Bone on bone thumbs

Posted by lioness @lioness, Sep 3, 2018

Is anyone suffering with thumbs Ive had this for awhile , Dr would inject the thumb but now my rheumatologist refused so am seeing a orthopedic Dr has anyone else had this problem?

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@lioness

@cdbell For my thumbs I use a brace to stabilize my thumb at times ice and Dr gave me voltaren but its expensive for seniors to much for me .

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Voltaren is now sold over the counter. I do not know how much it is.

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@dduke

Voltaren is now sold over the counter. I do not know how much it is.

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@cdbell I did see it was sold over the counter I checked it out it was about 12.00 so bought one and it such a relief . Thanks cd

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Update again...

I had trigger thumb surgery Friday week ago (05 June). It was suppose to be the Friday before that, but it was canceled because of too much humidity in OR.. something to do with ac. I had to take the covid-19 test the week before and thankfully they could reschedule the surgery so I did not have to take the test again.

I am just sore. I get stitches out next Wed.. I think there are just two, but maybe three.. I need new eyeglasses. When I use my hand much it feels like when I have fallen before and landed on my hand and strained the tendon (which I haven't done in the last 15 years or so 😃). I hope soon I will be able to crochet again.. .. and hold my camera. My sanity is about gone without the two hobbies I love.

Next up.. trip to Mayo for my esophagus problems . .. then there is the eyeglasses, the dentist, maybe hearing aids... always something 😉

ZeeGee

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I have a right thumb problem. I suppose its from hitting the space bar for years. What kind of injection were you getting?

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@susan30

I have a right thumb problem. I suppose its from hitting the space bar for years. What kind of injection were you getting?

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I went to a hand surgeon and he fixed my thumb in a procedure that took maybe ten minutes! It was really bad. I had tried physical therapy and injections of cortisone - everything I could think of and he could think of. I was amazed at how quickly it healed. I urge you to see a hand surgeon. The other reason my thumbs were killing me was because of arthritis. I discovered that taking 3 mg of boron, three or four times a day, completely got rid of this pain. For 15 years my hands were almost useless to me because of arthritis. I started taking boron for osteoporosis and lo and behold! My arthritis is GONE. But if I miss even one dose, it comes back. The upper limit for boron is 20 mg a day. I take 3 mg capsules at breakfast, lunch and dinner and before bed. I'm like a new woman! I can even play piano and crochet again. I have been to countless doctors and not one of them has said a word about boron. There is no money to be made for a doctor by telling us to take boron, stop eating sugar, etc. But if you look hard, you will find information about boron on You Tube or in natural remedy groups. Some people mix one-eighth of a tsp. of Borax (20 Mule Team!) in 1 liter of water. I would rather just take a capsule and not taste it. I am only taking 12 mg of boron a day - so I am well below the upper limit. The reason I stopped getting the shots of cortisone from the rheumatologist is that steroids eat up the bone. You are only supposed to get a maximum of two shots of steroids into any joint in your lifetime. My rheumatologist had me coming in every ten weeks. Also, little known fact: Those shots of steroids can. backfire and cause more pain - through the roof type pain (I was growling!!! It lasted for a week!). My pain was so bad, my parrots slept on the pillow beside me for a few days. I will never get another shot of cortisone after that one backfired on me. Also, steroids can wreak havoc on your gut. They wipe out all the good flora in your gut - which can lead to candida overgrowth (which I got). I have had to be on a no-sugar diet for over the past five years due to candida overgrowth. (Antibiotics and steroids are the main drugs that cause candida overgrowth, but hormones and stress can also cause it.). Every drug has a side effect. Boron is a naturally-occurring element that is found in California and Turkey, perhaps somewhere else I do not know about. It does not build up in the body - which is something someone who doesn't know the facts might tell you. But like I said, the upper limit is 20 mg per day. (There are people who claim it will cure osteoporosis and they are taking massive doses of 150 mg per day, but I am not willing to do that.). I hope this will help somebody. Every body is different - so listen to your body. I wish you all good luck.

