Arthritis of finger knuckles
I have arthritis in my hands, in the middle knuckles of the four fingers (but not in the thumbs). This causes me some pain when I play the piano, although I try not to focus on it. I have tried a number of remedies, none of which are a panacea, but some do offer a little relief. In order of greatest benefit, these are:
Dipping hands in a bowl of warm water for at least a minute, Voltarol cream rubbed into hands several times a day, rechargeable hand warmer, hand massager and heater (e.g. iReliev), Glucosamine Sulphate (difficult to know whether it has an effect).
I note that arthritis has been the subject of several posts, which I have read with interest. I wonder if anyone has arthritis of the finger knuckles and if they have found something else that offers good relief.
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I broke my wrist last year and had to have a metal plate inserted to hold the bones together. It’s now 9 months later and my thumb is still not the same - plus the hand gets stiff after playing and still aches at night. I can finally do an octave again (my hands are small anyway…). I will try the heat for my thumb. Thanks for the ideas. I tried Voltarol but doesn’t seem to help me.
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Judith Thanks, Judith. I do hope things will improve for you.
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A symmetrical arthritis of PIP joints of both hands, especially if there is prolonged morning stiffness and/or involvement of MCP joints, raises suspicion for rheumatoid arthritis. If your doctor has ruled that out, great! (Sometimes it's worth rechecking the blood tests.)
It sounds like you've done all of the standard stuff. It may help to consult with an occupational therapist who is well-versed in hand arthritis. You may need a referral from your primary care doctor for that. (I'm a retired doc and have made many such referrals, often with good results.)
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Richard Thank you, Richard.
It is osteoarthritis for me, only in my finger PIP joints..I will investigate your suggestion of occupational therapy with my general practitioner.
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