Help - arthritis!!!

[Marty C]

Hi Guys,
Getting older (55) and starting to struggle somewhat with arthritis. It is only (currently) in my fretting hand, mainly in my first two joints (starting from my hand going forward) in my index finger. Makes it hard to change chords, what was always the most simple thing. Forget doing much more, like playing lead parts.

I tried some oral meds, but they are rough on the stomach. Working with some topical meds now.

Anyone got any experience and could offer help? I really enjoy playing, but my technique is really suffering and crisp, clear notes are hard to render. But mainly it starts to take the enjoyment out of my favorite pastime. It hurts to play.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Golffishny]

I started having similar problems about your age. That's when I started evaluating neck profiles and started swapping guitars until I found what fits for me. If you haven't already, look up stretches for guitar players. Do them regularly and keep them up even if you feel better. If you start getting any pain at all ask your doctor to refer you for therapy. I let my injury go unattended for too long and ended up with surgery. Hopefully it's just arthritis and no injury in your case. Warming your hands under warm water or a heated bean bag before you play may help some. My injury also made he let up the death grip on the neck. A lighter touch has improved my tone and speed. Good luck.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by Golffishny

Warming your hands under warm water or a heated bean bag before you play may help some

This helps but the water softens the callouses.
You can experiment with vitamins and supplements but for the most part I find them a waste of money, and I have spent a ton on them.
I keep an inexpensive hand grip exerciser around to keep the joints moving.
Arthritis is like rust, it will only worsen and never sleep.
Cheer you up?

[rick413]

I struggle with the same problem, over the last several years I have turned down half step and used a capo On the first fret to reduce tension on the strings, it seems to help some.

[Bikewer]

I’m having trouble with one finger at age 71. Ring finger on the fretting hand is painful to bend (I can’t clench it all the way)

Had to doc look at it and took X-rays... Said there were very minor signs of arthritis but he didn’t have an opinion...Referred me to a hand specialist. Havent’ gone yet.
I’ve been using a gel squeeze-ball, which does seem to help.

Oddly, I can play all my jazz chords (I play mostly chord-melody) without trouble but if I pick up the steel string and try first-position chords... Difficult.

I’ve always been a stickler about hand-arm position and a straight wrist.

[6L6]

This issue comes up all the time. Here's a writeup I did on my own experience. I'm now 72 and still play golf pain-free after employing Sam Snead's method:

"I'm a golf addict.

Back in 1985 (I was 40 yrs old at the time), I had great pain in my left hand whenever I swung a golf club. It was so bad I couldn't play more than 3 holes before I had to quit.

Next stop was the surgeon who fixed up our San Francisco 49'ers football team...

He told me I had a bone spur that a tendon was rubbing across and that he could fix that. SO...

I had the operation and the result was, "Bad news I'm afraid. You don't have a bone spur problem, you have arthritis and there's nothing I can do about that."

THAT NIGHT I received my latest issue of a golf magazine wherein Sam Snead said he almost quit golf in his 20's because he had such bad arthritis in both hands. Doctors couldn't help him and so, on his own, he got some WEAK spring grips and started working out with them. He eventually worked up to strong spring grips and guess what? The history books show the rest with an all-time victory count of 82 PGA tournaments.

Sam went on to say that he simply made his hands so strong that swinging a club didn't hurt them anymore. He also said the hand strength put about 30 yds extra onto his drives!

SO... I got some WEAK spring grips and started working out twice/day, 60 reps each time. Kept one pair at home, one pair on my desk at work. I too eventually worked up to using strong spring grips and I've been doing this every day since 1985.

End result: NO PAIN WHATSOEVER playing golf or doing anything else. And, compared to most guys my age I play with, I hit the ball significantly further.

If you haven't tried this route of building up your hand strength SLOWLY, I recommend you give it a try."


Hope this helps. Just remember to build up your hand strength SLOWLY.

[Marty C]

Thanks Fellas. I will give these things a try.

[love the guitar]

Hi, pushin' 70 here and gig about 65 times per year. Arthritis in my left
hand fingers has been a problem for me for the past several years, until I found
what works for me.

In the beginning I was playing some gigs for very good money and was very
afraid of what would happen if I had to quit in the middle, so I started just
taking some Ibuprofen before each gig. It worked, but I really didn't want to
run that through my system. (fwiw, I'm very healthy and take no meds except
for a multi-vitamin daily).

Next I rediscovered 'tiger balm'...was introduced to it 50 years ago in vietnam
but didn't realize it was available here. I rubbed some of that on the fingers
and joints and no problem at all with arthritis pain BUT....if you use it every day,like I wanted to...it does raise blood pressure over time. I verified that by
measuring mine morning and eve for months. The BP went back down when I quit using it.

Next I found a different rub on compound, Arnica blend (by Badger). I have
read that this is not good for liver, kidneys etc if used daily for a long term, so while it works well, I kept looking.

Finally, I found Cayenne and Ginger by Badger...I have been using it for the
past year almost daily and it resolves the pain issues and to date I am unaware of any ill effects from daily, long term use. It isn't as good at
reducing the pain as the others but it is very usable.

If you are on meds, find out all you can before trying any of this.
Hope this helps!

[Marty C]

Originally Posted by love the guitar

Hi, pushin' 70 here and gig about 65 times per year. Arthritis in my left
hand fingers has been a problem for me for the past several years, until I found
what works for me.

