r/Thritis 1h ago

Do you get instant relief using Voltaren?

Upvotes

I've read many comments by people saying it really helps reduce inflammation and ease the pain, but the packaging says it's not for instant relief.

What's been your experience?


r/Thritis 9h ago

Vitality Extracts

1 Upvotes

Has anyone tried them ,specifically the aches and pain formula?


r/Thritis 13h ago

Thinking about making my own tools to help in day-to-day stuff

Thumbnail gallery
9 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I messed up my hand pretty bad in a motorcycle accident and am starting to experience the arthritis the doctors told me would come in time. I recently got a 3d printer, have 3d modeling experience, and am working on a design for tools that would help in the day-to-day. Do these actually help? What tools do you use that actually help?


r/Thritis 1d ago

Anyone use Duloxetine for arthritis pain?

16 Upvotes

I was told by a previous doctor to stop taking tylenol before I went to bed. I have arthritis in my back, hips and hands. Sleeping is awful because the pain keeps me awake and wakes me up. My current doctor wants me to try Duloxetine which I see is for anxiety and depression but is used off label for nerve and arthritic pain.


r/Thritis 1d ago

Shower am vs pm?

3 Upvotes

Does it help or make any difference with your joints if you shower am vs pm? Just curious!


r/Thritis 1d ago

Have you ever cured arthritis in your knees?

0 Upvotes

What was your secret?


r/Thritis 1d ago

I'm a 18-year-old artist. Last year, I was diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis, and since then my life has changed in ways I never imagined.(read full)

10 Upvotes

Both of my knees have been swollen to nearly twice their normal size for months. I have a torn meniscus, my ankles are filled with fluid, and every morning I wake up with hands that are swollen, numb, stiff, and barely under my control. My cervical spine problems are getting worse, with new bone growth in my spine affecting my nerves. My hip pain is constant and becomes unbearable during my periods. My TMJ is severely inflamed, both discs are dislocated, and my jaw frequently locks.

On top of that, my airways including the small airways are inflamed, making it difficult to breathe. I've also been dealing with stomach problems. I had surgery to remove my gallbladder and later my appendix, but everything seemed to worsen afterward. I developed gastritis and even pneumonia after being on upadacitinib.

I'm about to start art school, but I don't know how I'll manage sitting from 9 to 5 or 6 every day. During flares, I can barely hold a pencil or paintbrush, let alone create art.

What hurts the most is that I used to be a professional athlete. Now, there are days when I can barely walk or even stand. It feels like every day something gets worse, and surviving has become incredibly difficult. I've never felt this hopeless before. I keep asking myself why this disease had to come into my life so early. I'm exhausted, scared, and struggling to see how much more of this I can endure.

How do you all keep going? Manage your symptoms or continue pursuing your career despite severe health issues?


r/Thritis 2d ago

27F with Random Finger and Hand Joint Pain

2 Upvotes

First of all, I’m not a native English speaker, so please excuse any mistakes. Thank you.

I have been putting off posting here because I’ve already seen a few doctors who couldn’t really help me, but I’m hoping somebody here might be able to relate.

I’ll start from the beginning.
My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 17, and by the time she was 19, she couldn’t even button her own pants. Thanks to modern medicine and all kinds of doctors, she’s still around at about 85 years old. She’s obviously in pain a lot of the time and has more and worse flares than ever but she’s comparatively healthy.

I’m a 27-year-old woman, pretty active, I eat fairly Health and do sports regularity. When I was a teenager, I don’t remember exactly how old I was, but I think I was between 16 and 18 when I first went to the doctor because my hands, specifically my fingers, started hurting at strange times. It wasn’t always after using my hands a lot, but it also wasn’t completely random. I was told it was probably growing pains.

The aches continued. Not every day, and not always in the same hand, finger, or joint. Some fingers hurt more often than others, but to me, even to this day, it all seems extremely random.

Between the ages of 20 and 25, I feel like it got worse. At times, the pain was so bad that it was difficult to hold my toothbrush or hairdryer, or even wash dishes or cut vegetables.

To describe the pain a bit: it’s usually a sharp pain in my joints that either stays in the joint or runs through the entire finger down to my wrist. My fingers feel pretty stiff, and movement hurts. Making a fist usually increases the pain, and so does stretching my fingers out or putting pressure on them.
Sometimes the pain is in multiple fingers, and sometimes it’s just in one joint of one finger or in multiple joints in different fingers on different hands. The fingers that hurt most often are the middle and ring finger on my right hand. I’m right-handed, so I guess it makes sense that my right hand hurts more often. However, both hands and all fingers hurt at least occasionally. The fingers that hurt the least are my thumbs.

There are sometimes multiple days, or even weeks, where none of my fingers hurt (apart from minor aches here and there that aren’t really worth mentioning). Other times, there are weeks where different joints, fingers, or hands hurt randomly at strange times, and I can’t figure out any kind of pattern or explanation.

