Osteoarthritis pain relief??

[selohesra1]

Does exercise help or is there ANY long term pain relief available, I have it on the joint on my left thumb, close to the wrist. It's very painful. The Dr has intimated, it a case of grin & bear it

[furrypusscat]

Exercise is usually good as long as you know the limits you can go to. I had several steroid injections over the years in base of thumb due to OA. In 2006 I had joint replacement and it made a huge difference. I don't know how long replacements last in the thumb but was well worth having it done. It is a ceramic ball and was told eventually I may need surgery again. You shouldn't have to grin and bear it, dependant on how bad it is.

[nannybooby]

you should never accept a grin and bear it response to pain! yes exercise helps but so too do non steriod anti inflamatory drugs and if ibruprophen isnt cutting it the doctor can prescribe something stronger like neproxen or other drugs like diplafenic ,the list goes on. So try the exercises on BUPA's site (you dont have to be amember to go on the site ) and if you are in pain go back to your GP.

[Sqad]

I assume that you ave had confirmation from a qualified doctor.

Initially try chondroitin and/or glucosamine.......although i am yet to be convinced of their efficacy.

In my opinion Nsaids are the mainstay of treatment...Ibuprofen for example.

Well that is about it at your stage.

[nannybooby]

if you cant get any relief and exercise doesnt help ask to be refered to a rhumatologist (sorry about the spelling but you know what I mean ) he can he;p a lot more.

[furrypusscat]

Anti inflammatory medication is fine if you don't suffer from certain illnesses. My GP will not prescribe it due to me having asthma. Just have to put up with painkillers.

[isitjustme]

If you have diabetes anti inflams can be a problem.

[pastafreak]

Definitely try glucosamine,and also high strength fish oils. Since going back to taking both about 3 weeks ago,I have far less discomfort in my joints.
Maybe try an anti-inflammatory diet? Though I don't know how well that would work.

[flicrat]

I saw someone being very dismissive of this suggstion on another thread, but seriously, I found wearing a copper bracelet gave amazing relief. I have one on both wrists and a copper ring on a very swollen finger, as I have very bad osteoarthritis in both hands and wrists. It means I can shake hands without screaming for a start and can bear to wear gloves, etc. Before I couldn't bear any contact. The bracelets are the cheapest ones frm Boots and have no magnets.The ring came from Fakenham Market . You could always try it.The only other thing I do is take a Codliver oil and Garlic capsule every morning. Hope this helps.

[Kiki-frog]

Definitely exercise it, but go carefully as there's a fine line between keeping a joint mobile and inflaming it further. As for glucosamine/chondroitin, fish oils and copper bracelets, I really liked the advice that I was given from my pain clinic: there is no scientific proof that any of these work, but the anecdotal evidence is so vast that they do seem to work for some people and therefore are well worth trying.

[starone]

If you believe it will work it will. The power of the brain is marvellous. I have extreme pain in both thumbs so cannot do things I liked to do, such as knitting and crochet. I take co-codamol, which is prescribed but they just ease it for a while. If I keep the joints still the pain goes away, but I am afraid if I do this they will stiffen into position and I will not be able to move them at all.

[nannybooby]

|Be careful of fish oils its only Omega 6 and NOT codliveroil you should take.Also have you asked your GP to test for RA ? This is done via a simple blood test. Often osteo arthritis can be accompanied or a syptom of RA or PA. Good luck hope you feel better soon.