Do You Have Or Worry About Arthritis?

the nerves that run your hand, most especially the thumb and that side of the hand, run thru a tunnel in your wrist, the "carpal tunnel". When you do repetitive motions with your hands, you run the risk of irritating the nerves, they swell and compress in that tunnel and then you are TRULY in a world of hurt!

Sorry for my ignorance but what's carpal tunnel? I've heard of it but I'm unsure what it is. I shall continue to type for as long as necessary. At least my hands get a workout! Shame about the rest of my body!

I think carpal tunnel syndrome is treatable if caught early enough, there's some sort of operation you can get on your hand, I believe. My mother-in-law has it but she waited too long, so it wouldn't do any good for her. You might want to check into it, if it's in the early stages.

@Masihi--yes, turmeric and cumin are good and red peppers as well. Check what I posted further down. @Janey, too much paracetamol can hurt your liver.

I'm pleased that my discussion has got you thinking about your own body and what you plan to do about your ailments. Do you get dull aches when it's cold? I remember last year I got cold so easily but it was due to me being "borderline under-active thyroid" and one of the symptoms is feeling the cold more and my skin "crawling." Not nice! A pain I had in my side has been dismissed as a trapped nerve. No painkillers were prescribed for that or - even, my recently diagnosed angina. It seems I have slipped through the net as regards treatment but I feel fine so I'm not going to visit the doc just for the sake of it. I can't afford the prescriptions anyway. Would much rather treat any pain with paracetamol..and I rarely use those so I must be ok. Maybe you should just see your doc for a check-up? I don't know as I am no expert on the subject but it may put your mind at rest? My Dad is on a waiting list for 2 hip replacements that he is unlikely to get until he is 80. He is 73. If he went private he could jump the queue but he can't afford to do this. He has no idea if he has arthritis or not but it seems likely. In my opinion, the younger we are the more chances we have of getting our treatment right (whatever it may be) as, once we get, say 65..doctors have no respect anyway so a decent prognosis is impossible. Personally, I think it should be the other way round. The elderly should get BETTER care than the young..but it doesn't happen here I'm afraid.

My blood tests always come back fine, so that's why I"m kinda wondering if it may even to be too early to detect. I know I have to go soon anyway, so I'll bring it up then. Thank you booth for the input. The knee pain is mainly from the cold, and the hand pain is mainly from certain movements.

Thanks for the input guys. GardenGerty, you're so sensible in the way you approach things, a true inspiration. As for you hardworkinggurl..perhaps the exercise is actually contributing to your pain? How vigorous is the exercise? I've stopped headbanging as I know it's no good for my..er, brain. Do you know what I mean?

I think I need to visit my doctor as I do exercise daily and do eat healthy but for some odd reason now for a few months my joints are really irritated and painful. When I climb out of the car I look like an old lady, gently avoiding pain. So I will take time some time next week and try and figure this out.

No, I don't take vitamins either. No need for them when I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need straight from my food. People complain about the high price of organic foods, so they just buy the cheap stuff from the supermarket. They then go and buy multivitamins as well! Makes no sense to me!

Well that's me screwed then as I'm a bit fussy with me greens lol. In fact, I know I don't eat enough of them. Never in a million years would I take calcium tablets. It's the one area of my health that I refuse to contemplate..vitamin pills are another. What on earth is really in them I have no idea but we are definitely being conned. I couldn't afford them anyway even if I did take them!

I've sold the bike..for £36! I'm ecstatic about this. Tomorrow I shall walk to the bank and place some money in from the Inland Revenue and I shall be walking more when Mum comes to visit over weekend. Besides the housework I shall (maybe) have a go with my roboroller. At the moment though I have twinge in my lower back. Not had that for ages!

Well, if you weren't going to ride it, I'm glad you sold it and got a price you're happy with. Walking is good... Hope the twinge goes away and there's nothing serious going on.

