Human medical advice needed

[iluvk9]

Well, of course I am asking on a dog forum. But, hey, ya never know.

The joints in my hands have been aching every morning for a while. No big deal, as I get moving, they are okay.

This morning I woke up and my left hand (I am a right paw) was so painful. Like the bones in the knuckles and the wrist part closer to the palm. I have been taking a kickboxing class, but ironically, I haven't been to it in three days, so I don't think it is hitting the bag that hurt it. And believe me, I have one hell of a whollop.

I just got the glucosamine/chondroitin supplement, thinking I need that. It says in 7 days you can feel the effects. I already take a multi and salmon oil.

I also borrowed Lenny's buffered aspirin, because I was in a lot of pain and I don't have stuff like that around for me, because thankfully I don't need OTC meds.

So, what is wrong with me? Maybe the Vet techs know.

[hugapitbull]

My guess (I'm not a vet tech, dr, prn, or any of those official things) - is arthritis

[iluvk9]

And that is why I asked on a dog forum.

I am thinking the same thing. Boy, it has been 5 hours since I woke up and it is just starting to lessen. But it could be Lenny's aspirin.

[amalie79]

I get horrible arthritis in my hand in the winter, so much that it will wake me up when it flares. It's also worse when I'm doing stuff like working on the house. It was worst while I was renovating. I started sleeping with my hands between my thighs to keep them warm. Sounds like more fun than it was, but it helped.

[Hoyden]

I have that issue when my sjogren's syndrome flairs. I take ibuprofen, put my hands in super thick rubber gloves and put them in the hottest water I can tolerate and move them around, making fists and wiggling all my fingers.

I also get paraffin treatments for my hands at the nail salon when they hurt really bad. If I am going to physical therapy that day, my pt will tell me to take ibuprofen first, then put my hands in hot towels then massage the joints individually while my hands are still warm. I am not sure how it works, but those hand massages loosen up the tightness and relieves a lot of pain.

[Tubular Toby]

Sounds like more fun than it was, but it helped.

Sorry Joyce, hopefully your supplements help. I know that staying active (within your comfort level, of course) can help sometimes. Maybe your class actually helps. Those warm hand massages sound nice too.

[iluvk9]

Thanks for your ideas! It is better but still crummy.

[mnp13]

Try adding MSM into your suppliment list. I take 1,000 mg a day. Makes a HUGE difference in the arthritis in my hip and big toe.

I take 2,000 mg a day. Two 1,000mg pills

[BullyLady]

Another vote here for arthritis. I have pretty severe arthritis in my right foot and what you're describing sounds just like it. It's worse in the morning and it's worse when it's when, cold doesn't affect it nearly as much as wet does. Sorry you have to deal with that, it's a bummer.

[FAB dogs]

Try adding MSM into your suppliment list. I take 1,000 mg a day. Makes a HUGE difference in the arthritis in my hip and big toe.

This. I actually bought the MSM for the dogs but it works wonders on my hips and the elbow I broke a few years back.

[TinaMartin]

Another option is cold press flax seed oil it helps to lubricate the joints.

[Malli]

yep, sounds like arthritis to me (but I'm just a vet assistant who got nosey and learned a lot at work! )

Giving yourself a moderate level of activity does definitely help dogs, and I can assume the same for people.

People NSAIDs include Ibuprofen and Advil, they should make you feel much better, and because they help with inflammation, they do help to slow the process of Arthritis, at least in dogs, I assume its the same with people It would make sense.

[pitsnok]

Do you know which knuckles are hurting specifically? I know it's hard to tell but that's a pretty important factor when it comes to determining what type of arthritis it could be. Also, is one hand worse than the other, or is the pain symmetrical?
One characteristic of Rheumatoid Arthritis is hurting in the mornings, and getting better as time passes... And Ra typically affects the smaller larger joints in your hands, while regular arthritis affects the smaller ones. Typically RA symptoms are described as being symmetrical, also.
I haven't been diagnosed with it but am about 90% sure I have it, so I've done a lot of research.

