Hello! My father has very bad arthritis in his hands, could you recommend any products that alleviate pain or make everyday life tasks easier? Thank you so much!!

i feel like my arthritis pain will travel down my bones. it will move from my knee to my shin, or from my elbow to my forearm. i’m pretty sure it’s not muscle pain because it feels deep and just like my arthritic pain. i’m not sure if this is normal, and want to see if anyone else has this before going to the doctor about it

I've had arthritis for several years now. I'm now 29. I've never had numbness associated with it, only nerve pain down the front and outside of my right thigh.

Tonight, I'm laying in bed. I tried gently cracking my back and the right side of my foot went numb. I've been shaking it and moving it around hoping it goes away.

Like wtf, I've never had this happen. It doesn't hurt or anything, it just has the sensation of being "asleep", and slightly cold. I can still move my foot and toes thankfully. Just a little concerned about going to sleep and it being worse in the morning.

Has anyone had this happen temporarily?

Note: This post is an assignment I'm doing for a health class. If anything in this post is inaccurate or incomplete, please let me know! Some of these points may seem obvious to some but I think a list like this could be useful. I do not have arthritis myself so again, please correct and inform me if you want!

Derived From: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/daily-living/life-hacks-tips/8-tips-for-pain-free-travel

1. Plan Ahead for Your Next Trip.

Doing research on the geography and disability aids of your destination and airline services can reduce the pain and anxiety you could potentially experience.

2. Consult Experts on Car Travel

Before taking off, ask an occupational therapist or a driver rehabilitation specialist about ways you can treat yourself well on the road. Resources such as the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality can help with finding programs that offer cars with enhanced accessibility, such as Avis Rent-A-Car's Access program.

3. Book Your Airline Seat Accordingly

Try to avoid congestion and long lines by booking your flight mid week, which tends to be less busy. Also book a seat with extra legroom or an aisle seat so it's easier to stretch your legs. When finding a hotel, search for ADA accessible rooms near an elevator or on the first floor, and ask about amenities such as exercise facilities and saunas to help with physical therapy and relaxation.

4. Bring an Assistive Device

This could include something as simple as a pillow to use on your flight, a folding cane, or a travel chair.

5. Double-Check Your Meds

Make sure you have all the medications you need for your trip, taking care to set reminders for taking them and taking meds with you in a carry-on rather than in a checked bag. Also ensure that refrigerated meds are kept in coolers or small ziploc bags with icepacks.

6. Control the Temperature

Speaking of icepacks, bringing some extras to treat pain and stiffness along with heating pads/wraps and topical cream can help reduce pain.

7. Get VIP Treatment

Don't feel afraid to ask your airport for pre-boarding privileges to accommodate your arthritis. Call TSA Cares for information to help you avoid standing still for extended periods, and ask for help in stowing carry-on bags in overhead compartments from flight staff or fellow passengers.

8. Choose Meals Carefully

Make sure to avoid high-fat, high-calorie processed foods that promote inflammation. Unfortunately, this is very common to find in an airport, so pack healthy foods and drink plenty of water while avoiding alcohol and caffeine, which may also promote inflammation.

9. Keep Moving

Reduce stiffness by planning road trips with time for rest stops and moving around on a plane or train when it's safe. If you're unable to stand up, you can also try simple stretches while seated as well as isometrics in which your flex and hold muscles for about 5 seconds.

Hi all -

Super nervous, as I’ve finally got a rheumatologist appointment after moving back home to Wales a year ago. My GP here took me off every single medication I took until I got a rheumatologist here (biologics, methetrexate, hydroxichloriquine & folic acid), so for the last year I’ve been on nothing but strong painkillers and steroids on and off

The issue is, my lower back has been getting progressively worse, to the point where I can’t walk some days, and my right arm is stuck at a 30 degree angle.

I’m really nervous to speak to the doctor, as I’m afraid they’ll make me go back through the process of MRIs, testing etc, because of how long it’s now been. I also wanted to ask to get tested for Lupus, because I’ve noticed more symptoms showing up this last year

Anyone have any advice? I feel like I did when I first started going to the doctor about this four years ago!

