Playing with Arthritis pain???

[@Dtruthseek]

Hi Rich - I could say a lot about this but will try to keep it brief. (btw Tim Lerch did a video here on yt about this and got a huge response. I talked to him after a performance a few months ago and he said -- and demonstrated -- how he can play guitar without using his fretting hand thumb. God bless him. That's not for me :) By about 2018 I could only play about an hour a week. (but I don't know if my problem is the same as yours and other responders here; I had pain at the base of my thumb on fretting (left) hand only -- not really wrist -- caused by two bones that had worn out the cartilage between them) I had a CMC arthroplasty. It totally worked for me, but the recovery wasn't a walk in the park. I can play as much as I want. All glory to God, who led me to have the surgery.

[@starrynightguitars]

@@Dtruthseek - thanks Dan. The doctor did mention the possibility of surgery but said that wouldn’t be his first suggestion. My pain is similar to what you mentioned- at the base of my thumb. I’ll see if these shots help. Thanks for your response.

[@Dtruthseek]

@@starrynightguitars Did the doctor take x-rays?

[@starrynightguitars]

@@Dtruthseek - yes

[@tangobayus]

I have that diagnosis. I found that raising my pH up from 6 toward 7 (normal) has helped. Baking soda in water, 1/2 tsp 2-3 times a day. Us pH strips to measure your level. Many years ago I was developing increasing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Getting deep into nutrition made the difference.

[@starrynightguitars]

@@tangobayus - interesting. Where do you get the ph testing strips?

[@mharri3677]

You can test urine pH with test strips. Probably available at chemist / pharmacy or online. Available through Amazon in UK. And interesting, not heard of this aspect of arthritis care before, thanks.

[@starrynightguitars]

@@mharri3677 - do you mean you’ve not heard of the cortisone shots? I had one for a shoulder injury about 10 years ago and it removed ( or masked) the pain for several months. It has been 2 full days since the shots and the doctor said it would take about 3 days for it to take effect. I will try to play a bit later today. I am also a cyclist but I’m waiting to ride so as not to possibly aggravate them further. Thanks again.

[@mharri3677]

I'm aware of cortisone injections, but hadn't heard of body pH in relation to arthritis.

[@starrynightguitars]

@@mharri3677 - Yes, I have never heard of that either.

[@mharri3677]

Hi Rich, 58 year old guitawrist here, hello from UK. I use glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, possibly some help. I hear some people swear by turmeric as an anti inflammatory but I've not tried it myself, this can be oral or topical I believe. I also try to do hand stretches too. I may be wrong but I thought there was a limit of 3 on steroid injections? As always positioning is important, and may be shorter multiple practice times rather than one long session, not always possible! Have you seen Keith Richards hands, wow! Tim Lerch did a youtube on hand health, he often has good advice, links below. Good luck with finding some relief.

[@mharri3677]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpmcio2IrZeXZ68si=DnU2CzzWdEOe1B_i

[@mharri3677]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/laiwgGWcrbafbLssi=c5uadzlg9LE5J23H

[@starrynightguitars]

@@mharri3677 - thanks so much for your response, mharri3677. Yes, I also though t there was a limit to how many times the cortisone shots would be effective. The doctor made it sound like it’s different for all people and many don’t like it due to the painful injections. I will definitely check out the Time Lerch video. I mentioned stretching to the doc but he said once you have bone on bone that’s not really going to be effective. Thanks again and all the best to you.