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Not the news I wanted to hear
Topic Started: Nov 11 2010, 07:26 AM (776 Views)
brenda
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..............
OK, the x-rays are back for my hand. I actually was hoping they could see a bone chip or something that could be repaired. Instead, I got the news I did not want to hear. I have significant arthritis in my hands, so that's what's causing the problems. It's not something that can be fixed, and it will get progressively worse, some days being better or worse than others.

Crap.

I joke here at TNCR about being old, but I'm only 49. I started having trouble with my hands when I was a teenager, and it got worse through my twenties, so I really should not be surprised to get this news.

I really was hoping this was something that was fixable. Today, they told me it will only get worse. That's just not what I wanted to hear. Sorry for unloading. It just hit me hard to get this news. My hands have gotten much worse recently, and I'm not happy about where this is going.

The next steps are things like injections in my hands, etc. Again, I'm only 49.

Crap.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Man that just sucks Brenda. I'm really sorry to hear that.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Sorry to hear that, Brenda. But look on the bright side - at least you aren't having to say "at my advanced age, I should have expected it"...
Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Me too. That's awful. I'd guess playing is more difficult these days?
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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PattyP
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Senior Carp
:hug: Oh, Brenda, that sucks. I'm really sorry. I hope you can find something that will give you relief.

A tired dog is a good dog.

"Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really."
A.S. Turnbull
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brenda
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..............
Mikhailoh
Nov 11 2010, 07:31 AM
Me too. That's awful. I'd guess playing is more difficult these days?
I don't play piano; that's daughter's realm.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Oh man. Really sorry, brenda. :hug: Think those injections are something you might want to try? I think my mom had some, seemed to help lots.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Red Rice
HOLY CARP!!!
Sorry for the bad news, Brenda.
Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool.

I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss!

- Cecil Lewis
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brenda
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..............
Aqua Letifer
Nov 11 2010, 07:38 AM
Oh man. Really sorry, brenda. :hug: Think those injections are something you might want to try? I think my mom had some, seemed to help lots.
At some point I suppose I'll have to do them, Aqua. Right now, it's ibuprofen that helps. However, that stuff gets hard on the gut.

Thanks for telling me your mom finds the injections helpful. I'll have to learn more about that.

“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
brenda
Nov 11 2010, 07:46 AM
Aqua Letifer
Nov 11 2010, 07:38 AM
Oh man. Really sorry, brenda. :hug: Think those injections are something you might want to try? I think my mom had some, seemed to help lots.
At some point I suppose I'll have to do them, Aqua. Right now, it's ibuprofen that helps. However, that stuff gets hard on the gut.

When I have "mishaps" at class, I'm usually on ibuprofen for a couple of days; not as a pain reliever, but to keep the swelling down. Keeping a full stomach with bland food really helps me with the stomach issues that sometimes follow.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Chris Aher
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Middle Aged Carp
Brenda,
Julius Baker, the principle flute of the NY Phil for many years was an neighbor and client of mine back in the 80's when I was living in Brewster NY. He had severe arthritis in his hands and tried the bee venom therapy. It worked extremely well for him. He was able to keep performing pretty much until the end of his life at 87. He actually started keeping bees as a hobby.

I understand this this doesn't work for everyone but if you are not allergic to bee stings, it may be worth a try.

Regards,
Chris
Regards,
Chris
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brenda
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..............
Chris Aher
Nov 11 2010, 07:55 AM
Brenda,
Julius Baker, the principle flute of the NY Phil for many years was an neighbor and client of mine back in the 80's when I was living in Brewster NY. He had severe arthritis in his hands and tried the bee venom therapy. It worked extremely well for him. He was able to keep performing pretty much until the end of his life at 87. He actually started keeping bees as a hobby.

I understand this this doesn't work for everyone but if you are not allergic to bee stings, it may be worth a try.

Regards,
Chris
Well, I know a local beekeeper, so maybe that could be an option. I'm not allergic that I know of to bee stings. Maybe it takes a special kind of bee, but I'm not familiar with this.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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The 89th Key
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Brenda - sorry to hear. I don't know much about this topic...is this a result of something you did earlier, or more of a genetic thing that you don't have control of?

Hoping for the best, either way!
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brenda
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..............
Aqua Letifer
Nov 11 2010, 07:55 AM
brenda
Nov 11 2010, 07:46 AM
Aqua Letifer
Nov 11 2010, 07:38 AM
Oh man. Really sorry, brenda. :hug: Think those injections are something you might want to try? I think my mom had some, seemed to help lots.
At some point I suppose I'll have to do them, Aqua. Right now, it's ibuprofen that helps. However, that stuff gets hard on the gut.

When I have "mishaps" at class, I'm usually on ibuprofen for a couple of days; not as a pain reliever, but to keep the swelling down. Keeping a full stomach with bland food really helps me with the stomach issues that sometimes follow.
The food helps for a few days, then it doesn't help enough. I've taken a lot of ibuprofen over the last few years for various things. It works well for reducing inflammation, which is terrific for a lot of things.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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brenda
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..............
The 89th Key
Nov 11 2010, 08:01 AM
Brenda - sorry to hear. I don't know much about this topic...is this a result of something you did earlier, or more of a genetic thing that you don't have control of?