I am starting to have Arthritis. I am doing all the stretches, keeping my hands in warm water every day, I changed my diet. What can I do to make the hand muscles stronger? I do not have any pain yet, just a light discomfort. I want to get as much ahead of this as possible.

My boyfriend has the nodes in only his left hand and it’s hard as a rock and painful. He has rheumatoid. Is there a high chance these nodes cause the swan neck in fingers? He refuses to see anyone for this because he says he doesn’t want the medication as hes been on them before for years, and it didn’t help. For reference or details, he is 38. He also has really bad eczema, not sure if any of that is related with RA?

Per Xray and doctor I have “a little bit” of arthritis in my lower back. It doesn’t feel like a little bit though. This pain has been ongoing on/off for several years. The pain in my lower back usually causes sharp radiating pains down my legs. However this time it seems as if it’s pins and needles, aching, mild sharp pain from my butt to my big toe. My entire calf is sore, my big toe is extremely sore. Idk what to do for the pain, the only thing they suggest is physical therapy.

Hi everyone,

I (27F) am looking for advice, thoughts, or anyone who might have had a similar experience to mine.

In 2011, I had a valgus derotation osteotomy, which got rid of the pain and allowed me to walk almost normally (~90%). However, over the past year (starting from 5/2023, after a long walking trip abroad), my pain has come back, and my leg function has deteriorated a lot. I can’t walk for long, get tired easily, and even sweat excessively from what would be normal walking for most people. I’m walking way worse now because of the pain, and it’s affecting my daily life so much.

After a year of dealing with this, I’ve started consulting with orthopedic surgeons about my next step, which I assume will be a total hip replacement (THR). This has been something doctors warned me might be needed in the future, though they didn’t recommend it back when I was 13.

So far, I’ve consulted nearly 10 doctors, and there are way too many different opinions—so I’m feeling stuck. Personally, I know I want to move forward with a hip replacement. The pain is unbearable, and I don’t want to waste my youth suffering like this.

That said, one of the doctors warned me that a THR might make things worse for me than my current situation. He explained that my left thigh bone is narrow, which could cause complications during the procedure, so he doesn’t recommend it.

Other doctors have recommended doing the surgery in two stages: first removing the screws and pins from my previous surgery, then doing the hip replacement. Meanwhile, some say it’s better to do everything in one go.

I’m at a crossroads right now and not sure what to do. Has anyone been through something similar? Have you had a THR at a young age, or faced complications due to structural issues like mine? I’d really appreciate any advice, shared experiences, or recommendations.

Thank you so much for reading!

Good morning! My mom is developing some super painful arthritis! For the holidays, I’m thinking of putting together an arthritis tools basket for her and for my aunt.

Ask: what tools do you use to make life easier and where do you get them? TIA!

Hi yall new in this subreddit. I have a question for you guys out there…how do you exercise? I am a 22yr old male I weight about 210 and 6ft tall. I try exercising in the gym and playing sports but I always run into the same road block. After about 2-3 weeks of regularly exercising I find I cannot catch up with recovery. I don’t go too crazy and it’s only 3-4 days a week. What do you guys do to help manage that?? Thanks!!!

For any of you who are suffering from chronic, non-mechanical, undiagnosed tendon pain in multiple body parts I created this subrreddit!

https://www.reddit.com/r/systemictendinitis/

Please join only if you have severe symptoms not explained by the medical community in multiple body parts, without any mechanical reasons and that are failing rehab, and if you dont fit any clear diagnostic criteria for conventional forms of arthritis.

Anyone else get severely sick from this? Not just the joint pain, but rather nauseous, severe migraine, weight loss and pretty much bed ridden? I’ve been to the ER four times in the last wk and tests are showing nothing. I was first diagnosed two years ago following strep throat, but this time we have nothing to blame and I’m not being given antibiotics, just pain meds. Would love to hear your reactions, if this is indeed a flare up

I’ve been having a rough flare up of reactive arthritis and my rheumatologist called me in prednisone treatment.

