Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

@gdonald3, I did some searching for other members who have talked about arthritis in the hands. While I found some, there is no specific discussion on arthritis in the fingers and the hands. If you are interested, I think it would be beneficial for both you and the community to have you start a conversation centered around arthritis in the fingers and hands. Here is how you can do that:

- Click on the group that you would like to start a new discussion in (i.e. Bones, Joints & Muscles, Cancer, etc.)
- From the Group’s homepage, click on the grey box that reads START A DISCUSSION. It is located just under the blue DISCUSSIONS
tab.
- Type a brief title, but be descriptive so that other members know exactly what you will be discussing. (for exmaple, Athritic Hands &
Fingers
- Type your message. This is where you can type in more detail about what you are experiencing or have questions about.
- In the bottom right corner from where you just typed your message, click the grey CREATE DISCUSSION box.

If you need any more help or have a question on how to do this, do not hesitate to ask.

@gdonald3

I also have arthritis in my hands. It has begun interfering with my piano playing and other activities that require manual dexterity, such as knitting. I have worn soft leather gloves for a while when I drive. They help cushion my hands so they don't ache from holding the wheel. My daughter gave me some nice cashmere lined ones for Christmas. I wore out the ones she gave me five years ago. My wife can't understand why I would wear them in the summer, but they do really help.

I also have peripheral neuropathy, and I think some of the aching is related to that.

I use Volteran gel on the more painful joints, and it helps for a couple of hours. I use it mainly at bedtime.

You have certainly worked your hands hard. It's really unfortunate that your work has produced so much pain. I retired from the ministry 11 years ago. I did a lot of piano playing, and I supplemented my income by house painting. I still play the piano and paint, but the pain reduces the pleasure a bit.

I hope not to need surgery on my hands. Just reading all that you've been through makes my hands hurt.

What medications or therapy have you found that help with the pain?

Jim

@jimhd I have arthritis in my whole body, especially my hands, elbows, shoulders, knees and hips. A lot of my typing on this line helps me keep my fingers loose, and Voltaren does help some. My rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis just make things worse, especially in the winter.

I also suffer from the arthritis all over my body and I have neuropathy on top of that. CPS all the time. I take duloxitime generic for cymbalta for neuropathy and verifixion generic for Effexor. I was on Oxycodone 30 mg 5x a day but got down to 3 a day. Went to two different rehabs and got dehydrated 5 times. 3 in one rehab and 2 in other. I have rationed down to the best of my ability but don't believe I can ever quit forever and do not want to trade 1 drug for another suboxyn. So I will be thankful for my good days and do the best I can on flare up days. Depression comes with it so I also take veraflaxin for that and lioness every other day. GOD BLESS ALL OF US MIGHTIES.

I am sweetkaroline. I am a 55 year old female. Chronic pain for 30 years. Quad level cervical spine disc replacement with fusion. Diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder in 2007. This is my very first post. Definitely going to read and absorb everyone's shares, I am here to learn. Thank you ALL for your story! May every moment be a step towards a better place in our lives!

@oldkarl

Whenever I feel like I have it bad, spending a little time here on Connect reminds me that I'm a wuss. I can't imagine how people survive with so much pain. We humans are a diverse bit of God's creation, with diverse mechanisms of dealing with life.

Jim

yes, i have now some new problems with the hands and fingers and even going up the wrist, elbows and in the shoulder and into the shoulder blade. living alone does not help. using the hands starts the pain and swelling. advils helps somewhat. if i can just not use the hands for a day or two it slowly heals. (until the next time). when i try to use the other hand it can be dangerous. with hot tea or preparing food, etc. must be very alert and careful at age 80. but there are so many other pains and problems with this human body. why could the aliens have created us to last longer? ha ha! there must be humour it realy does help. one can not be to surprised as these new problems appear. just work with it somehow. and thank the lord that we can work with it, also turn the music up louder. (wish the medicare could help with a person to help out for a few hours a day until all is easier to handle. just for about 2 to 3 days.)

Welcome to Connect @sweetkaroline

I have chronic pain from neuropathy and some arthritis, and have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD and depressive bipolar. I understand some of what you live with. Not always fun.

You might find discussions of interest in the mental health group. I hope you find a supportive group of people here. I've met good people here and have learned a lot. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Jim

dear oldkart. and jimhd yes i also have both rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. somehow it is soothing to know there is another person out there that i can share my pain with. persons who also are going through the same pains. i thank the mayo clinic clinic for having this site. it really helps me and i am sure others as well. thank you mayo.

dear lulu. i see you have been and still are going through the horrors of the body. yes, you are a lioness, a tough one. the depression comes and goes. somehow i think it is there to slow us up to help the body to heal. yes, we are the strong ones. we have to be to continue on. you are doing good for yourself. we are here.