you have any advice or cures. Has anybody found anything that really helps?

After a life-time of hammering keyboards mine suffer a bit as well

I do find that glucosamine tablets help me

but mine do suffer, particularly in the winter, and when I have to film

I do know that my knees and my knuckles will eventually get me

Dylan

 

[tudorsailor]

I'm going on 70, reasonably fit and active, but my fingers are giving me hell. The knuckles are stiff and the flesh is tight so I can't clench a rope. Especially after pulling weeds, wielding a paintbrush and other stuff requiring lots of finger action. And the fingers are getting very weak: it's tough even to wield a corkscrew. So far I'm coping but things are getting more difficult and painful. I'm sure I will struggle on for a while yet but as I am the only one on board who knows about sailing and pilotage I have to wonder about responsibilities towards others such as grandchildren. One day they will take over but not yet.

Age is the problem, of course. Minor arthritis is the diagnosis and Paracetamol the treatment.

I'm sure I am not alone in having this problem and I wondered if you have any advice or cures. Has anybody found anything that really helps?

There is no evidence that glucosamine will make any difference for this. The only evidence for glucosamine is for osteoarthritis of the knees

Who has made the diagnosis of "minor arthritis"? I ask as it is not really a proper diagnosis or explanation. There are a multitude of reasons why your grip may be weak. I would suggest getting an opinion ideally from a Hand Surgeon. Second best would be a rheumatologist.

TudorSailorSurgeon

 

[fergie_mac66]

After a life-time of hammering keyboards mine suffer a bit as well

I do find that glucosamine tablets help me

but mine do suffer, particularly in the winter, and when I have to film

I do know that my knees and my knuckles will eventually get me

Dylan

You will have to save your knuckles a bit by not getting in punchups with mobo owners !!

By the way (sorry bout thread drift) but when you go up the Humber are you going to keep turning left and go right round the island ..

Up the Humber,left up the Trent,left at Torksey along the Foss and Witham left at Boston and back to the Humber.There used to be a round the island race I believe pub stops were compulsory!

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

There is no evidence that glucosamine will make any difference for this. The only evidence for glucosamine is for osteoarthritis of the knees

Who has made the diagnosis of "minor arthritis"? I ask as it is not really a proper diagnosis or explanation. There are a multitude of reasons why your grip may be weak. I would suggest getting an opinion ideally from a Hand Surgeon. Second best would be a rheumatologist.

TudorSailorSurgeon

I have been taking glucosamine for about 6 months now and there seems to have been an improvement re the knees. I am glad to hear there is some evidence, 'cos I was wondering if it was indeed a placebo effect. I shall continue taking it, then.

Re the OP, is MND worth considering? I ask as that's what my much missed MIL was diagnosed with and for her it started with the grip problem. Just a thought, mind, I ain't no doc!

 

[npf1]

Would one of these help: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285489

 

[Victoria Sponge]

There is no evidence that glucosamine will make any difference for this. The only evidence for glucosamine is for osteoarthritis of the knees

Who has made the diagnosis of "minor arthritis"? I ask as it is not really a proper diagnosis or explanation. There are a multitude of reasons why your grip may be weak. I would suggest getting an opinion ideally from a Hand Surgeon. Second best would be a rheumatologist.

TudorSailorSurgeon

Good advice, to which I would add that if you can take aspirin it would possibly help more than paracetamol, being an anti-inflammatory as well as a pain killer.

 

[Sybarite]

You will have to save your knuckles a bit by not getting in punchups with mobo owners !!

By the way (sorry bout thread drift) but when you go up the Humber are you going to keep turning left and go right round the island ..

Up the Humber,left up the Trent,left at Torksey along the Foss and Witham left at Boston and back to the Humber.There used to be a round the island race I believe pub stops were compulsory!

I have trouble now with my knees. There is a biochemist on a boat beside me who recommended :

Phytotherapy : glucosamine, and mineralising products : blackcurrant, field or common horsetail (take for one month) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum_arvense and then shark cartilage for one month.

He said that these products were available very cheaply from the site of “Laboratoires Belle et Bio”

As an Analgesic : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpagophytum

If it comes to surgery there is a specialist in France who does keyhole surgery and rather than replacing everything he inserts a small hinge in the knee. (Dr Henri Robert ; Hôpital de Mayenne).

FWIW I have no personal experience yet.

 

[SimbaDog]

Glucosamine has worked a treat for my labrador, much to the amazement of his vet, don't think that can be the placebo effect

 

[MoodySabre]

My friends swear by Manuka Honey.

Have a look at diet issues - some things are bad news for arthritis.

Gloves as mentioned seem a good idea. I'd worry about clutching falling grandchildren or pulling them out of the water. Safety first - perhaps you need to find a good crew. Hope it doesn't get worse. I'm still holding up thank goodness but time is not on anyone's side.