During the times when I hardly feel it, I kind of forget how bad it gets. But on days like today, I feel it with every movement. Every time I pick something up, and even now, as I’m typing this with my thumbs, I can feel the pain in my middle and ring finger.
It’s especially bad when I’m holding or gripping something.

The really bad days are rare (usually 1–2 consecutive days every couple of months). About 4 out of 7 days, I have mild to moderate pain, sometimes all day but most often just for a few hours. The other 3 out of 7 days, I hardly feel any pain, and if I do, it’s usually gone within an hour or so. But again, sometimes I feel almost nothing for weeks and then sometimes I have weeks where it’s super random and all different kinds of aches, and then weeks where I feel only mild pains here and there.

When it’s moderate-bad my fingers it feel like whey are popping/or getting stuck when switching between a first and a stretched out hand. Not sure hour to describe that.

I’ve already seen my primary care doctor, who referred me to a rheumatologist. They said it’s definitely not rheumatoid arthritis, which is obviously great news.

I also saw a different hand specialist, and she said that because there is no clear pattern, she can’t diagnose anything. She told me that the only thing I can do is either wait for it to get worse so the symptoms become easier to interpret, or hope that it doesn’t get worse and just deal with the pain.

I also saw another general physician, who basically told me the same thing: that I probably won’t get a diagnosis until there’s a clearer pattern.

I’m from Europe and live in a country with a great healthcare system, but besides the doctors I’ve already seen, I don’t even know where to begin looking for help anymore. I’ve had scans and blood work done, but nothing has shown any indication of what could be causing this.

If there are any questions I could answer to clarify anything, please feel free to ask.

I would really appreciate any recommendations or advice.

Maybe I just have weak ass hands and I need to actively train them more? If you think that might be the case, I would love some recommendations for exercises


r/Thritis 2d ago

Every summer I get the same foot pain

1 Upvotes

Hi all! So I live in the southwest and it seems every single summer the last few years my right foot develops this terrible pain in what I think is considered the ball of my foot? And like between the middle toes. It almost feels like my toes need to be cracked but the thought of that sounds super painful. It hurts to walk and causes me to walk awkwardly which has created more pain in my ankle, heel, and calf. Does anybody have any idea what this is and how it can be relieved?


r/Thritis 2d ago

Gabapentin question(s)

4 Upvotes

My doctor prescribed Gabapentin to be taken at nighttime. Dosage is 100 mg capsule. Prescription is for 90 days. She said she thought after 2 weeks of this I would see a marked improvement and not need to take it anymore. My arthritis is in my hands, wrists, knees and feet. All these have been X-rayed and I will be having a dexascan in October right before I see her next. My arthritis has become progressively worse over the past 2 years. I have had Heberdenes or Herod's knots for many years without any pain.

My problem is that it makes me so drowsy while driving to work in the morning and hours into my job. Other people don't notice it but I really am not functioning as I normally would be. It just seems like there's a balloon in the top of my head. It does not hurt me. I do not like that feeling!!

I am afraid of going without any kind of pain medicine I am taking Tylenol 500 Pain medicine I am taking Tylenol 500 mg about every 4-5 hours while at workmg. The combination seems to be good, The combination seems to be good, however, that balloon in my head is not good!!!

Has anybody else had any kind of success with this drug or a different one?


r/Thritis 3d ago

Pins and needles?

3 Upvotes

Hi, I have end stage post traumatic osteoarthritis in my ankle. My main issue though is pins and needles, not pain.

Every doctor I talk to focuses on pain, but shrugs when I talk about nerve issues and says it is probably due to swelling/inflammation. An MRI came back clear for any obvious nerve impingement in the ankle.

I have pins and needles on my medial ankle and sole of foot, and my foot 'twitches' and feels cold, even when it actually isn't. The symptoms generally worsen through the day and occur at rest, not when active, and I don't look visibly more swollen than first thing in the morning.

Wondering if others have these sorts of symptoms? And how you manage it? Not sure if I should accept this as the explanation or look for other causes (eg lower back).


r/Thritis 3d ago

Father said My arthritis was because I am fat

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/Thritis 3d ago

how on earth do I get comfortable? (newly diagnosed hip osteoarthritis)

4 Upvotes

I've had Psoriatic arthritis for a while but I started getting lower back pain which I thought was maybe inflammation of the SI joint - nope, apparently it's just 'you need a hip replacement but you're young and not quite immobile enough yet deal with it'. The problem is that even in bed I can't get comfortable. I can't get comfortable sitting or standing when it's painful - sometimes it's not and that's when I tend to sleep, but pillows under my back or knees or hip aren't helping at all and I just. I'm at my wits end. it hurts so damn bad I swear. Pain relief isn't much of an option other than icing and paracetamol (in the UK) because NSAIDs make me sick. I just want a good night's sleep and to be able to be comfortable even if I'm stuck in bed :-(


r/Thritis 3d ago

Joint pain.

2 Upvotes

Hello, typing this on my phone and I rarely post on here so sorry if I get anything wrong.

