Arthritis

bjabass · #1 12-23-2011, 07:07 AM

I did a search and saw several threads regarding arthritis affecting playing. That has not been a big issue as of yet for me...what blows my mind is how FAST it manifested itself. I only have a little soreness in my right hand as of now.

I had a 'stiff neck' when I was at the Dr's. office for another issue in Oct. He did an x-ray and told me I had some arthritis there. A month later I was back and had soreness in the bottoms of my feet, my knees, elbows and left wrist as well as my neck.

He prescribed an anti-inflammatory. I ran out about 4 days ago so I decided to see if I really needed it and went without for a couple of days. Yesterday my right knee which was injured in a dirt bike accident years ago was so bad I almost couldn't walk.

I hope it slows down but I was wondering if anyone else had it come on so suddenly and how it progressed. If I get a whole lot worse it's gonna be near crippling.

1958Bassman · #2 12-23-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjabass

I did a search and saw several threads regarding arthritis affecting playing. That has not been a big issue as of yet for me...what blows my mind is how FAST it manifested itself. I only have a little soreness in my right hand as of now.

I had a 'stiff neck' when I was at the Dr's. office for another issue in Oct. He did an x-ray and told me I had some arthritis there. A month later I was back and had soreness in the bottoms of my feet, my knees, elbows and left wrist as well as my neck.

He prescribed an anti-inflammatory. I ran out about 4 days ago so I decided to see if I really needed it and went without for a couple of days. Yesterday my right knee which was injured in a dirt bike accident years ago was so bad I almost couldn't walk.

I hope it slows down but I was wondering if anyone else had it come on so suddenly and how it progressed. If I get a whole lot worse it's gonna be near crippling.

How old are you? If it gets worse, I'm sure your DR will ask about your diet, exercise regimen, family history of arthritis, etc. If you're in an area where the humidity is high and winters are cold, that won't help.

Google 'arthritis' for more info, so you can be proactive. If you end up with rheumatoid arthritis (RH), they may give you meds that suppress the immune system because RH is an immune system disease. I knew someone who was a cop and he retired because his RH was so bad. Not too long after that, I saw him working at a Sears store, looking completely different. Turns out that he needed a heart transplant (unrelated to the RH) and the anti-rejection drugs put his RH in remission.

D.A.R.K. · #3 12-23-2011, 09:19 AM

I suffer from degenerative arthritis, mostly in my l1-s1 (lower back) and hands.
Last fall I went through a period where my back went out totally, and I woke every day to a left hand so stiff I had to push it closed.
These are both onset from over 28 years of playing and moving gear, but came on suddenly.
I ended up going to physical therapy, and over the course of a couple months the therapist used tools to break down the surrounding muscle tissue, and made me do daily exercises to build the muscle back up properly and to strengthen it around the problem areas.
This has had very positive results, although my left hand (fretting hand) has to be trained to have the stretch it once had before the therapy (I didn't play during this process. In hind sight, I should have done light fretboard exercises to keep form).
I also have used glucosamine chondroitin, although there is debate as to it's level of benefit.
To date my lower back is worlds better, and has been of minimal issue even with a year of touring post-treatment in some less than ideal scenarios (vans, multi-show days).
I try to remember not to push it so hard anymore, and take my time.
I'm also looking for solutions like lighter tension strings, and some lighter weight equipment.
Degenerative Arthritis is apparently a common form due to strain/ repetition over time, i'm no doctor so I can't say if this type of therapy would help the other forms of the disease.
All the best-

bjabass · #4 12-23-2011, 09:28 AM

Thanks for the responses. I'm 56. I quit smoking a year ago and gained 40 lbs. so I started walking a mile a day just after Thanksgiving. I couldn't do it yesterday or the day before due to the right knee. I am back on the anti-inflammatory and I feel well enough to walk now but wonder if I am aggravating the knee while the drug is masking the pain.

I sure hope it stays away from my fretting hand, and eases up on my leg.

Lady Kayri · #5 12-23-2011, 03:31 PM

Meds can be important. So is mild exercise. If there is a public swimming pool near you, you may want to consider swimming or water aerobics, etc. You still get a workout, but the water helps support your weight, so you don't get the stress load on your joints. As someone else mentioned, a physical therapist may be able to help out a lot, too.

The problem is that with the current state of medicine, there is no cure. All they can do is treat symptoms and try to prevent further deterioration of your joints. Good luck, hope you can find some of the answers you are looking for.