Next time you talk to your doctor, see if he can't give you a diet plan and suggest an exercise routine. I wouldn't sell my bike just yet, especially if you liked to ride. Make that a goal...I'm going to ride my bike again and I'm going to ride it to ??? at least once a week. I'm losing weight a little at a time. I'm not really trying, but now that I am losing, I'm looking forward to losing a few more pound and then a few more... I'd like to lose 10-15 pounds and I think that's doable. It may take awhile, but maybe?

Hi guys. It's nice that you have appeared on here tingtong, giving hardworkinggurl some advice, that's very kind of you to do so. Personally, my joints don't ache (although I hate the cold) but I do get a pain in my side. My doctor reckons it's a trapped nerve. I am also overweight too, which doesn't help as far as carrying it around is concerned. I'm not massive but far too big for my height. I am nowhere near as fit as I used to be but I blame the fact I am not working and prone to sit for long periods at my computer. Fortunately, I don't get back-ache (I used to) but I really should exercise more.

Thanks for the tips and I will try them, as I have been noticing now for six months that getting into and out of a car is getting to be a bit painful. I am wondering why the sudden onset of discomfort. I don't over due my exercising as I primarily do it for Cardio, as I do not need to loose any weight. It is just so odd for me that every inch of my body is feeling this way, too often.

For another type of heat pack you can fill a home made bag with rice or even use an old sock. Stitch all openings closed. This rice bag can be warmed in the microwave for a minute or two depending on the size of the bag and power of the microwave. It also feels wonderful if your bed sheets are cold. It is also wonderful to put essential oils on it as then it smells wonderful.

Yes, judging by the really informative comments I have received so far, arthritis is a complex subject, so I've no idea how the medical profession views it. Do they take it seriously, I wonder? Are they obsessed with the heart and cancer? It does make me wonder if it's being neglected somewhat and it's kinda accepted that we're all gonna get old and most of us will get arthritis..but nothing is said to try to prevent it and we have to come up with things ourselves. It's not right that, is it?

Age does play a part, I agree. My poor Dad has more aches and pains now (in his 70s) than he did, say, 30 years ago. To be honest, though, I've never known a day when he hasn't been in some pain or other and it's down to him working down the pit when he was younger and ALWAYS doing some physical work of some description once he stopped doing that. He wasn't one for sitting behind a desk lol. My Mum has a physical job and she has noticed that she doesn't have the same energy as she used to. She is affected by the weather in my opinion, as I am. When the Spring arrives there will also be a spring in our step whereas the Winter can be so depressing, it really affects the way we move about. Very strange!

I don't mean to worry you but my advice is to see a doctor. He or she may be able to give you better pain relief than what you choose yourself. I don't know if there is a way of it being diagnosed properly but I think it's better knowing than not knowing, that way it can be treated. Hope this helps.

Rheumatism is kind of an overall description of the rheumatic disorders of which the arthritis diseases fall under.

Thanks for explaining the different types. Is rheumatoid arthritis the same as rheumatism or are the two unrelated? I'm wondering if my Dad has osteoarthritis as he has been told that he will need hip replacements. It amazes me how he gets around as his legs suffer with varicose veins as well. He's been in pain for years with some ailment or other but doesn't rattle with pills like my MIL. She looks worse than him which is strange, don't you think? I've always thought that minimal pain management is better than a whole host of pills, some of which might not even work. I am pleased you are able to take Celbrex for your arthritis. I hope it works for you.

There is no cure either is there? Just pain management from what I can gather. I know cancer and such like is very important but I don't think arthritis is taken seriously..like..oh, they're old, they're gonna die soon, what's the point of research? Do you know what I mean?

Yes, I think that's the best attitude. Worrying about it may increase our chances of getting it, who knows? Having a positive attitude will help, I'm sure.

That's excellent news! I'm so pleased for you. Perhaps you could advise the person in the above box regarding herbal/organic medicine as it would save them visiting the doc. Welcome to MyLot.

Many thanks for your advice, it's much appreciated. It is interesting that there are different types of arthritis. I think the weather does affect my Mum's friend, who is in her 90s now.

Yes, I can imagine there being good support and therapy for arthritis sufferers, which is reassuring. In my MIL's case, she retired as soon as she reached 60 so her fingers won't suffer anymore. She probably takes painkillers for it.