I saw another thread on here from Alasse (Sharni...Sharniqua) a while ago about osteoarthritis. It sparked me to look at my own changes.

I haven't been to a doc yet (I'm gonna...I promise) but it seems I have a form of arthritis too. I researched what has been happening to me and I have diagnosed myself. It's all too obvious to be anything else...so please don't yell at me too much!

You all know I sew for a living and the type of sewing I do is really heavy work. My hands and elbows take the brunt of the punishment...though my back suffers from sitting as well. I used to have fairly pretty hands and now I can see and feel the changes. My pinky finger on my left hand has a nodule on the first joint (near the nail) and the pain is excruciating at times. I liken it to a beacon on a lighthouse. It comes, hits a peak and then subsides. This can go on all day or for several days and then I get a reprieve. The second joint on my middle finger of my right hand has swollen and hasn't gone down for some time now. Makes for flippin the bird a tad painful lately! LOL! If I am retaining water (for reasons I'll spare you) the pain is even greater...in both of my hands! On the flip side...if I take dieuretics for water retention I get cramps in my legs and feet at night. Arrgggggggggggg!

There is a "squishy" lump on my left wrist, just behind my thumb and sometimes I feel a rubberband like snap there that actually sends, what I call, "lightening flashes" to my brain. It happens mostly when I am in a precarious situation with a large/heavy piece of leather...ie: having to hold it really tight so it won't slip and I miss my mark in stitching it.

I have carpal tunnel in my right wrist and the doc has told me if I wanted surgery and resumed my current job, it would return! My wrist makes a snapping sound when I flex it and that relieves the numbness after purposely "snapping" it several times. It isn't long lived though.

I get such pain in my right elbow that at times I can't straighten it fully. Sometimes it's on the inside elbow and sometimes it the pointy part on the outside...or sometimes simultaneously. It can travel up my arm and affect my neck and then my back fore favoring the pain. Oh...I'm a f*$#ing mess I tell ya! I might look ok on the outside...but inside...YIKES!

So YES...I know I need to see a doc for all of this but I wanted to bring it here first. Is anyone experiencing any of this and can you tell me your personal experiences? Meds that work...meds to be wary of...home remedies...etc.

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~