Welcome to the Arthritis Club Band!!!

[twang46]

Those of us who have looked in the sound files threads will have seen this.

So, how many of us suffer in this way & has anybody got any tips/hints etc.... for managing this *&*&*!!" thing that is taking an ever larger part of my life

I've tried most things, even drinking powdered cinnamon bark (it doesn't dissolve in water & tastes vile), and sadly didn't work either

Cheers

Dick.

[clivea]

Hi Dick,

You have my sympathy mate! I too are a member of your club.

About a year ago, I started to wake up in a morning with stiff fingers which lasted for about half an hour and as time has gone on, the stiffness of the finger joints/knuckles in both hands is with me all day. I find it quite worrying cos' I don't know how much worse it will get? I can't now clench my fist fully without problem - I can't say I'm in terrible pain cos' I really are'nt I'm pleased to say, but who knows what's to come eh?

I've seen a specialist and had xrays taken. They clearly showed 'spurs' growing on the joints and I was told that nothing could be done and to live with it.

I am really pleased that I don't have to close my hands too much to handle the fretboard on my Strat and find that if I soak my hands in hot water for five minutes prior to playing, it helps to loosen the joints for a couple of hours.

Like you Dick, I've tried all sorts of things, including various powders which are a waste of time and cost an absolute fortune! But in a situation like this, we jump at anything eh?

However, when I look around the world and see how others are suffering terribly, children in many cases, I am thankful for small mercies and tell myself that if this is the worse thing that's going to happen to me then maybe I'm lucky.

I too would like to hear of anyone else's experience with this terrible problem and if anyone has any remedy for giving relief, then please let us know.

Rgds - Clive

[bobtimmins]

Hi Dick

I was having trouble with my thumbs, very stiff and painful when I tried to play.
This was a real problem with the thumb on my left hand as I couldn't put any pressure on it so could just about play single notes but chords were out of the question.

I went to the doctors and was told it was arthritus and they gave me a cream which didn't help at all, if anything they got worse. I had been in a car accident about 2 weeks before this problem started and asked the doctor if this was what had caused the problem as I had read that when an airbag goes off it can hit your thumbs and even break them. The doctor was emphatic that this was not the case and it was definitely arthiritus. If the cream didn't work then they would look at injections or operations. However after I had finished the cream I had resigned myself to one of the other options but had not gone back to the doctors when I noticed that one of my thumbs had started to get a bit easier so I delayed going back. Over the following few months my thumbs started to get better and I could actually bend them backwards again so I could try playing properly again. Now my thumbs are more or less back to normal. It has taken just over a year for this to happen but it looks like the Doctor was wrong about arthritus and it was actually caused by the car crash and as you know as we get older it takes longer for things to heal so I can only assume that my thumbs were jarred and it took a couple of weeks to manifest itself and an even longer time to heal.

I was convinced it was arthritus especially as my sister suffers badly from it so I believed the doctor and thought it was hereditary
I am so relieved that I am now pain free and they are not causing me a problem.

Shows what the doctors know

I really feel for you as I only had my problem a short time

I hope you can find a solution such as cream, injections or operation

Bob T

[clivea]

Lucky guy Bob! I'm pleased for you mate. Would'nt wish it on anyone. You've had a taste of what it could be like eh?

Rgds - Clive

[John Haldane]

I suffer with arthritis, and also a suffer with a muscle problem, that cant be cured, so am in constant pain, the doctor at the pain clinic said exercising would help but he then said I would not be able to do them as they would make the pain worse.what you might call catch 22, I try do things that use the brain occupied that helps take mind off the pain.nothing I have been given in the way of medication takes pain away.
I was told that wacky baccy would do me more good than the tablets, but don't smoke.
take care
John H

[bobtimmins]

Thanks Clive

You would think with today's technology something could be done.
Let's hope they find a cure for it soon

Bob T

[kipper]

i dont smoke at all, havent done for over 30 years now. and have never taken drugs or wacky baccy in my intire life , but i have been told by people that the wacky baccy does help with muscle problams. if the wacky stuff works i would try it. how can it be worse than prescripion drugs that can become adictive and have terrible side effect ???s. peter