Flare up involves back, knees, ankles, wrists and eye inflammation. This is my first really “bad” flare up. I’m still able to function, walk, work, etc. but just in pain in those joints.

I’m on 50mg diclofenac 2x a day and that is helping.

Should I hold off or take the prednisone. I’m worried as I come off that I’ll have a worse flare up.

Dosage is - 15mg - 3 days 10mg - 3 days 5 mg - 3 days

Curious as to what others have experienced. My arthritis is in my lower back, and if I'm walking, I don't usually need more than a cane, but I'm struggling with accommodations at work (retail cashier, having to stand mostly still) and I'm considering grabbing a walker to use until I can get back to the doctor.

Unfortunately I'm not able to stand still for more than a few minutes without pain, so I'm considering if picking up a fairly cheap walker for the time being could help.

Looking for recommendations for current men’s trainers that are good for Hallux limitus/rigidus, hopefully reasonably fashionable as well.

So ugh i (25nb) appearntly have neck arthritis. Its can litterally drive me insane sometimes cause while not always wuite painfull it causes twitches or spasm… like full neck bending and facial muscles tightening. It can often end up slamming my head into my shoulders too.

My question basically is simple: what could i do to simple prepare evening supper (hot food) with the risk of burning myself when i have a spasm? Like i don’t trust myself to work with boiling liquids like water and/or oils.

Hoe would you all Go about it?

Hi guys, hope this question is permitted in this forum...

My dad suffers from RA and experiences mild pain mostly at night. He doesn't consume cannabis but he's very open minded about it—reason why I was thinking of getting him a vape with a cannabis extract.

So yeah I was wondering if people have experiences with this? The literature is not clear about which part of the cannabis plant helps with pain relief, and whether going with just a CBD extract would be better or worse than something with THC.

Many thanks :)

Hi, this is more of a bit of curiosity if anyone can help me with this, any ideas are welcome.

My mum has rheumatoid arthritis mostly concentrated around the hands and back, and she's been a bit down recently because she's had to stop some of her old hobbies just because its too unpleasant for her, like crocheting and drawing. My big question is what hobbies would people recommend for someone like that? She works from home and has some time on her hands to do things, so I've been considering if there's any advice for someone like that? My plan is to get her a present that can start her off on a new hobby.

I feel like my rheumatologist has given up on trying to figure out why I'm in pain constantly. She says I have OA in multiple joints, she can't explain the constant flare ups, and all my bloodwork is normal. My joints on x-ray show arthritis in multiple stages.

I'm now seeing a pain specialist and he's working with me to make my day to day more tolerable. I'm 45 and I don't know what any of this means.

OA is not systemic so why would so many joints be breaking down? If it's not auto-immune, why am I being told I have an overactive inflammatory response. Nothing seems to add up, I'm tired and in pain and it feels like nobody is worried about why and just wants to give me pain meds...but if the pain is going to keep getting worse, what's the end game?

I'm looking for a new rheumatologist but could really use some kind words and advice if something has worked for you.

I contracted an STI in June

My first really bad RA flare started two weeks ago. Back, SI joint, knees, ankles.

On NSAIDS only. I can move and walk but am in pain all day everyday.

For people who have had RA. How long did your flare last and how long was the “ramp up” period? I feel like mine is peeking at day 12.

I’m going to ask for stronger NSAIDS and maybe steroids and my next rheumatologist appointment. Should push for DMARDS?

Hi guys, I’m new to this subreddit. I was just searching around because my grandma has rheumatoid arthritis and was diagnosed with it over 10 years ago, I don’t know exactly when. She also has lupus, and overall it makes her life very difficult and painful. I love my grandma and I hate to see her suffering.

She’ll be home for the holidays and I really want to get her something for Christmas that would help her out but I’m not even sure where to look. I seen some heated mitten gloves but I’ve heard mixed reviews and I’m generally uninformed on RA. If you guys have any suggestions on how I could help or just sharing your experience, it would be greatly appreciated! I really want to understand what she’s going through and if there’s anything for me to do to help. Thank you!