I recommend having a blood panel done checking your rheumatoid factor and ANA... just in case. And if you're going to take anything over the counter, take naproxin (aleve). It's an anti-inflammatory.

[FAB dogs]

Coconut Oil is also helpful. Not sure what in it actually helps, but it worked wonders for my arthritic dog. If it's okay to post links on the forum, I've found this one to be incredibly helpful when looking for help with medical condtions:

http://earthclinic.com

[BullyLady]

And if you're going to take anything over the counter, take naproxin (aleve). It's an anti-inflammatory.

Just for the sake of exactness, ibuprofen (Advil) and aspirin are NSAIDs as well (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Naproxem (Aleve) has a reputation for being "the one" to use as an anti inflammatory but the others will also help inflammation. Also, the other major pain reliever acetaminophin (Tylenol) is NOT an anti inflammatory.

[iluvk9]

Holy crap. For a dog forum, there are a lot of good answers here.

Now that the pain is almost gone, I will have to take notice of exactly where the pain is ( and hopefully not tomorrow morning!)

Both my hands hurt but the left was SO bad it was like 10 times worse than the right.

I almost bought the joint supplement with the MSM, but wasn't really sure what it was for.

[amalie79]

My father had terrible RA-- in his sternum, even-- so bad that his wrist bones fused together on their own. He took 800 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours for about 25 years. That kind of consistency and longevity is hell on your stomach, but it's ok as a one-off if you don't have other stomach problems. It was the only of the usual NSAIDs that really helped him. I certainly found it more effective than most-- naproxen has never done much for me, but like all drugs, it's person to person.

And I have also notice MSM works wonders for the dogs.

Every time I talk to someone about medical issues with themselves or their children, I start answering like I know anything, and then have to give the disclaimer that, ahem... "these things work for my dog... surely they work for your child. Oh, he's constipated? Have you tried canned pumpkin? He's itchy, you say? Have you eliminated grains?"

[pitbullmamaliz]

Amalie, you're killin' me today. First with this:

I started sleeping with my hands between my thighs to keep them warm. Sounds like more fun than it was

and now this:

"these things work for my dog... surely they work for your child. Oh, he's constipated? Have you tried canned pumpkin? He's itchy, you say? Have you eliminated grains?"

you've made me spit on my keyboard twice today!

And Michelle, I have arthritis in one big toe, too! How crazy is that. I'm fortunate in that I only feel it when it's dreadfully cold outside and I have to be out in it. Other than that I forget about it.

[mnp13]

Amalie, you're killin' me today. First with this:

I started sleeping with my hands between my thighs to keep them warm. Sounds like more fun than it was

And Michelle, I have arthritis in one big toe, too! How crazy is that. I'm fortunate in that I only feel it when it's dreadfully cold outside and I have to be out in it. Other than that I forget about it.

It's in the first joint of my right big toe - or the second, not sure. the one that connects it to my foot. A few years ago it was horrible to the point where I was limping constantly. My Dr. decided that a cortisone shot would help. I decided to try it, and when they pulled out the 1.5 inch long needle to stick between my first and second toes I think I turned gray because the nurse got really attentive all of a sudden. They used some sort of numbing stuff so that "I wouldn't feel it," well, I did.

After three days, I could walk normally again... and honestly, it was a good deal better for probably 3 years. Every so often it acts up, but the thought of that needle makes me want to puke.

I definitely know when I have been lax in taking my MSM, that stuff is a godsend.

[amalie79]

Amalie, you're killin' me today. First with this:

I started sleeping with my hands between my thighs to keep them warm. Sounds like more fun than it was

and now this:

"these things work for my dog... surely they work for your child. Oh, he's constipated? Have you tried canned pumpkin? He's itchy, you say? Have you eliminated grains?"

you've made me spit on my keyboard twice today!

Eh. I've decided it's time to put down the facade that suggests I have any shame.

Also, it's not that different with babies, except for constipation it's apple juice, and for the itchies it's glutens and legumes.

It's funny 'cause it's true. Kids. They're just like dogs.