I'm Pretty Sure I Have Arthritis :(

about 2 months ago my right hand started aching, but I thought it was due to me being online so much lately because I'm taking a Music Theory class online. Well a week ago they both started aching, but my right one is so sore now that just to type this is taking me forever today because it's so damn cold today (it's freaking 30 degrees in Florida WTF!). I can barely even play guitar anymore So I'm pretty sure I have arthritis because my dad got it when he was in his late 20's as well and my mom was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

My problem is that I am a full time student and I don't have any insurance, I'm tired of taking so much ibuprofen. I'm starting to get immune to it so it does nothing for me anymore. Is there something over the counter I can take for now to help ease the pain or some kind of herbal remedy that works. Also one of my friends suggested I go to the hospital and explain my situation and see if they can help, but I really don't think the hospital is going to do a dam thing but make me wait for hours and give me a script for ibuprofen.

 

that really sucks. here (canada) you can but tylenol 1's (tylenol with 8mg of codeine) over the counter (have to ask the pharmacist for them) and they will help with the pain and are fairly cheap, but they're not going to help with the actual arthritis unfortunately. i know weed can have beneficial long-term effects when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, not i don't know about osteo-arthritis (which is what i assume you're probably dealing with).

i've been getting a lot of hand pain lately too, going to talk to my doctor about it. luckily i can see a doctor for free here. if i end up going, i'll post here and let you know any advice he gave me.

good luck!

 

Boswellia Serrata, and veggies that snap ,, like Celery is also rich in silicon that is needed for healthy joints, bones, arteries, hair and nails. Celery also contains vitamin K, needed for good bone health, and ., broccoli good for the blood and helps build up bones. Consider a serving of broccoli as the equivalent of one multivitamin/mineral supplement. ... , Carrot juice has very good anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous and anti-aging properties. Carotene is a known anti-oxidant, which can prevent arthritis......

why choose and opiate when Cannabis is the most often used “herbs, listed as one of the herbs Anti-inflammatory and Arthritis..

 

broccoli tip - steam it instead of boiling it, because boiling removes a lot of the good stuff.

 

I hate when my mom overcooks veggies.. I like them just hot with hint of raw. They dont need be cooked so much you can mash them like potato..

 

If you have rheumatoid arthritis like your mom, (and it is a genetic disease so I feel the chance is increased), you're really going to want to try and get on the actual meds as soon as possible. My mom also has RA, and we've pretty much never had insurance, so she kept swallowing pain pills and putting it off. A couple years down the road she finally got medicare when the pain was intolerable, and by then they had to remove the bones out of three of her toes and two of her fingers and put in metal rods. She also now has a permanent limp and must be much more careful when walking. Most of this could have been avoided if she had gone to the doctor's earlier. And the disease has usually progressed considerably BEFORE the symptoms.

I know you said your mom has RA, so you may know this, but its really serious. You say you're a student, are you on financial aid of any type? If so you may qualify for reduced or free insurance through your school- its worth asking around to find out. If not you can go to a community doctor, show them your student card and your last pay stub (if you work), and they'll charge you cheaply based off of that. Ask for a blood test for RA, you really wanna take care of it if you have it.

 

can you describe the pain in more detail?

 

im in the same boat, arthritis in both wrists at 24, but it began at 23. we are working on a diagnosis, but none to come yet. We have our suspicions but diagnosis is a LONG process.

advil does shit for me in regards to pain. the only over the counter thing I have found to reduce pain is Aleve (naproxen), but i've recently read that this isn't good for bones in the long run either.

I hope you can get insurance, I thought most schools required it now days.

Be wary of cortisone (if and when you get insurance) it can help, but it too has negative side effects and can be bad for the bones in the long run.

and yes RA is scary when left untreated, I hope you are able to see a Rheumatologist in the near future.

Both lupus and RA can appear out of no where. I've known I had early onset arthritis since about 18 in one wrist, but it wasn't severe, I simply I knew I was going to get it eventually.

One day in October 2010, my left wrist gave in while holding a plate, and now I have severe pain in both wrists. HOWEVER as my stress level has gone down in the past 5 months due to an enjoyable job where I feel I am making a difference in the world everyday the pain has diminished some. Mindful meditation, deep breathing, yoga (though I have had to limit my yoga practice since much of it requires wrist usage, and I can't afford a teacher who can instruct me in ways to modify positions)- all these things can work to lower stress and might help reduce your pain.

In your spare time do research, changes in diet can help. Orison has listed some suggestions, and I've read and use GARLIC like a maniac because I believe it helps me. There are things you may want to cut out of your diet and experiment to see if any foods trigger more pain or help to alleviate it. Food as medicine IS real.

Good luck, and may the pain decline in the near future.

 

I've had arthritis since my 20's. None of the over the counter stuff ever worked for me..... Prescriptions don't do much either, some just make it worse. They are going to want to give you NSAIDs, beware! Those can do more harm than good to your joints long term. Diet is important and so is exercise, believe it or not. Sure it hurts to move, but it's going to hurt a lot worse if you stop moving...... Low impact exercise, moist heat.

Smoke helps a lot, but yeah, they won't let us have that.

 

somehow i missed the part where you said your mom has rheumatoid arthritis. definitely see a doctor if possible... drugs like methotrexate(sp?) can really make a difference.

 

get used to it ..you will have it for life

and i suggest using ibuprofen sparingly...it will ruin your stomach

dont crack your knuckles,dont let your hands get too cold

..and dont use air operated impact tools

 

I have arthritis in lots of joints, but it's osteoarthritis. Good luck finding what helps you best.

 

cut out ALL products with aspartame that you might eat or drink too...you'd be surprised how much joint pain that shit causes

 

or automatic rifles..

 

If you want to get the most out of your carrots/broccoli nutrient-wise, you should juice them. Its great for the body. Also, my joints act up a lot less when I do yoga regularly.

Check this out for a bunch of natural things you can try:

http://www.great-natural-home-remedies.com/home-remedies/arthritis.html

 

I love fresh fruits and vegetables, but I can rarely afford it these days, I'm going to start growing my own in a few months though now that I have a big ass yard

I live in Florida where they don't give a shit about their residents, I checked with my school already and they don't offer anything medical related, it's a private arts school. There is a county based insurance plan, but they aren't taking new patients, but I will keep checking up on that.

It's a terrible constant aching pain in my knuckles and it radiates up through the rest of the joints in my hands. My right hand is considerable worse than the left (I'm right handed of course).

Thanks a lot for your suggestions, I watched my Mom get a cortisone shot one day and let me tell you the doctor will go no where near me with that huge ass needle...Ugh I hate needles!

Hmm...I'm going to have to do some research and see what aspartame is in. Thanks.

DAMMIT!!! There goes all my fun

 

Thanks for all your advice guys, I had no idea arthritis has fucked up so many people. I guess for the meantime I will just keep on tokin' :sifone:

 

Btw I hate artificial sweeteners so I think I'm good on that one. Real sugar all the way!

 

aspartame is one of the many artificial sweeteners..found in diet sodas, sugar free products such as pudding etc....

 

I've had cortisone injections in my knees. They helped for a while. They won't give them too often.

I also had a series of injections in my knees - Supartz was what they injected. It was pretty helpful as I recall.

I haven't been able to go to the doctor at all for 3 years. Tylenol once a day, Naproxen once a day, and lots of gentle movement without exertion throughout the day is what I get by on.