Jay2U · #6 12-23-2011, 04:48 PM

Dear bjabass,

I'm 51 and have been suffering from arthritis for the last five years. It began with cold and stiff fingers. Then the wrists, shoulders, neck, lower back, knees and toes began to hurt. This really frightened me. It went so fast, it was only a matter of weeks. The specialist told me they were trying an alternative medicin, which is also used preventively against malaria. It is called Plaquenil. After about two month extra resistance against inflaming has built up. I also got the advice to keep moving, without forcing anything. I do consider myself quite lucky, as it stays stable now. I have my blood checked twice a year in order to know my medical condition. There are always a few joints hurting, but they don't inflame. There is another issue as well. Sometimes I can't trust the grip of my hands. Things just drop to the floor. Mistyping happens a lot as well. I´m also tyred quite quickly, which is normal according to the specialist. High temperatures and low humidity are beneficial to me. I´m glad to have an indoor job in a nice and warm lab, where it´s always 23 deg. C (74 deg. F).
Arthritis is one of the reasons I started playing the bass. It keeps my fingers moving. The other reason is my 15 year old son who plays guitar.

bjabass · #7 12-23-2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay2U

Dear bjabass,

I'm 51 and have been suffering from arthritis for the last five years. It began with cold and stiff fingers. Then the wrists, shoulders, neck, lower back, knees and toes began to hurt. This really frightened me. It went so fast, it was only a matter of weeks. The specialist told me they were trying an alternative medicin, which is also used preventively against malaria. It is called Plaquenil. After about two month extra resistance against inflaming has built up. I also got the advice to keep moving, without forcing anything. I do consider myself quite lucky, as it stays stable now. I have my blood checked twice a year in order to know my medical condition. There are always a few joints hurting, but they don't inflame. There is another issue as well. Sometimes I can't trust the grip of my hands. Things just drop to the floor. Mistyping happens a lot as well. I´m also tyred quite quickly, which is normal according to the specialist. High temperatures and low humidity are beneficial to me. I´m glad to have an indoor job in a nice and warm lab, where it´s always 23 deg. C (74 deg. F).
Arthritis is one of the reasons I started playing the bass. It keeps my fingers moving. The other reason is my 15 year old son who plays guitar.

Jay, Thanks for the reply. The speed of onset was shocking to me so your experience helps me to see this as a normal thing....I was concerned that I was experiencing something unusual.

Also I am having a hard time seeing myself as 'prescription drug dependent'.

rr5025 · #8 12-23-2011, 08:20 PM

24 here and I have arthritis. I have to give myself enbrel (sp?) shots every week. I'm not crazy about the idea of it but hopefully after a year or so it will have stuff in check and I'll be good for awhile.

**lowendfriend** · #9 12-23-2011, 09:35 PM

Make sure that you are AOK on uric acid. Gout is more invasive than just a few attacks per year....it deposits crystals in many joints.

I was in the hospital for a UTI and they gave me allopurinol.....in a few days, I felt better than I have in a long time. I got in the habit of letting my script for allopurinol lapse when I wasn't having attacks. Big mistake.

Correlli · #10 12-24-2011, 12:29 AM

I have arthritis. Not in the hands, but in my ankle. I keep myself pain free through, exercise (increases circulation) good diet, supplements like fish oil and glucosamine, and arnica herbal relief creme.

bjabass · #11 12-31-2011, 07:40 PM

Got the diagnosis, it's rheumatoid.....trying to get an appointment with a specialist. The knuckles of the 1st two fingers of my right (plucking) hand are swelling. I'm freakin a little...

blastoff99 · #12 12-31-2011, 08:42 PM

Some garden variety of arthritis here, which settled in the fingers of my left hand this last summer. Since I work worth my hands for a living, this was disconcerting.

Did the usual self care things, to no effect. Went to the doc and he ruled out rheumatoid. Doc put me on a big time anti-inflammatory. Worked. But since then I've discovered a supplement called Zyflamend. It has done wonders for my hands and fingers.

Ymmv, but it might be worth a try.

Icey101 · #13 12-31-2011, 10:12 PM

firstly dont freak out....

second start researching and understand your issue, then get a program going to keep you mobile and active and diet healthy with advice from the specialist, but dont let them come up with everything...look after yourself ok

Jay2U · #14 01-06-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjabass

Got the diagnosis, it's rheumatoid.....trying to get an appointment with a specialist. The knuckles of the 1st two fingers of my right (plucking) hand are swelling. I'm freakin a little...

X-ray photographs of the fingers may reveal what's going on in there. To my experience a specialist is able to diagnose by feeling the swellings. Swellings may be caused by irritation. A warm and dry environment is always good for my problems. As far as I know, one shouldn't immobilize, nor force hurting joints. If plucking doesn't work for me, I try a pick.