Arthritis in fretting finger joints

crowlibrarian

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Howdy, First time posting. I enjoy reading Let's Talk from time to time, and currently play a 1976 D25M.

Over the past several months, I've developed arthritic pain in some fingers joints of my fretting hand, most acutely in the middle finger joint closest to the fingernail. CDB lotion has been helpful, as well as heat, but these are often not effective enough later in the evenings when I want to pick up the guitar. Does anyone have remedies that have been helpful for them or others you know?

Thank you for your collective wisdom, and any assistance you might offer.

Allen
 

fronobulax

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Welcome. No ideas for you but that is because, so far, arthritis has not been a personal problem.
 

dreadnut

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Welcome Allen! And great choice of guitars! I also have a '76 D-25M that I bought brand new.

Lately I've been taking Glucosamine to lubricate the joints.
 

davismanLV

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You may need to see an orthopedist to assess your arthritis and determine which type you have. Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can both cause joint pain. Once you know which type you have you can then determine what treatments will help you the best. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) will help with inflammation and thus relieve pain. The doctor will know which ones would be the best for your particular situation. You have to be careful taking them and only under doctors direction if you're on any blood thinners. They can also do injections to help. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation, and thus relieve pain. There are also drugs which lubricate the joints which can also be injected. Once again, the doc will know which would be best for you.

As dreadnut mentions above, omega-3's from salmon, trout, olive oil, nuts, avocados and supplements high in the DHA form of omega-3s. Take these joint preservers. Supplements with a combo of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin may help on two fronts: They increase lubrication and decrease inflammation (and thus pain).

So far, my hands have fared pretty well in the arthritis battle (knock wood!). The rest of my body, not quite so well. Good luck with your pain management!! :encouragement:
 

Grassdog

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I have rheumatoid arthritis in the second joint of my index finger (fretting hand) making it virtually impossible for me to fully bend the finger. I ended up seeing an arthritis specialist last year and I got a steriod shot directly into the joint which helped relief the swelling and pain and gave me back some of my flexibility in the finger. You might want to look into something like this. It's a temporary fix - lasts for a few months - I am scheduled to go back in next week and get another shot. Just one of those things we have to deal with getting older I suppose.
 

F312

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My three-year-old SUV has a heated steering wheel and I remember saying to myself WTH, but I tell you, I use it all the time while driving, for the comfort it brings to my overworked hand.

Ralph
 

dreadnut

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Then there's always medical cannibas edibles, etc, if your state allows.
 

HeyMikey

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For me sublingual cbd is more effective than cream. This company produces a high quality product. I use it only as needed, maybe 10 drops. YMMV. Tastes nasty... like bong water... but it does help. It should last 4ish hours. https://nuleafnaturals.com/shop/

Google search coupons as there is always a 15-25% off code out there.

Before and after playing look into wearing thin, open finger compression gloves. It will help the entire hand which may help with the finger. Several makers out there like Copperfit.
 

gjmalcyon

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I'm fairly well riddled with osteoarthritis - both hips replaced because of it. Both thumbs are affected also. Steroid injections have helped, as do Rx topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Voltaren (aka diclofenac). See a rheumatologist to figure out what's best for you if you are going the conventional medicine route. I also have some dietary inflammation triggers, including refined flour. If I stay away from that I feel better.
 

crowlibrarian

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It turns out that my local natural grocery carries NuLeaf CBD oil. I'm heading into town to go there tomorrow so will pick up some. I'll also look into the gloves. Thank you!
 

crowlibrarian

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Thanks, dreadnut. I've enjoyed your tales and photos, etc. with your '76 D-25M. In the past I owned an '81 D-25M that I enjoyed as well, though my favorite Guild was a 1976 F-40. I'll always miss that one. One of these days, I'm need to get a small body acoustic-electric for performing and for playing what passes for lead with my abilities. Glucosamine is a great suggestion, thanks. That feeling of the joint slipping all at one, instead of gradually bending with lubrication is not a pleasant one.
 

GuildFS4612CE

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If you have medical access you might want to have it checked out to confirm that it is arthritis...tendon issues can also cause difficulties...google 'trigger finger', yes that's what doctors call it...the hands/fingers are a pulley system...damage/inflammation can impede the passage of the tendon(s) thru the sheaths...while it feels like a first joint closest to the nail issue, and the joint may lock and release, with pain, the actual location of the problem is in the inside/palm side of the knuckle...if you place your index/thumb of the opposite hand at that location of the affected finger and flex the finger you should be able to actually feel the problem...it's caused by inflammation and or injury to the tendon/sheath and treatment is different than arthritis...important before scar tissue forms and impedes the tendon requiring surgical intervention...good luck.
 

crowlibrarian

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If you have medical access you might want to have it checked out to confirm that it is arthritis...tendon issues can also cause difficulties...google 'trigger finger', yes that's what doctors call it...the hands/fingers are a pulley system...damage/inflammation can impede the passage of the tendon(s) thru the sheaths...while it feels like a first joint closest to the nail issue, and the joint may lock and release, with pain, the actual location of the problem is in the inside/palm side of the knuckle...if you place your index/thumb of the opposite hand at that location of the affected finger and flex the finger you should be able to actually feel the problem...it's caused by inflammation and or injury to the tendon/sheath and treatment is different than arthritis...important before scar tissue forms and impedes the tendon requiring surgical intervention...good luck.

Thanks for the great information, GuildFS4612CE.
 

Cougar

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Howdy, First time posting.... Over the past several months, I've developed arthritic pain in some fingers joints of my fretting hand....

Welcome to the boards, Crow! Yes, these aging problems can indeed be... problematic. I got a head start by breaking my index and middle finger on my fretting hand. :nightmare: Even now they're not as flexible as they were. And they make playing certain chords not just painful, but basically impossible. The F chord is real nasty, so I just play a modified version, dampening both E strings. The chords that I can play - those are the ones I play! And I play the heck out of them! :tiger:
 

crowlibrarian

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Welcome to the boards, Crow! Yes, these aging problems can indeed be... problematic. I got a head start by breaking my index and middle finger on my fretting hand. :nightmare: Even now they're not as flexible as they were. And they make playing certain chords not just painful, but basically impossible. The F chord is real nasty, so I just play a modified version, dampening both E strings. The chords that I can play - those are the ones I play! And I play the heck out of them! :tiger:

Ouch - that is challenging I admire your resiliency. I've been thinking of what I might do myself if/when this continues spreading and/or worsening. Your example is inspiring. Thank you.
 
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