arthritis of the thumb

[kjbrown92]

About 8 years ago I was seeing a physiatrist for a back problem, and was having some pain in my thumb... without xrays he said it was probably the beginning of arthritis. It went away. Well about 3 weeks ago, I started getting pain in the base of my thumb, all the time, especially when I try to use it for grabbing things or pressing on things. From a google search, it sounds like osteoarthritis. I already take the max amount of anti-inflammatories (Pure Encapsulations) for a back problem, and I've been taking Advil besides to see if that helps (no). What else can I do for it? Anyone know of any exercises that would help? Herbal things?

[tanyalynn]

The most helpful link I found on osteoarthritis was a book called The Calcium Lie, the premise was that mineral imbalances, lack of mag and other minerals relative to too much calcium, were involved in a set of health problems--osteoarthritis was one. It was DH's family health history.

You take a fair amount of mag, don't you? I know you had a hard time finding a safe K2, do you think that was involved with your recent back pain? Hmm.... It seems so important in putting calcium in the right place. Goose liver? I think there's quite a bit in goose liver, yup, I went and checked.

[ASusan]

Would you be willing to wear an amber bracelet? I wear one, and it helps with my back pain. I also notice that when I forget to put it back on after a shower, my "mousing" thumb and wrist start to bother me.

(I put it in one of those "can't hurt; might help" categories.)

I also know there is SOMEthing food or nutritional going on with joint pain in me. Some days, my knees hurt so much it's hard to bend down to pick up DS. Other days, I don't notice them at all.

[texaspeach]

could it be De Quervain's Tenosynovitis ?

[kjbrown92]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

The most helpful link I found on osteoarthritis was a book called The Calcium Lie, the premise was that mineral imbalances, lack of mag and other minerals relative to too much calcium, were involved in a set of health problems--osteoarthritis was one. It was DH's family health history.

You take a fair amount of mag, don't you? I know you had a hard time finding a safe K2, do you think that was involved with your recent back pain? Hmm.... It seems so important in putting calcium in the right place. Goose liver? I think there's quite a bit in goose liver, yup, I went and checked.

I do 6 120mg capsules of Mg a day.... interesting... because that fits the correlation time of me being on the K, which had the calcium in it (and if you remember, I normally can't tolerate calcium - it makes me nauseous). I've been off the K for about a week. It feels a little better today (but I took a bunch of Advil before bed last night).

Originally Posted by ASusan

Would you be willing to wear an amber bracelet? I wear one, and it helps with my back pain. I also notice that when I forget to put it back on after a shower, my "mousing" thumb and wrist start to bother me.

(I put it in one of those "can't hurt; might help" categories.)

I also know there is SOMEthing food or nutritional going on with joint pain in me. Some days, my knees hurt so much it's hard to bend down to pick up DS. Other days, I don't notice them at all.

I used to have knee pain but that went away when I went off the milk, soy, corn, gluten... Oddly, this is my left thumb, not my mousing hand, which I use a lot more!!

Originally Posted by texaspeach

could it be De Quervain's Tenosynovitis ?

I don't think so. My wrist doesn't hurt at all. It's only the base of my thumb. As long as my thumb isn't involved, I can make a fist, and do things with the rest of my hand. And if I stretch it out away from my hand, it's fine. It's when I bring it in to meet my palm that it screams in pain. Or use it to press on something, like the release of the child carseat belt.