In the beginning I was playing some gigs for very good money and was very
afraid of what would happen if I had to quit in the middle, so I started just
taking some Ibuprofen before each gig. It worked, but I really didn't want to
run that through my system. (fwiw, I'm very healthy and take no meds except
for a multi-vitamin daily).

Next I rediscovered 'tiger balm'...was introduced to it 50 years ago in vietnam
but didn't realize it was available here. I rubbed some of that on the fingers
and joints and no problem at all with arthritis pain BUT....if you use it every day,like I wanted to...it does raise blood pressure over time. I verified that by
measuring mine morning and eve for months. The BP went back down when I quit using it.

Next I found a different rub on compound, Arnica blend (by Badger). I have
read that this is not good for liver, kidneys etc if used daily for a long term, so while it works well, I kept looking.

Finally, I found Cayenne and Ginger by Badger...I have been using it for the
past year almost daily and it resolves the pain issues and to date I am unaware of any ill effects from daily, long term use. It isn't as good at
reducing the pain as the others but it is very usable.

If you are on meds, find out all you can before trying any of this.
Hope this helps!

Thank you. I will try the cayenne and Ginger. Where do you get it?

[love the guitar]

Locally, I found it in a Health Food type store. I'm sure it's available online too.
I have two sizes of cans....2oz and 3/4oz. The colors of the "stuff" is different
but they both work the same.

I take a tissue and rub it on the sides of my finger joints and the top of my hand where my fingers join, and also along
the wrist area....anywhere it seems needed. Then, being a fingerstyle player too...I wipe off any areas that may get on
the strings before playing.....only had that happen once.

Hope it works for you! It's been a small miracle for me.

[vindibona1]

I've had the problem in both hands for about 4 years now. For me the best thing is continual stretching, naproxen (generic aleve) and PLAYING. Playing brings the biggest relief and the stretching and crunching seem to help keep things from getting worse. Don't forget to warm up before you play. As someone suggested, warm water helps get things moving. Don't worry about the callouses. Your body will figure things out.

Good luck.

[Marty C]

Originally Posted by love the guitar

Hi, pushin' 70 here and gig about 65 times per year. Arthritis in my left
hand fingers has been a problem for me for the past several years, until I found
what works for me.

In the beginning I was playing some gigs for very good money and was very
afraid of what would happen if I had to quit in the middle, so I started just
taking some Ibuprofen before each gig. It worked, but I really didn't want to
run that through my system. (fwiw, I'm very healthy and take no meds except
for a multi-vitamin daily).

Next I rediscovered 'tiger balm'...was introduced to it 50 years ago in vietnam
but didn't realize it was available here. I rubbed some of that on the fingers
and joints and no problem at all with arthritis pain BUT....if you use it every day,like I wanted to...it does raise blood pressure over time. I verified that by
measuring mine morning and eve for months. The BP went back down when I quit using it.

Next I found a different rub on compound, Arnica blend (by Badger). I have
read that this is not good for liver, kidneys etc if used daily for a long term, so while it works well, I kept looking.

Finally, I found Cayenne and Ginger by Badger...I have been using it for the
past year almost daily and it resolves the pain issues and to date I am unaware of any ill effects from daily, long term use. It isn't as good at
reducing the pain as the others but it is very usable.

If you are on meds, find out all you can before trying any of this.
Hope this helps!

Found this stuff by Badger on Amazon yesterday and ordered it. It will be here Tuesday. Thanks!

[Marty C]

Originally Posted by vindibona1

I've had the problem in both hands for about 4 years now. For me the best thing is continual stretching, naproxen (generic aleve) and PLAYING. Playing brings the biggest relief and the stretching and crunching seem to help keep things from getting worse. Don't forget to warm up before you play. As someone suggested, warm water helps get things moving. Don't worry about the callouses. Your body will figure things out.

Good luck.

I usually practice in early morning before work. However this is when my condition is at its worst. I tried the warm water this morning. It was a big help. When I get up, it’s almost as if my index finger locks up. The warm water frees this up.

The Aleve does wonders, but it’s not something I can take every day without causing other issues.

Someone mentioned earlier about the playing technique and keeping the wrist straight. I am going to work on that as well.

In addition, I have 5 guitars, but mainly play one or two. I do have an older Epi with a different neck shape which I tried yesterday. Not sure what is different, but I did find it easier to play. I will try to put some light gage strings on it and see how it goes.

Thanks for all the tips. Greatly appreciated. Getting old ain’t for whimps. But, it’s going to happen anyway. Sounds like the start of a new song!

[invguy921]

One thing that will help a LOT is simple...get off of SUGAR. Sugar encourages inflammation and inflammation is a BIG problem not only in your hands, etc. but in your arteries.

I'm not there yet, but have reduced my sugar intake by a ton. Trust me, this along with other suggestions here will help.

[colchar]

I have arthritis all over the place, and also have what seems to be a TFC tear in my picking hand wrist.

For the arthritis neck profile and fingerboard radius make a difference so you have to find what works for you. The next suggestion is lower gauge strings. Playing electric can help with this.

My doctor recommended tumeric and I've been taking it for a while and think it helps. You can buy it in bulk and then buy empty capsules, but you have to fill them which is a hassle. Just buy the pre-filled capsules. If you have a Costco membership you can get them for a decent price. Fish oil is also supposed to be good for arthritis. I buy a huge jar from Costco that costs less than $20 and does me for a year. I take one of those and one tumeric capsule each morning with my coffee so that I don't forget.

If nothing works, learn how to play slide so that you can still play.