[clivea]

If you really think about it Peter, it is a natural drug, therefore there's got to be be something in making it legal eh? Some of these people in the Far East outlive most of us and have been on the stuff for years??? My nephew has MS and I know that he uses it successfully because there is no prescription drug that will help him. I certainly don't hold it against him for doing so.
I agree with you Peter, if ever I got into the situation that there was no prescription drugs to help me (God forbid!), and there was no alternative medication, then I would certainly consider 'you know what', without hesitation- it's all about trying to maintain your quality of life.

Rgds - Clive

[John Haldane]

I did have a recipie for putting it in to small cake's, but cant remember what I did with it.
might look on the good old internet.

Take care
John H

[GKCS56]

Hi Dick , Clive , 4 years a go i went to the Doctors with Stiff Fingers & Knuckles same as Clive had Xrays take and told it was Arthritus and told it was part of getting older . So for 4 years now i been taking Tablets from - Holland & Barrett. Double Strength
Glucosamine Sulphate 1000mg Supports Joint Health Comfort & Flexibility. When i was working i had 2 a day now only 1 a day.
It's not got any worse they work for me .

Rgds Godfrey

[twang46]

Hi Guys.

Thanks for all the replies, I had an idea that a lot of us suffer from this to some extent or other

Mine is quite cyclic ranging from the bearable to the **"!* painful !
The only things that have any sort of effect for me are the glucosomene tablets & good old cod liver oil & together with prescription painkillers I am able to "manage" this well enough to keep working (16 hrs a week) & still play guitar (after a fashion). Although kneeling on the floor & barre chords are sadly things of the past.

The "wacky baccy" is starting to look like a viable option for me as well, it is after all "herbal" & is reputed to work well in cakes (fairy cakes ?)

But as Clive points out at my age (64) I'm still walking & talking & able to do some work so it isn't all doom & gloom by any means.

Cheers

Dick

[kipper]

Dec 3, 2010 20:58:09 GMT John Haldane said:

I did have a recipie for putting it in to small cake's, but cant remember what I did with it.
might look on the good old internet.

Take care
John H

john could i order my christmas cake from you now please. peter

['Big Bose Man']

Hi Dick,
A really interest topic.
Here's my story - similar but not quite.
About18 months ago when mixing/mastering my tracks I would spends hours/days/ and on occasions weeks at the 'desk' leaning on my elbows. I awoke one morning to find that I had lost all feeling in my little and ring fingers of both hands. Apparently I had put so much constant pressure on certain areas of the elbows that the nerves had been badly compressed.(A guitarist minus two fingers of each hand - panic). The numbness was diagnosed as Ulnar nerve entrapment which is a condition where the ulnar nerve becomes trapped or pinched due to some physiological abnormalities, unlike carpal tunnel syndrome, which is characterized by numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger. Medical lesson over.
It was approx. 3 months before most feeling was restored. Sleeping with a 'brace' around both elbows to prevent movement. Still only about 90% in my little finger left hand. (it's a good excuse when playing badly).
So there you have it. Gospel according to Rod - 'Don't take the weight on your elbows'.
Kind regards,
Rod.

[betowelch]

Hi All......

Well ....as I founder of this Arthritis Club Band when I replied the Deer-Hunter post of Lou.....I see that it will not to be possible as a quartet or quintect....maybe it will be something like a guitar strings symphonic orchestra with 50 or 100 members.....

Well my arthritis problem...has a long history with me...and I think that it love me very very early...when I was about 35 years...

Now I'm 66...and with a lot o deformation problems....tha put on me a lot of movement limitations....... I had tried all what could be done...more than 10 or 15 different specialists doctors, different and modern drugs and treatment....and there isn't solution. My arthritic problem in fact it's a Rheumatic Psoarisis....... the strongest psoriasis mode. I don't have so much problem in skin as a normal psoriasis usually causes...but in my case it attacks the bones and joints. My main problems and movement limitations are in my hands and fingers, my feet's and fingers, my neck (cervical spine) something terrible to car driving..... and knees.

