Arthritis.

[Roger Kettle]

Over the past few years, I have been experiencing the hereditary joys of arthritis in the fingers. Because of this, the World has lost a stunning guitarist in the Pete Townshend mould. Sadly, I can no longer shape D, A or E chords which rules out my Neil Diamond medley. I have tried Glucosamine but regular use did not agree with me and I felt unwell. Any suggestions?

[Tom]

Try taking up the panpipes.

[Tom]

And brass for the arthritis.

[Vulture]

Fortunately, although arthritis runs in my family, I don't seem to have succumbed to it yet. A ninety-year-old friend of mine swears (she's an ex-navvy...) by New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel.

[Malc]

I've had osteoarthritis for many years, plus a growing problem with sciatica in my right leg.

Football is partly to blame, because the arthritis is in my right hip and lower back and I'm convinced that it's due to being left footed (the right leg is therefore your standing and swivelling peg).

As far as remedies go Roger, I don't take anything at the moment, but the pain and discomfort are rapidly assuming the proportions that will force me to seek some kind of relief, probably in the form of over the counter medication.

I have heard from friends and colleagues in the past that Echinacea is great for reducing inflammation, but don't try it if you're already taking prescription anti arthritis meds.

I tried taking fish oil capsules regularly, and I do believe they helped, but I'm terrible at following regimes, and I let that habit slip. I'd recommend fish oil, and plenty of it.

One thing I've never tried is Royal Jelly. It's got a great word-of-mouth reputation for lessening inflammation, and it has some magic stuff in it.

 I'm going to get some.

If they've taken a knock in a game, one of the things I advise my players to do (owing to our geographical location) is take a walk in the sea. It works for racehorses, too, and I wonder if it would help lessen pain in fingers? I don't know if it's the water motion or whether there's iodine or ozone in the water which helps. You could go to the shore with a 5 litre canister and bring some home.

[Roger Kettle]

Although my fingers can be painful at times, it's more the inflexibility that frustrates me. I think I'll try the cod liver oil and see how that goes. Thanks, Malc.

[peter]

Having had it for thirty five years I think that the best advise i can give is You must keep the joints moving even if you have to go though pain to do it.
You will find that the more you exercise them the greater the movement you will keep.
The problem is to move them but not to do to much, this is suck and see, if you do to much you will know the next day .
Use pain killers to elevate pain if in doubt go see your doc.
There is loads of medicines to take down the swelling that the doc can proscribe the quicker you do it the better the result.
If in doubt ask me.
I am on methatrexate which has worked for me at the moment, but I did have it bad. Mine started in my fingers but now I can get it in all parts of the body it does not stop in one place.
Some people swear by Copper and magnetic bracelets but they don't work for me.

[Vulture]

Although my fingers can be painful at times, it's more the inflexibility that frustrates me. I think I'll try the cod liver oil and see how that goes. Thanks, Malc.

Number two son takes cod liver oil capsules every day to keep his knees mobile; he's had several motor bike accidents and his knees have taken quite a bashing. As he is also a weight trainer, he needs to keep fairly flexible.

Have you thought about taking up knitting as a way of keeping your finger flexible? You could knit a Dr Who scarf for Mince! 

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Use pain killers to elevate pain

They say laughter is the best medicine. I'm so sorry, Peter - I couldn't resist.

[Diamond Lil]

Having had it for thirty five years I think that the best advise i can give is You must keep the joints moving even if you have to go though pain to do it.
You will find that the more you exercise them the greater the movement you will keep.

Listen to Peter's excellent advice and keep trying to singa-longa-sweetcaroline

[Malc]

I do find that walking helps. No matter how bad my back is, arthritic pain disappears when I begin to walk, and I can still run to play football.

But what about fingers? How can someone with arthritis in their fingers keep them moving?

How about touch typing? Learning to type the "proper" way must help the muscles in ALL your fingers, not just the two we clods normally use.

Kneading dough is also therapeutic. I know what you're thinking - how many damn croissants a day can one man eat? However, the simple act of kneading dough is exercise for nimble fingers, as is finger picking guitar.

[Vulture]

I do find that walking helps. No matter how bad my back is, arthritic pain disappears when I begin to walk, and I can still run to play football.

But what about fingers? How can someone with arthritis in their fingers keep them moving?

How about touch typing? Learning to type the "proper" way must help the muscles in ALL your fingers, not just the two we clods normally use.

Kneading dough is also therapeutic. I know what you're thinking - how many damn croissants a day can one man eat? However, the simple act of kneading dough is exercise for nimble fingers, as is finger picking guitar.

KNITTING!  You can just pick it up as and when you have the time (and privacy) and stop when you like.

KNEADING: Unless you (or the woman of the house) usually make your own bread, it seems pointless to start now, especially as there's so much preparation to bread making. With knitting you can just spend ten minutes here and there, it's not messy and there's no dishes to clean up afterwards.

TYPING: I must admit that typing would also be a good exercise. I've been a touch typist since I was fourteen and I can still knock out 80 wpm - possibly 90 if I trim my nails! Just the learning bit would be beneficial: putting your fingers on the 'home' keys and typing a s d f ; l k j without looking would loosen up the fingers.

[Mince]

PICK POCKET: This not only requires deft fingers but also is quite a money spinner.

[Roger Kettle]

Thanks again for some sound advice, everyone. Well, apart from the pick pocketing. 

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

The Artful Roger - it has a ring to it (probably a nicked one).