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. Itâs 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 anywayâŠ). I will try the heat for my thumb. Thanks for the ideas. I tried Voltarol but doesnât 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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I rely on Voltaren Max âarthritisâ â12 hourâ, available in Europe and probably UK. At 2.3% diclofenac, it is twice the strength of the original preparation. I apply it in a very targeted fashion, not rubbed in. A larger, longer, thicker strand delivers a proportionally larger dose. After several days of consistent use, it works! It is a legitimate pharmaceutical. In the USA, only the âoriginalâ lower dose is available, and it has only become available without prescription in the last year or two.
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Michael Thanks, Michael. Itâs called Voltarol 2.32% in the UK. I use the half-strength product already. I suppose if I put it on more frequently, it will have the same effect.
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Michael from London It has become mission critical for me. Yes, I agree twice frequent use of the regular product (or perhaps thicker application) should do the trick. The 2.32% is not available in the US, so I scour the web for oversees suppliers who will ship it (usually less scrupulous individuals from Eastern Europe), at excellent prices. My prior sources have vanished, so Iâm out of luck until I can find a new supplier (or until I travel to Europe).
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Michael I'm going to look for this. Since I originally posted I've developed trigger finger in my pinky on my right hand and my middle finger of my left hand. I've been taking P5P pills which some people swear online is a miracle drug. It hasn't solved my issue so far but you're supposed to take it for six months. I've taken a break from piano to give my hands some rest.
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Steve Mendoza , Iâve had several trigger fingers through the years ( while I was on my 50 year time out from piano) and an orthopedic hand specialistâs injection of a cortisone product generally cured it within a day or two. The longer you wait to have it treated, the more painful it becomes and the harder it is to fix. I would encourage you to get treated by a professional rather than mess with an online recommendation of dubious effectiveness.
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Kathryn K Thanks, I will find a specialist. I had been delaying that as a last resort, but the trigger fingers are impacting my quality of life. Many thanks for your reply.
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Iâve been back to the gym lately and find that my hand strength is part of my issue when playing the piano. If I skip going to the gym, I find that my hands hurt more than if I go to the gym. Also, Iâve been following an anti-inflammatory diet, that has made a big difference in my hand pain. Usually within the first hour of practice my hands tend to be less painful and within the second hour Iâm pain-free. I believe, in my case itâs a matter of me moving as much as possible