For playing purpose I can only use 3 fingers in my left hand as the ring finger it's like "dead".... In the right hand the problems are similar with major problem in the baby right finger. Pain it's something that I had to learn to live with it....and smile....Solution to this pain...just only strong drugs as anti-inflamatory....So when need to play and fingers are with so much pain.... this drugs are the solution...... something that my stomach doesn't like so much....but is this way that I can to continue my life, walking, working, playing and smiling.....

So backing to the Arthritis Club Band theme....who could be our repertoire?

Cheers from Brazil!
Roberto
CEO ( ) of The Arthritis Club Band

[loujones12]

Hi Guys. well first off im all for The Christmas cake bit!! as for drugs. well all it does is put you on cloud nine!! ive tried a go at almost anything, except the Wacky baccy. got enuff smokin!! as it is. guess its like anything realy, what ever works? i would say this last year has been my worst. both middle fingers [knuckles] on the left hand. they just wont bend at times. and Oh! the familier pain that goes with it. by reading some of the comments of you guys above. i think ill keep my mouth shut! see what you gone and started now ROBERTO!! So next question is WHERE Do we ALL meet for the Big ARTHRITIC GIG!! Vice President...... Lou

[sanox1]

Hi Guys, I have suffered with rheumatoid arthritis since the late 80s. since then lost feeling in 3 fingers on each hand, can still use but not feel any thing. fell down stairs when my knees give way. and broke my pelvis , cracked my hip socket , shattered my elbow. and after many months of operations and bones removed from elbow. I am on the mend. I find it hard to do bar chords because of joints in fingers. I found all the tablets I was given made me feel worse and still did not take away the pain from rheumatoid arthritis. I have not found anything that relieves the pain. but i am a lot better in the cold but it affects people in differant ways. i have learned to try and block it out but at times it's hard. It is also hard to explain to people who have not had it. because when people look at you, they think you look fine. anyway best of luck. take care. Dan.

[twang46]

Right guys.

This thread has moved quite a way from my original intention.

It seems that arthritis in it's many forms affects lot's of us (given the average age of most of us, probably not to surprising)

I feel that the comments/replies should be confined mainly to music related tips & hints for easing things & not just lists of ailments.

"Success" stories such as Bob's & Godfrey's & things to be careful with such as Rod's post are what I was looking for. ;D

Not meaning to upset anyone, these are just my thoughts on this thread.

What do you all think ?

Cheers

Dick

[kipper]

agree and disagree Dick with you on this. it seems when you bring up something like this it gives people a chance to release someting within them in spontanance way with out any come backs if you like. i think its a sort of natrul thing that leaves us all feeling better. of track yes but doing more good than you may think. also i think it is saying how our music helps us with our alments. i`m not upset and i hope your not with my reply. well i half agreed didnt i. ;D peter

[clivea]

Well Dick, you did ask 'how many suffer in this way', so the posts which followed merely responded to your question mate.

I agree with Peter, 'a problem shared' so to speak.

I mean, without your thread who would have known that we do have members playing with difficulty, who suffer with this terrible 'incurable' problem - such as Dan who's had the problem for over 20 years and now plays his guitar with no feeling in 3 fingers on each hand! Bl##dy commendable Dan!!! Knowing this makes my problem not so bad as I thought eh? - I thought I had problems!

So you see Dick, your thread is, in a way, music related isn't it?

Rgds - Clive

[twang46]

Thanks Peter & Clive ;D

I was just a bit worried that the thread was turning into a "medical" one, but I completely agree that a "problem shared" is good & of course if it it wasn't for this forum I for one would probably have thought I was alone with my "sticky fingers".

Dan's story also touched me Clive & gives me hope ;D

It's good that this site is not just about music & Charlie allows us a bit of "freedom"

Cheers

Dick.

[clivea]

Spot on Dick!

Take care mate.

