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Arthritic Thumbs
Splints
15%
 15%  [ 3 ]
Shots
36%
 36%  [ 7 ]
Surgery
15%
 15%  [ 3 ]
Therapy
31%
 31%  [ 6 ]
Total Votes : 19

Author Topic:  Arthritis in base of Thumbs
Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 14 Nov 2017 9:57 pm    
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I have had severe arthritis at the base of my left thumb fo over 8 months.

A banjo player buddy is a hand therapist and made me a otherwise very expensive) custom-fit brace.

My orthopedic surgeon/hand specialist (also a guitarist) has done several treatments including cortisone & trigger-point injections.

Still fouled to the point that I can't really play 6-string; b-bender is a non-started (and that's my main type) - and while I can hold a bar OK, I can only handle it for 30 minutes or so. And any strain causes pain that shoots up my forearm.

So I'm looking at "anchovy" surgery over the winter, with a projected 4-6 month complete recovery time..very possibly longer with my disabling chronic pain issues related to irritation of multiple nerve endings.

Yikes.

Whoa!
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 16 Nov 2017 2:00 pm     UPDATE---Arthritis in base of Thumbs
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I’d like to thank all of you who’ve participated in both the poll as well as sharing your experiences with Arthritic Thumbs.

I went and saw my Dr. today... She ordered new X-rays to determine the progression from last June when I first had my thumbs X-ray’d

Someone also mentioned Diclofenac, which I in turn mentioned to my Dr. She said yes it’s pretty effective and I have to say that after having applied it about 3 hours ago, within an hour I was feeling more relief than I’d expected.

I also asked her about CBD oil, and she said, that the best results seem to come from a 1-1 ratio of THC-CBD, so I got some of that too, but now have to figure out how to make a lotion with the 5 little vials I got for 35 bucks. HELLO YOUTUBE!!!...

She is also trying to get me into an orthopedist, and will probably end up with shots and hopefully that will slow down the progression.

She also suggested neoprene splint type of thing, that still allows movement but helps support the joint and also add warmth to it to help with mobility.

Anyhow, thanks again, and lets keep coming back here to share what has worked for you and what didn’t, and maybe we can all play a little longer because of the insight we got right here.
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Dan Robinson


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 18 Nov 2017 4:37 pm    
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My right thumb basal joint is pretty far gone. Checked by my rheumatologist and hand surgeon. The surgeon told me that recovery time is as much as six months. Too long for me, at least right now. Tried several steroid injections, sometimes they help for a few weeks, but overall... meh.

Come to Colorado, get all the CBD oil you want, lol. I haven't tried it, don't know if it helps.

Diclofenac is OK for, what it's worth. It provides some relief, but when you have a joint with bone on bone there's only so much you can do. Holding a regular guitar pick aggravates it (that pinching motion), but fortunately playing the steel doesn't bother it.

For me it's all about learning what bothers it and how to avoid things that make it worse ("hey doc, it hurts when I ..." "Then don't do that.").

ICE IS NICE.
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Dan Robinson


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 19 Nov 2017 4:06 pm    
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Just remembered a driving suggestion from the hand surgeon. Grip the steering wheel with your thumbs next to your fingers, not wrapped around the wheel. It's less irritating to the base of the thumb. And safer in the event of a collision.

It took some time to get used to this, but it does help me.
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 20 Nov 2017 4:51 pm    
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Dan Robinson wrote:
Just remembered a driving suggestion from the hand surgeon. Grip the steering wheel with your thumbs next to your fingers, not wrapped around the wheel. It's less irritating to the base of the thumb. And safer in the event of a collision.

It took some time to get used to this, but it does help me.


I’ve noticed that too Dan... It doesn’t seem to bother me quite enough to do it all the time.