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@lioness

@cdbell I did see it was sold over the counter I checked it out it was about 12.00 so bought one and it such a relief . Thanks cd

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Lioness: I'm surprised you are still having problems with your hands. Did you stop taking boron? I have about four tubes of voltaren (diclofenac sodium is the prescription name) that I am not using! If I feel any discomfort, I just take another boron capsule. I hope you are feeling good otherwise.

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@susan30

I have a right thumb problem. I suppose its from hitting the space bar for years. What kind of injection were you getting?

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@susan30

It is is usually cortisone injections. You need an orthopedist/surgeon that specializes in hands. Make sure you ask around about how good they are... reviews are nice, but asking people you know is better.

Thumb problems are usually either bone on bone arthritis or trigger thumb. I had both. With trigger thumb you will have a clicking or catching when you use your thumb. With bone on bone if you press on the joint at the base of the thumb.. near the wrist it will be very tender, maybe swollen. I had pain when I pinched my finger together or tried to hold a pen. Not sure which one caused that.

Trigger thumb is a tendon problem. The fix for it is a surgery that last total of about 20 minutes from time they take you back to OR for prep and closure of cut. The surgery is basically a tendon release.

The surgery for the arthritis varies as to which procedure they use. The bone is removed and an implant placed, another they use a tendon to fill space, and the tightrope.. which I had. With the tightrope they place a string.. much like fishing line.. between thumb and index finger. The space where the bone is filled in with debris, blood and eventually scar tissue.

ZeeGee

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@parrotqueen

Lioness: I'm surprised you are still having problems with your hands. Did you stop taking boron? I have about four tubes of voltaren (diclofenac sodium is the prescription name) that I am not using! If I feel any discomfort, I just take another boron capsule. I hope you are feeling good otherwise.

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@parrotqueen I was just thinking of you hands aren't to bad but I only take 2 Boron maybe I'll.up it to 3.a day you get your Dexa Scan.yet? I'm ignoring my rheumatologist . How s Chester doing without his buddy 😊 and you?

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@fourof5zs

@susan30

It is is usually cortisone injections. You need an orthopedist/surgeon that specializes in hands. Make sure you ask around about how good they are... reviews are nice, but asking people you know is better.

Thumb problems are usually either bone on bone arthritis or trigger thumb. I had both. With trigger thumb you will have a clicking or catching when you use your thumb. With bone on bone if you press on the joint at the base of the thumb.. near the wrist it will be very tender, maybe swollen. I had pain when I pinched my finger together or tried to hold a pen. Not sure which one caused that.

Trigger thumb is a tendon problem. The fix for it is a surgery that last total of about 20 minutes from time they take you back to OR for prep and closure of cut. The surgery is basically a tendon release.

The surgery for the arthritis varies as to which procedure they use. The bone is removed and an implant placed, another they use a tendon to fill space, and the tightrope.. which I had. With the tightrope they place a string.. much like fishing line.. between thumb and index finger. The space where the bone is filled in with debris, blood and eventually scar tissue.

ZeeGee

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@zeiracorp MY hands aren't that bad yet O think.all the supplements taking are helping but thanks for the information I'll have it when I do need to go

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@lioness

@parrotqueen I was just thinking of you hands aren't to bad but I only take 2 Boron maybe I'll.up it to 3.a day you get your Dexa Scan.yet? I'm ignoring my rheumatologist . How s Chester doing without his buddy 😊 and you?

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Lioness! We are having a surge in COVID 19 cases in Oakland. My infectious disease doctor called me and told me to stay home - she said I can get a DEXA scan when things quiet down. I'm chomping at the bit to find out if I've made progress - but I take comfort in the fact that I've stopped fracturing. Chester and I are getting along. He's been a little bit down the past three days. I think it is hard for him to realize The Baby isn't coming home. Also, he has very bad arthritis in his feet. Regarding boron, I find I do better with four capsules daily. My knees were still bothering me a bit - my poor body is full of arthritis. So I increased to four 3 mg capsules of boron per day. That dose is my sweet spot - I have no arthritis pain if I stay at that dose. It is such a wonderful thing to be relieved of the arthritis pain! It was so bad, sometimes I would cry at night. My poor mother and her sister had it so bad - their hands were so swollen and misshapen. I am very grateful for boron.

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