Hoping for the best, either way!
Osteoarthritis is often genetic, with injuries adding to the problem. Overuse can lead to it, too.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
brenda: I'm very sorry to hear this news.
My mother in-law has had similar news recently (a year or two ago). As her hands have gotten worse, her docs have advised her to exercise them, and have actually recommended piano as a great way to slow the progression of the arthritis.
I'm aware that this treatment might not apply to all forms of arthritis, and I don't know what she is dealing with, vs. what you are dealing with. It might be worth a call to the doc though - it could mean that you get to start taking piano lessons. :)
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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brenda
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..............
KlavierBauer
Nov 11 2010, 08:21 AM
brenda: I'm very sorry to hear this news.
My mother in-law has had similar news recently (a year or two ago). As her hands have gotten worse, her docs have advised her to exercise them, and have actually recommended piano as a great way to slow the progression of the arthritis.
I'm aware that this treatment might not apply to all forms of arthritis, and I don't know what she is dealing with, vs. what you are dealing with. It might be worth a call to the doc though - it could mean that you get to start taking piano lessons. :)
I like that idea. We already have the piano, too.

Rug hooking is hard on hands and wrists, or so I am told, but I hate to give it up. I love it so much. I just try to do it in moderation to avoid pain. If it starts to hurt, that's my cue to back off a while.

The challenge is that I do so many things that I know are not helpful, such as the bricks I'll be picking up from our patio and walkway as we get ready to start a kitchen addition for the house. That's where I'm headed now, outside to pull up a few hundred bricks. Yes, I know this will not be helpful to my hands, but I have to hurry up and get it done before the excavation can be started (and before my arthritis gets worse.) :hat:

I'm a really bad patient. REALLY bad. And as for patience, I'm not too good in that department either.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
Sorry to hear this Brenda. That's no fun at all. :(
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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1hp
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Fulla-Carp

Wow, sorry to hear this. My first thought, as someone has already suggested, is to exercise the hands. Haven't had any experience with arthritis (including trying to spell it!) so am of no help otherwise.
There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary and................
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
So sorry to hear this Brenda. :hug:

Exercise is the name of the game to keep things as nimble as possible.
___.___
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o 0
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Osteoarthritis is passed down from mother to daughter, is it not?

My mother has it.

I suspect that I do, too. I already do things to preserve my hands. I don't open tight lids anymore. I get help with hard cleaning around the house. I do yoga with my hands on a hard surface. I take supplements.

Who knows if any of it helps. My mom is fine with it. She is young at heart and active and she always says, "Hey, if this is my worst problem, I am not complaining. It does not hold me back."

So.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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brenda
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..............
Mark
Nov 11 2010, 08:54 AM
So sorry to hear this Brenda. :hug:

Exercise is the name of the game to keep things as nimble as possible.
Sounds like you would second the piano lessons. :) I have arthritis in my spine, but it's the hands that bother me. I've never thought of hand exercises.

“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Downward facing dog on a thin yoga mat, on a hard floor, fingers spread wide, the entire surface of the hand pressing. Three times a day. Every day gently stretch the tendons in the hand too.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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brenda
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..............
RosemaryTwo
Nov 11 2010, 09:36 AM
Osteoarthritis is passed down from mother to daughter, is it not?

My mother has it.

I suspect that I do, too. I already do things to preserve my hands. I don't open tight lids anymore. I get help with hard cleaning around the house. I do yoga with my hands on a hard surface. I take supplements.

Who knows if any of it helps. My mom is fine with it. She is young at heart and active and she always says, "Hey, if this is my worst problem, I am not complaining. It does not hold me back."

So.
R2, I don't know how it gets passed from one generation the next. My dad was just starting to have problems with it before he was killed in an accident at age 52. Mine started at age 15, with some more trouble in my mid-twenties, and now a big increase in problems.

I'd hate to lose my rug hooking and other hand work activities that I enjoy so much. If this was starting at age 69, then I'd figure it should just be expected, but at 49, this is not good news.

I've got a lot of years ahead of me (I hope) that I need these hands to be ready to handle. I like to do carpentry work with hubby, including hanging sheet rock, mudding, taping, painting, wallpapering, etc. I also like to cook and bake. Peeling the rutabagas has gotten really difficult for me, as was peeling a squash yesterday. I'm so glad I got the Hobart. That was smarter than I realized at the time. It will let me keep on baking, and enjoying it, for longer than trying to do it all by hand.

I'm glad your mom has a good attitude about it. I'm not doing so well. I'm really pizzed off about my situation right now. :lol2:

However, I am most interested to hear more about help with *hard cleaning* around the house. There must be a silver lining in all this, right? That part seems "relavint to mai interists." Do you suppose I could get the rug hooking labeled as 'good' for the hands, calling it exercise or something, and have the nasty housework labeled as 'bad'? If only. :hat:
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
RosemaryTwo
Nov 11 2010, 09:39 AM
Downward facing dog on a thin yoga mat, on a hard floor, fingers spread wide, the entire surface of the hand pressing. Three times a day. Every day gently stretch the tendons in the hand too.
:thumb:
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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