 

[Little Five]

At the age of 51 I was informed by the Doc I had osteoarthritis-probably not how you spell it. Anyway I bought a book called Say no to Arthritis and I adopted the diet regime which makes a huge difference. I know this because if I stray off it the fingers are sure to let me know.
Avoid;
Anything tomato based
Strawberries
Cut down/out dairy products
Acidic anything, esp red wine.

There is more but the above is what i have (almost) cut out.

 

[Topcat47]

I to have Osteo-Arthritic problems with my hands and wrists. Glocosamine and Dicophenlac are my prime treatments. Osteo-Arthritis hits joints and I have a replacement knee and have had surgery on both shoulders.

All my ropes on board are 12mm or 14mm, even the reefing pennant of my RR headsail. This and a couple of pairs of good sailing gloves work for me. The rigger removed the core of the reefing pennant for the bit that wraps round the drum but left it in at the tail so I can "get a grip"

If you have pain, try co-codomol, even off-prescription strength is better than asprin or paracetemol on its own. Don't take Asprin with Dicophenlac as both are stomach irritants. You can get the latter in coated pills (Arthrotec) which works for me.

As for the grandchildren, it rather epends on how old they are. 5 or under, insist on one of their parents coming too. 5-10 teach them to handle the boat, you can keep them harnessed at all times. 10+ they can be taught to sail properly and take a hands turn. Kids really are more capable than most people are prepared to admit. I have a friend whose 13 year old son is bowman on his yacht and they regularly compete in round the cans andpassage races. He handles the spinnaker far better than I could.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Just wondering if you've tried glucosamine as a supplement. I know many who swear by it, but have no idea if it is really effective or whether it is a placebo.

Incidentally, I use sturdy leather work gloves for rope handling while sailing - makes gripping ropes easier, protects fingers, and are a damned sight cheaper than sailing gloves.

Glucosamine has recently lost medical support - so I read. Ibubrufen calms inflamation and this may bring you some relief.

My deep sympathies to you. I find that knees and hands are the weaknesses that so often prompt premature retirement from the sea - eventually!

Good luck,

PWG

 

[ratbag]

i found that hyperbaric oxygen treatment worked wonders for me , rhumatoid artheritus (no good for osteo) also a drink you can get from a healthfood store honeygar , tastes rotton but mixed in a rubex vit c drink is not so bad,
before the above remedies i had difficulty driving, but now i can ride a motorbike again

 

[dylanwinter]

hands

You will have to save your knuckles a bit by not getting in punchups with mobo owners !!

By the way (sorry bout thread drift) but when you go up the Humber are you going to keep turning left and go right round the island ..

Up the Humber,left up the Trent,left at Torksey along the Foss and Witham left at Boston and back to the Humber.There used to be a round the island race I believe pub stops were compulsory!

the bloke I bought the slug from quit sailing because of his bad hands

I put on the double sheets to give mine a rest

not argueing with anyone at the moment - s few boats on the wash pleased to see anyone

as for the humber - if the weather is awful I could get to the Humber by the back door

nip out and round and into Boston and up that way

provided the route will tolerate my 2 foot draft

d

 

[electrosys]

I don't expect that what I'm about to say will be well received - but here goes ....

There's a bloke called Batmanghelidj - an MD who has written several books about water as a cure for many medical conditions. Before you rubbish the idea, consider that our bodies are largely composed of water, and all it's biochemical reactions, cellular growth etc., all take place within an aqueous medium - so any imbalance in our bodily fluids can spin off into disease - at least, that's the premise behind his work.

You may think that you drink enough during the day - but what do you drink ? Tea, coffee, alcohol etc are all diuretics - so drinking these to quench a thirst is actually self-defeating. Very few people it seems drink enough water as part of their diet. Feeling thirsty isn't just an innocent sensation - it's a sign that the body is dehydrated.

Anyway - if you Google "water as a cure", "Dr.B" etc., there is a lot of stuff about this on the web. Even if it is poppycock (and I'm not totally convinced that it is), it doesn't cost anything to drink more water - so what have you got to lose ?

The idea that arthritis (amongst many other conditions) could possibly be caused by chronic dehydration may seem fanciful, or even just plain barmy - but why not ? Very few modern medicines offer cures, they only target alleviation of the symptoms, and sometimes with side-effects that are almost as bad as the illness they are treating - they seldom address the underlying cause of the condition.

Maybe worth looking into ?

 

[BrendanS]

Drinking water is sound advice, but saying it will cure or alleviate actual medical problems, no

 

[OGITD]

Regenovex

Try this:

 

[BrendanS]

ask them what clinical trials have been done, to show how effective the product is...