Natural health advice for managing arthritic hands

Gary re your article walking nz issue 117 on cortizone injections.

About one year ago i needed to see my doctor regarding severe pain in my right hand thumb particularly the pad or cussion of the thumb area, this had been getting worse over a period of time. my dr, diagonosed arthiritous and suggested a cortizone injection which i opted out of having not heard anything favourable about them.

A year on and it has progressively gotten worse to the extent of even turning the wrong way fells like my thumb is breaking. i have it starting ever so slightly in the left hand thumb area now. could you advise me as to an alternative to the cortizone injections. i really dont want to have to go there if posssible.

The strength in my right hand is really quite weak now. i am 59yrs, working and this does worry me as pain there all the time now but more severe at different moments of use. your advise would be appreciated. thanks marg ____________________________________________
Gary Moller comments:

Marg,

That you are beginning to suffer similar joint pain elsewhere indicates that your decision not to have a cortisone injection was the right one. At 59 years, you are far too young to be having to put up with this problem.

The arthritis that you describe may be possible to manage through diet and exercise; but bear in mind that natural health strategies must be given plenty of time for even small gains to be made - months and even years.

There are several things you can try that might help give relief over the long term:

• Take a glucosamine and chondroitin formulation daily for at least three months at the maximum dose to help rebuild worn cartilage. You need the formulation with MSM in it.
• Take up to 2,000 mg of natural vitamin C per day for at least three months. I have found that quite large doses of vitamin C can relieve joint pain in thumb and knuckle joints
• Take a special mineral formulation for strong joints and cartilage. I found the Active Elements formulations - Active 2.1 and Active 4.5 in combination to be particularly effective, if taken over several weeks.
• Purchase an inexpensive Medicine Tree PH Test Kit and determine if your body is acidic or alkaline. A healthy body should be at about PH 7.4. If it is chronically acidic, then you will risk many health problems, including weight gain, fatigue, sore muscles and arthritic joints. Please read my articles about this topic which you can find here and follow the advice about what to do if your body is, in fact, acidic.
• Try a course of massage of the hands and joints, in conjunction with the above advice, including traction of all of the healthy and affected joints. Tractioning involves pulling the joints apart so that they are gapped, stretching any scar and tightened ligaments. While this may be uncomfortable initially, persist with sessions every 4th day or so for at least a month and see if there is a significant improvement in that time.

I hope this advice is helpful. Please give it a go and let us know how you get on.