Clive

[roadworn]

I have found that drinking cider vinegar and honey each day has helped me,when I stop the drink I notice how my fingers become stiff again. Read all about the health benefits of cider vinegar on the web. Also I find playing a slim neck is so much easier,dont worry if the body is not red! Also stretch your fingers followed by make a tight fist exercises. I don't worry too much that I find playing the fast tunes difficult,there are so many great slower tunes to play. Most importantly play as much guitar as you can,don't give up. Playing the guiar and using your fingers is the very best thing that you can do to help yourself combat arthritis. Cheers...

[betowelch]

Dec 6, 2010 10:47:16 GMT roadworn said:

I don't worry too much that I find playing the fast tunes difficult,there are so many great slower tunes to play. Most importantly play as much guitar as you can,don't give up. Playing the guiar and using your fingers is the very best thing that you can do to help yourself combat arthritis. Cheers...

Hi Roadworn and All:

That's the point...... Enjoying playing the guitar and the tunes that it's possible to play....with all the fingers or only some of then (as in my case)....and this exercise it will be help you against the arthrites...

Cheers from Brazil!
Roberto

[John Haldane]

I agree about hand exerciser's, as the saying go's if you don't use it you loose it.
Take care
John H

[twang46]

Hi John

I've still got an old hand "gripper" that I used to use when I doing martial arts that I still try out on a semi reg basis & of course there is still the rolling a coin around the fingers that helps

Cheers

Dick.

[kipper]

i was in a music shop waiting to be served and the rather l large (not fat just large) bloke was drinking from a small plastic bottle when he had finished he said to me can i help you. i said i wanted some dunlop 65 ultimate lemon oil for my fretboard, sorry mate he replyed i just drank the last one. he then informed me it helped with his arthritis. thats a true story. peter

[solidlg]

Hi everyone,
Yes the dreaded arthritis, like a lot of you I have those swollen and nodule building joints in the fingers, its in the wrists and the knees, and like many I have tried the Glucosomene and Devils Claw, all to no avail, and the only thing that has kept me playing is the dogged desire to keep my fingers moving, yes its painful and there are some things that I find impossible to play due to joint pain, however as the doctor told me, keep moving and if the pain is bad then take a pain killer that is made for the condition, just don't give up.

And judging by many of your responses you all have that same determination to keep going, Roberto is a testimony to this, attitude is the only defense we have at this time so just grin and move forward with desire to beat the blighter.

As for the cake, yes I would like to place my order now, and the wacky baccy would be a welcome addition to my medicine cabinet, however in Canada we can get it on prescription if it is proven that we are beyond traditional drugs doing the job, regretfully I am not there yet, so at least I have something to look forward to eh?.

Yes we also need a set list for an arthritis band, and I challenge Charlie to come up with the first couple of numbers, he has the perfect sense of humor to start this one....

All the best
Steve
Toronto

[twang46]

How about looking through the back catalogue of the band "Stiff Little Fingers" Steve ?

Cheers

Dick.

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Steve,
I hope I have risen to the challenge.
Ideas for a set list. Some of these are straying a bit from the main subject, apologies to anyone suffering from any ailments mentioned, I have some of them myself, it's for entertainment and not intended to upset anyone, if anyone objects I will delete or edit the post.
Arthritis (Atlantis)
Back Pain (Back Home)
Finger Bender (Fender Bender)
More Than I Can Play (More than I Can Say)
Ailing (Sailing)
The Old Rheumatics (The Old Romantics)
The Power Of Drugs (The Power Of Love)
The Rise And Fall Of Fingers Bent (The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt)
Three Times A Malady (Three Times A Lady)
Waiting For Baccy (Waiting For Rosie)
Don't Cry For My Angina (Don't Cry For Me Argentina)
Regards,
Charlie

[clivea]

Well done Charlie!

This 'Atlantis' is terrible, especially with the 'Rise and Fall of Fingers Bent' - after several ops on the spine I've got some 'Back Home' (actually 'More than I can Play'), but in fact it's plain 'Ailing'.

But after listening to 'The Old Rheumatics' and the other guys on Dick's thread, I'm 'Waiting for Baccy'!!!

Rgds - Clive