My father (50’s) has bad joint pain and arthritis from years of floor laying. The standard pharmaceutical painkillers leave him too dopey and aren’t suitable as he’s still working. He’s dibbled and dabbled with CBD with some success but mainly runs on Panadol.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a treatment or medication, pharmaceutical or alternative, that could make a difference without making him too lethargic?

TIA!

Has anyone gotten a thumb implant to address their arthritis? Seems that this is a newer procedure that doesn’t require a cast while healing like the traditional thumb LRTI - ligament reconstruction and tendon intersection. Thanks for your feedback.

Am I allowed to ask if others have had side effects?

I started Meloxicam recently for my arthritis.

I've noticed I am starving all the time. It's not listed as a side effect, loss of appetite is, but not increased hunger.

Anyone have similar?

Last year, my (30m) left knee was diagnosed with X-ray imaging with “Chondromalacia”, which I tackled with physical therapy over the winter. About two months ago, I had some swelling and a subsequently limited range of motion in flexing that same knee.

I thought it would be a good idea to go back to physical therapy, but needed a new prescription due to the amount of time that passed. This time, a different provider said that the imaging shows signs of osteoarthritis (something about pointed shapes in the xray?). This was really surprising because my knee hadn’t hampered me in doing lots of hiking and playing lots of tennis in the fall. In the weeks since the diagnosis, the swelling has disappeared and range of motion have recovered after a course of NSAIDs and restarting physical therapy.

I was pretty stunned (they mentioned potentially having to give up tennis altogether) and didn’t get to ask the provider the many questions that are now swirling in my head. I’d love to hear from others about suggestions for what I should ask, and if there’s other testing that should be done beyond physical examination and X-rays. Should I be getting copies of my imaging to show other providers for a second opinion?

If anyone has experience with continuing to play tennis long term with osteoarthritis, I would love to hear about that as well.

31f. No prior injuries or trauma. I have no other words. I can't move the bottom of my spine, I can't rotate my pelvis forward or backward. I have hypermobility (probably Ehlers Danlos), and degenerative disc disease, and am at risk for psoriatic, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. And ankylosing spondylitis were on the short list. I haven't left the house without a cane since November 1st. It takes me 20-50 minutes to get out of bed every morning. Already showing signs of ckd so I'm trying to avoid the NSAID's. Leaves me with basically nothing. This is just absolutely unbearable

Hello,

I have yet to see a rheumatologist, but meanwhile I would like your opinion on my case because I'm terrified.

2 months ago, I (M26) had a slight pain in my left hand. I didn't bother because it wasn't really painful nor a big discomfort and I kept lifting pretty much heavy weights, with a poor grip technique, and with little to no rest. Yeah, I know, I'm really dumb.

As the discomfort gradually got worse, I eventually stopped working out.

A week later, I woke up with a swollen hand, a reduced mobility in 2 of my fingers, and it kept getting worse until I saw a doctor (3 weeks later) who had me do an ultrasound and put me on prednisone for 5 days. Here's his report after the ultrasound :

Synovial effusion with capsuloarticular and synovial thickening of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the 2nd and 3rd radii is confirmed, suggesting a component of acute arthritis explaining the symptomatology and impotence. No other metacarpophalangeal, carpal or interphalangeal localization demonstrated. Rheumatological work-up recommended.

(translated using DeepL so sorry if the translation is odd)

The prednisone worked great, after 3 days my pain was 99% gone and I could fully clench my fist again. But here we are : now that the medication has worn off, the pain is slowly coming back, my hand is getting swollen again. Not to the point that I can't do the dishes without crying in pain, but I feel like I might get there soon…

I'm not looking for medical advice (I read the sub rules) but I'm more looking for… stories. I'm terrified about the fact that it could be a lifelong issue. So if you recognize yourself in my story, or if you're knowledgeable enough, I would like to know if it sounds like I'm doomed for life, or if there is hope. Sorry for my poor english.

Any help would be appreciated… Thanks.