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Help with hand arthritis

Kodiakk
What is the best over the counter medicine for arthritis in your hands? My wifes hands are hurting her very badly at night. She also wears braces for her hands at night. So what works?
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24 comments

Date Votes
  • cbxjeff
    The doc gave me something 6 years ago - didn't work. My fingers are so sore that sometimes I eat with my left hand. Let me know if you find anything.
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  • EhlerDave
    I have tried a lot of different things but parafin wax seems to give me some comfort. The warmth just soaks in and feels better.
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  • kimi
    She might want to see a doctor and get some motrin for relief.
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  • Kodiakk
    quote:Originally posted by EhlerDave
    I have tried a lot of different things but parafin wax seems to give me some comfort. The warmth just soaks in and feels better.


    Does the comfort last? Wait, parafin is what I used to cut offshore out of oilwells.
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  • Permanently deleted user
    I was going to suggest warm wax as well....Melt the wax...just warm...dip the hands in,...let it dry, dip again,...repeat a few more times...the warmth from the wax stays for along time, feels wonderful..

    WHen I had my surgery for carpal tunnel, the warm wax was done before the exercises so my hand was more limber and no pain...
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  • victorlvlb
    I use Aleve.
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  • Kodiakk
    quote:Originally posted by kimi
    She might want to see a doctor and get some motrin for relief.


    She sees a doctor sometimes and they give her a shot of steriods in her hand, but haven't put her on anything medication.
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  • Wolf.
    --
    -Aspirin, Tylenol, or Aleve (or their generic equivalents)

    Any old generic aspirin is as good as another. I don't know what max dosages are for aspirin or any of the problems that may be associated with it. However, my guess is that it is similar to the others.

    Tylenol and Aleve are NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
    These drugs even though they are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, cannot be taken for long periods of time without the person being under a doctor's care and advise. If your wife's problem is long-term where she needs to take something daily all the time, she needs to see a doctor, period. These drugs can cause heart, liver and kidney failures if used over, say, 7 days. Only a physician can advise their use for longer periods of time. Even then, the doctor will blood test the patient regularly looking for elevated level responses from those organs.

    Aleve, I believe, is the one that is more critical to watch. I use a prescribed dose of naproxen sodium (Aleve) to reduce pain from gout. I only use it for two or three days at the most, however.

    Anyway:
    Tylenol (a.k.a. Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Midol) 300-800mg/day

    Aleve (a.k.a. Naproxen Sodium, Naprosyn, Anaprox) 200-600mg/day and for acute pain, up to 800mg/day

    P.S............Stuff like Hot Ice or some other mentholatum-like wonder salve or juice are only topical. The burning sensation they produce does bring blood to the surface around the swollen, and irritated joints but other than that, I consider them to be not worth the time or the money involved.
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  • rider
    Same as above......I use Ibuprofen. 800mg It's just another name for Advil, I think. [:)][:)]
    rider
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  • fishkiller41
    I'm going to my Mom-in-laws house Wed. for a good-by dinner for her sis. I recall her mentioning something she uses, but it slipped my mid. If i remember to, i'll ask her, and post it Wed. night..


    I'll make a note. Might be some help Kodiac.....


    Jeff
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  • SCorvers
    Get a bottle of unscented (green) alcohol,crush up 12 aspirins and mix them together in the bottle. Rub it in your hands or other aching joints.
    My ol' skewl uncle taght me this one and it works. I have tendinitus from my elbows on down that flares up periodically and this is what I use.
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  • Kodiakk
    Thanks for the input folks. Bothers me since she is only 30 years old and already having these issues. I might have to trade her in for a newer model. [:o)]
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  • SCorvers
    30 years "old" is a womans sexual peak. wait till she hits menopause to trade her in.[:0]
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  • bama55
    Has the Dr. done a Rheumatoid Arthritis screen? Mine finally did one on me and luckily I don't have it. I guess just regular arthritis. I take Tylenol AR sometimes, but can't take it all the time. It does seem to help my aches and pains.
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  • thunderbolt
    Warm bean bags from the microwave can help as well.
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  • slipgate
    Look into honey bee sting therapy, it apparently works miracles with arthritis!
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  • elkoholic
    Also check her diet. I recently introduced lots of soy products into my diet in an attempt to be more "healthy". Turns out there is a fairly common allergic reaction to soy that manifests itself in joint pain. For me it was in my hands. About 6 weeks after I got off the soy my hands felt much better. Just a thought. Good luck.
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  • susie
    Why is she wearing the braces on her hands? Were they recommended by the doc or does she wear them thinking she has carpal tunnel? Braces work for carpal tunnel, but are hell on arthritis. Immobilizing an arthritic joint compounds the stiffness. Arthritic joints need to be moved. I have osteo-arthritis and am 46. If she has not seen a rheumatolgist she needs to so she can be screened for rheumatoid arthritis and a host of other auto-immune diseases.

    I have been prescribed Relafen for pain, generic is Nabumetone. It is an old medicine that with all the scares from the newer drugs seems to work without all the long term possible side effects. It is fairly cheap with insurance.
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  • Marc1301
    http://www.mpdirect.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=297&zenid=2bf1d264171d9ec0a228757d3dc6dea8
    Believe it or not, this is the stuff my mom uses, and she swears that it works.Just passing on info, as I know nothing else about it, other than my mom has a constant supply.
    Might be better prices, as I have no idea what she pays for it.
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  • Marc1301
    quote:Originally posted by elkoholic
    Also check her diet. I recently introduced lots of soy products into my diet in an attempt to be more "healthy". Turns out there is a fairly common allergic reaction to soy that manifests itself in joint pain. For me it was in my hands. About 6 weeks after I got off the soy my hands felt much better. Just a thought. Good luck.

    Elk,........good thing you are off of it!
    Too much soy for a male, and you'll be ordering a "man bra"![:D]
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  • reddnek
    My hands got so bad I couldn't golf or shoot my 44 magnum. My dr gave me a 7 day course of steroids and now I'm on celebrex. Does the job pretty well some pain and stiffness still.Over the counter I use theragesic cream from WalMart
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  • ObiWan
    Try different kinds of White Zifendel wine. I got this bottle of 2004 Van....can't remember the last part...it was a California wine....but dang bro....1+ hrs of oral/hnd action that was never seen in 7yrs of torture/marriage.

    I have carpal tunnel and spine damage to the discs in my back. Either get the gal narcotics or get her booze.

    Don't waste your time on anything else. BOOZ or DRugs!!!....err get her corrective surgery.

    I ain't had an orgasm since ...jeez....about 5 years now. Severe back injury. Little feeling in my lower extremeties. Have had carpal tunnel for a long time....hard to clinch a wrench and peel your thumb in.....err torqueing something down.....loss of musle in hands because carpal tunnel creates a loss of muscle tissue due to signal loss.
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  • DABUG
    I use to sell to a warehouse Auto Parts and the owner swore to the fact that If you spray on WD-40That would ease Arthritis Pain. Try it !!!!!!!!![:)]
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  • Flyin_Paulie
    Mf wife sells and uses a product called Pain-a-trate. She has reall advance degenerative arthritis and swears by it. E-mail me if you are interested. ppaxton1@msn.com
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