I missed a call from the Orthopedist today, but will call tomorrow to make an appointment and hope they can fix me up... The Declofenac seems to help, that or I’m just having some good days Smile
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Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 20 Nov 2017 9:11 pm     Arthritis in base of thumbs.
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I have heard no one talking about Osto-Bio-Flex or something similar. My body has been horse rolled, cow kicked, steer kicked and 18 years of a field Wild Life Officer. Both knees, Right Shoulder and Right Elbow was causing problems. At work one day I was having problems with my left knee. Our new secretary suggested Osto-Bio-Flex. In her younger days she was a down hill skier and had joint problems. It took 40 days to take effect and cut the pain. That was 15 years ago and I still take it every morning.
An old Army buddy who was a dozer operator for 40 years on rock cut high wall road jobs. He said he quit taking Osteo-Bi-Oflex and 40 days later he could hardly get out of bed. He went back to taking it.
With what my hands have been through, this may be helping my hands and keeps them working.
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 21 Nov 2017 3:04 pm    
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From the outside;
I go to a real Chinese Herb Doctor. No bottles of pills from China, but bags of mixed herbs from his wall of herb drawers. 25 years ago, I could not walk without a cane. My Shanghai-born lady friend took me to an acupuncturist who told me that I needed herbs. I saw the herb Doc three times, and I have no idea where my cane is. I'd bet a good one could help the thumbs too. But you have to find a good one! No bottles of pills, just real herbs that you make into tea. And one trained in China, not Taiwan. They treat the cause, not give you something to cover the symptoms.
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 20 Feb 2018 8:54 am    
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Quick update... I see another post on Arthritis so it jogged my memory, about my thumbs.

I’ve been using Turmeric and Black Pepper capsules for a little over a month, and have gone from thinking about my thumbs ALL the time to only thinking about them part of the time... I’m already bone on bone in both thumbs, and although I can still tweak them and cause pain, I’m able to be much less gingerly about them when using them...

The Turmeric and Black Pepper is the only thing I can attribute the much lessened pain too... I haven’t tried the Hemp Oil yet, but before I started using the capsules I had used CBD Balm that did help... I haven’t used any of that since I started the capsules as they seem pretty effective... I’m not taking the quantity that Georg is, but do think I’m going to add the Hemp Oil to see if there’s added benefit.
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*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
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Jim Newberry


From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
Post  Posted 20 Feb 2018 12:09 pm    
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Not the base of my thumb, but the first knuckle and apparently not arthritis. It looks like I have a kneecap on my thumb and it hurts like hell. Diclofenac helps, but this might require some work. My doctor says it's essentially "unremarkable"....




Ouch.
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Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 20 Feb 2018 3:54 pm    
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Dale Rottacker wrote:
I’m not taking the quantity that Georg is, but do think I’m going to add the Hemp Oil to see if there’s added benefit.
Glad Turmeric and Black Pepper capsules work for you.
Hemp Oil should be a staple food – one to two tablespoons a day – best taken at the same time as the Turmeric/pepper, as those spices dissolve in the fatty oil in your stomach for an even better effect.

Advice: don't be too diligent about taking them every day. These items are food, not medicine, and we do not eat exactly the same food in the same amounts every day – at least I don't. The human body usually fares better with a day or two without these items now and then, so it can "use up any overdoses" so to speak.
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 1:49 am    
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Georg Sørtun wrote:
Dale Rottacker wrote:
I’m not taking the quantity that Georg is, but do think I’m going to add the Hemp Oil to see if there’s added benefit.
Glad Turmeric and Black Pepper capsules work for you.
Hemp Oil should be a staple food – one to two tablespoons a day – best taken at the same time as the Turmeric/pepper, as those spices dissolve in the fatty oil in your stomach for an even better effect.

Advice: don't be too diligent about taking them every day. These items are food, not medicine, and we do not eat exactly the same food in the same amounts every day – at least I don't. The human body usually fares better with a day or two without these items now and then, so it can “use up any overdoses” so to speak.

Georg, thanks for your knowledgable advice.... I’ve had days where I’ve tweaked my thumbs a little at work and then it takes a few days to “recover” but overall just with the capsules I’ve seen pretty good improvement... I’m going to get the Hemp Oil you recommended, just haven’t decided if I’ll get a whole gallon of it or not... I’m guessing it needs to be refrigerated, so that could be a small concern.
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*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
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Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 3:18 am    
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Dale Rottacker wrote:
I’m going to get the Hemp Oil you recommended, just haven’t decided if I’ll get a whole gallon of it or not... I’m guessing it needs to be refrigerated, so that could be a small concern.
That's the one I have used, in the small bottles, for the last 4 years to good effect.
Nothing wrong in looking for, and trying out, other brands. Many choices out there. Four to six weeks use should tell you if whatever you choose is working to your satisfaction, or not.
I have never refrigerated mine, just kept it at room temperature somewhere dark – in a kitchen-drawer for instance. Heat and sunlight / strong light speeds up oxidation, which is what we don't want.
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J R Rose

 

From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 8:10 am    
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Go to your local farm and feed or co-op store and get a tube of Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel. Will give you a few hours of pain free hands. As others have stated most products are temporary as is this one. As for me after years of carpenter/concrete work my hands are shot. So a couple of hours of relief to play a few licks on my steel is great. J.R. Rose
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Jeffrey McFadden


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 8:30 am    
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I have lots of arthritis, particularly in my hands. It's why I had to quit 6 string, which may have been the best thing that ever happened to me musically, but that's a separate topic.

