Arthritis, what to do?

[scottmandue]

I am having some strange minor pains/tingles in the right arm and hand.

Not wanting to be the typical middle age male I went to the doctor and got it checked out.

After a extensive Q and A about what I was feeling the Dr. told me it was not my heart.

However after two ex-rays he announced I had minor arthritis in my neck that was effecting my right arm/hand.

He gave me a script for some antiinflamatories and sent me on my way.

I should have asked the Doc but was kinda bummed that at 55 I had finally got arthritis.

Question being what is the best as far as exercise? More or less? When I google arthritis all I get are drug ads.

When I do some simple stretching and curls with a girly dumbbell (5lbs) it seems to get better... but don't want to make it worse in the long run.

TIA

[matt f]

Did your Doc r/o disc herniation, protrusion or prolapse?
If not, would order cervical spine MRI and EMG/NCV.
Non steroidal anti-inflammatories and exercise level to benefit is prudent. Too little exercise will yield no benefit, whereas too much will aggravate your symptoms.
It sounds like you have DJD with or without concurrent disc pathology that is causing radiation of pain/discomfort because of cervical nerve root or brachial plexus involvement.
Of course this is based on the information provided.
Where in your hand, arm are you having pain?
Did your Doc r/o carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve entrapment etc?

[vash]

i think the first step is to contact a Rheumatologist..my general doc was flying blind. good thing she's cute!

in general, i was told that moving and keeping moving was a good thing.

[Mark Henry]

Low impact core exercises and naproxen (aleve).

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Low impact core exercises

As Mark says

Cheers
JB

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by matt f

Did your Doc r/o carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve entrapment etc?

Yes he did.

Minor pain in shoulder (old injury) wrist, and elbow... slight tingle in hand.

Now that he has mentioned my neck, it does seem to start there (on the right side) and work its way down.

So I guess continue with the tiny dumbbells (sounds like a song!) and maybe look into yoga or Tai Chi? I presume walking/biking is good too?

[mikeesik]

Hello.
Curious if you noticed how the weather and precipitation affect you?

-As of your neck,- I have been broken up in that area pretty bad- get yourself a cervical pillow.

luck.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by mikeesik

Hello.
Curious if you noticed how the weather and precipitation affect you?

-As of your neck,- I have been broken up in that area pretty bad- get yourself a cervical pillow.

luck.

Thanks,

Weather? I live in So Cal! Like I tell my PNW wife "same boring 70 degrees and sunny".

But seriously... never noticed pains from changing weather (ok, we do get rain down here occasionally) but I would expect that more in my leg (four pins from motorcycle accident, dislocated knee three times) and no pains in my leg from weather.

I will be more aware of my neck and shoulder in future... I popped something in my shoulder by lifting too much too high about ten years ago... have been attributing arm pain to that old injury.

In retrospect I have noticed my neck getting stiffer, however it has built a little bit over a long time and just attributed that to getting older.

[dan88911]

Yeah I got it as well. I take omega 3 (fish caps). and stay activity I don't feel right if I don't. Some times I got to start slow, but but once I warm up I feel great. Seems if I do nothing body stiffens up and makes it worse.

[matt f]

Another r/o is facet syndrome.
Is the neck pain and radiation to your upper extremity reproduced by compression of your cervical spine?
Bike riding occaisionally will aggravate symtoms similiar to yours because the cervical spine is in hyperextension when seated on a bike. Traction of the c-spine with your neck in slight flexion(10 degrees) can diminish symptoms. Facet injections can be utilized.
Seek a spinal specialist in your area for a definative diagnosis and treatment plan.
I'm giving you some "what ifs?" without the benefit of examination but hopefully will arm you with more information when you see a specialist.

[targa911S]

DON'T get on the drug merry go round. Keep it OTC as long as you can.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by mikeesik

-As of your neck,- I have been broken up in that area pretty bad- get yourself a cervical pillow.

Very good advice.
I have had a broken neck and a broken back and those pillows are great. I would also recommend an adjustable air mattress. Worth every penny
I have some artheritus in my hands and left knee from damage over the years, I find movement and advil are the best things to keep limber.
Oh and heat.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by dan88911

Yeah I got it as well. I take omega 3 (fish caps). and stay activity I don't feel right if I don't. Some times I got to start slow, but but once I warm up I feel great. Seems if I do nothing body stiffens up and makes it worse.

That is exactly where I am at now... move it or lose it as they say.

[recycled sixtie]

My wife suggested glucosamine, exercising, however the cause may have been due to overuse of some joints.Stetching is good. Tendonitis? I would think that a second opinion is necessary.
Not in the med field but wife is a retired dietician.

[scottmandue]

Been doing Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and fish oil for many years... bad knees... no running/jogging for this old dog.

[Bill Douglas]

Neck - improve your posture. Works for me.

As the young dykey chick who was my gorgeous personal trainer at the gym would say (in dyke speak) CHIN IN, DOUBLE CHIN, THEN RELAX.

What she means in Englist is to pull your chin in as much as possible then relax so it drops back a bit. THe last thing you want is tight muscles around that area. I have something that is a bit like athritis in my neck called spondylosis or some word like that. Basically it's justed a fu cked neck but the chin in thing works. Just visualise being yelled at by a cute young dyke "CHIN IN, DOUBLE CHIN, RELAX".

[azasadny]

Cliff is right, find a good rheumatologist. I have osteoarthritis in every joint that the gout attacked. I have the gout under control with Allopurinol but the arthritis gets pretty bad at times...

[aigel]

Here is your chance to get a medical marijuana prescription.

But seriously, often this stuff comes and goes. I'd see a specialist, go for some PT, experiment with different cushions but in the end rely on time / your body's ability to repair. I would under no circumstances take anything more than a few ibuprofen for a week or less.

Of course I am not a Dr., but I do have neck issues from contact sports earlier in life.

G

[John Rogers]

I would suggest checking you parents and their parents as arthritis can be passed right along. I started with the sore joints and tingling when I was in my 40's, about the same time my mother had symptoms and my dad had them in his 50s. I tried some of the various supplements every was mentioning but 500mg Naproxen twice a day keeps the stiffness away and when they hurt I take pain meds. That is why I sold the race car a couple years ago as I could not drive a 30 minute race without my hands and legs getting numb so it was time to let it go. Of course 15 years of bicycle racing and running may have contributed but unless I could go back in time and not do that stuff I'll never know?

[Buckterrier]

I take 4 1100mg capsules of pharmaceutical quality fish oil daily. Don't have arthritis & don't want it. I take for more than that but it certainly is supposed to be a very good deterrent.