Cold will give you good relief, and reasonably long lasting relief. Buy yourself some gel packs and keep them in your freezer.

I have gel pack mittens, and small wraps, but my best are big wraps like you would wrap around a knee or shoulder. I roll them into a loose muff and stick my hands into them, leave them until they reach room temperature. Do this consistently and you will have quite a bit of relief. It's not a cure - there is no cure for arthritis - but it's good topical relief. Works better than pain meds, for me at least.
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 11:00 am    
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Im going to see my Chinese herb doctor. My knees were really bad and I walked with a cane. After 3 visits, getting three bags each time to make tea, my arthritis was gone. That was about 20 years ago. They believe in treating the cause, not just relieving the symptoms.
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Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 11:28 am    
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Alternating heat and cold improves circulation and can reduce inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis). Ginkgo balboa, cayenne, garlic, turmeric. Beware of adding an arthritis herbal remedy if you are taking heart and/or blood pressure medication.

Osteoarthritis is a little different, but herbal treatment can still help.

Diet - reduce or avoid sugar, white flour, fried food, salt, dairy, red meat, and processed crap.
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Barry Blackwood


Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 4:22 pm    
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Quote:
Diet - reduce or avoid sugar, white flour, fried food, salt, dairy, red meat, and processed crap.

What's left? Confused
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 4:40 pm    
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I wonder if "fried food" includes Chinese stir fry?
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Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
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'52 and '56 Pro Amps
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Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 6:14 pm    
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I follow a for the most part easy regime regarding food, as expressed in the following article from a few years back…
https://gunlaug.com/contents/blog/blog-20150801.html

These days sugary stuff pretty quickly gives me a headache, reminding me that I have no need for anything that contains sugar or sweeteners. I use plenty of high-quality honey though.

As for frying; I fry food almost every day, but only with (plenty of) real butter and/or coconut oil since most other oils oxidize at higher temperatures.
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Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 7:13 pm    
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Barry Blackwood wrote:
Quote:
Diet - reduce or avoid sugar, white flour, fried food, salt, dairy, red meat, and processed crap.

What's left? Confused

Barry, you are special and if I was your doctor I would allow one item of crap per day Cool
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Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 8:34 pm    
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Georg Sørtun wrote:
As for frying; I fry food almost every day, but only with (plenty of) real butter and/or coconut oil since most other oils oxidize at higher temperatures.

Is there a “food fight” section in the forum?
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Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 11:17 pm    
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Fred Treece wrote:
Is there a “food fight” section in the forum?
Haven't seen one. Should there be? Very Happy
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Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 21 Feb 2018 11:46 pm    
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Definitely Evil Twisted
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Douglas Schuch


From:
Valencia, Philippines
Post  Posted 22 Feb 2018 5:36 am    
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I am joining this conversation late, but have some info that may help re: hemp oil/CBD oil.

I have an arthritic hip that will probably get replaced before too long, but in the meantime, I have to deal with it. I always figured the hemp stuff was just placebo effect. But a friend has an aging dog with bad hips. He was walking around like he was on stilts the day I met him - she said it was because she forgot to give him his medicine before their walk. The next time I saw him, he scampered about like a puppy. Wait a minute.... dogs are not susceptible to placebo effect! The medicine - CBD oil.

So I bought some hemp oil - and noticed no benefit. Oh well. But for some reason I did some more reading, and realized that CBD oil and hemp oil are NOT the same thing. Hemp oil is pressed from seeds, and generally has a very low CBD content. CBD oil may use hemp oil as the base, but the CBD is extracted from mature hemp plants grown for their CBD content.

So I bought some CBD oil (I buy from Bluebird). And the benefits are very noticeable. I don't scamper around like a young puppy, but I have much less pain from the hip.

Good luck!
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Gary Cosden


From:
Florida, USA
Post  Posted 22 Feb 2018 5:58 am    
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+1 on comments made by Douglas Schuch. It's the CBD oil that does the trick. Watch out for misleading things like references to "hemp oil extract". It's not the same thing as CBD oil per se. It can get confusing but the main thing to remember is you are paying for mg of CBD oil so that is what you need to be looking for.
Others seem to feel that hemp oil pressed from hemp seeds, which does not contain any significant amount of CBD oil, is effective. While it does have some anti-inflammatory properties (it has omega 3s) I personally find it pretty much useless. CBD oil, on the other hand, works well. YMMV
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