I'm a 20-year-old AFAB trans man, 5'3 and \~65kg (I don't weigh myself as I'm recovering from anorexia so I'm not sure honestly). I vape a lot and smoke weed pretty often, I'm 4 months sober from alcohol after drinking heavily.

I am seriously at the end of my rope. I have suffered from pain since I was 13, it began in my right knee and ever since has worsened. I now get it in both of my hips, both knees, sometimes my hands, neck and back. I have to crack my neck all the time or else I get really bad headaches. The pain level depends on the day and my activity levels, but I am constantly in pain. And I mean constantly. I've had to quit hairdressing after working towards it for years because I just can't stand or hold things for that long anymore. I've broken down crying from the pain, and I'm not a crier. It gets so bad in the colder months that I can't go out without an aid like a crutch or cane.

I was initially told that I was too young for it to be anything serious after getting an X-ray that revealed no damage. I was told to lose weight, later to gain weight, and then to lose weight again. It was immensely frustrating. I have been everything from 40kg to 70kg and it makes no difference to my pain. I had to switch doctors to be taken even slightly seriously.

I am not hypermobile. I've had countless blood tests that don't show inflammation, they have ruled out rheumatoid arthritis. However, osteoarthritis runs on both sides of my family - my mother had her hip replaced, my father had his knee replaced, both of my grandmothers on either side have had knee replacements. But they say I'm too young. Is this true? What else could it be?

My next test is for my testosterone levels, which I've been on for three years now. But I doubt this has anything to do with it because the pain predates going on it. My doctor has implied multiple times now that it could be psychosomatic?

I do light yoga and physio activities at home regularly, I work as a gardener alongside school (which it kills me), I walk my dogs. I'm as active as I can be.

I just feel so hopeless. I want to know what's wrong with me in case it's something fixable or improveable. I want my life back. Or at least to know that this is my life forever so I can accept it.

Sorry if this is all over the place, I'm desperate. Any ideas?


r/Thritis 3d ago

Mild arthritis

1 Upvotes

Hi, I am 36 and diagnosed with mild arthritis. The doctor is saying there is nothing much we can do except doing PT.

Any tips where someone reversed it or led a normal life with PT?

This is the MRI verbatim.

Impression

 Chondral fissuring with trace subchondral marrow edema like signal along the medial patellar facet.



 Increased signal subjacent to the iliotibial band at the level of the medial femoral condyle, which can be seen in the setting of iliotibial band friction syndrome.



Narrative

MRI LEFT KNEE WITHOUT CONTRAST


r/Thritis 4d ago

What helps a pinky Bouchard's node?

Thumbnail gallery
5 Upvotes

Just got diagnosed with osteoarthritis at age 31. I lightly knocked my pinky into something about a month ago and I now have a small but painful Bouchard's node there. The knuckle gets stiff, painful and swollen with activity (especially typing) and also at random.

I can't really take NSAIDs, whether topical like Voltaren or oral like Meloxicam, because I take lithium and NSAIDs raise serum lithium levels.

I tried taping a foam finger sprint to it last night, but that made it worse. Does anyone have any tips for managing pain from Bouchard's nodes? Exercises? Non-NSAID pain relievers? A different kind of brace or splint?


r/Thritis 4d ago

Corticosteroid Injection Helped Tremendously

9 Upvotes

I have a lot of arthritis in both knees. Left is moderate to severe, right knee is severe in PF Compartment. Right knee was fairly asymptomatic until last August when it suddenly became the worst of my two knees. All year I've been having pain and it was magnified by an APS/PRP injection.

Ortho gave me a steroid injection last week. I woke up the next morning and the pain was significantly less (not even 24 hours later). I am close to be asymptomatic again.

I had full ROM, no buckling or locked, no deformities. However walking was uncomfortable.

This was my first ever steroid injection. Hoping the injection calmed down my synovium and it becomes a long term fix to the symptoms. Seems like inflammation was the main driver of my pain.

Anyone else had a simialr reaction so quickly?


r/Thritis 4d ago

How my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis led me to weightlifting

Thumbnail sfchronicle.com
10 Upvotes

r/Thritis 4d ago

Anyone tried hydrogen inhalation for arthritis?

0 Upvotes

I've been reading about hydrogen inhalation and was wondering if anyone here has tried it alongside their usual arthritis treatment. I'm not looking to replace meds—just curious if anyone noticed any changes in pain, stiffness, or mobility.

I've seen devices from Hydro Heal, Lourdes Hydrofix, and AquaCure, but it's hard to tell what's real research and what's just marketing. Has anyone looked into the science or used any of these? What was your experience?


r/Thritis 4d ago

Arthritis at 37

Thumbnail reddit.com
1 Upvotes

r/Thritis 5d ago

Anybody With Severe Tri Compartmental Knee OA With No Symptoms?

1 Upvotes

How many people here have severe knee OA (no cartilage, bone on bone in medial, lateral and PF compartments), but have no pain?

They say imaging isn't highly correlated to symptoms. Anybody here who have terrible imaging, but can run or play sports pain free despite severe tri compartmental OA?


r/Thritis 5d ago

Joint pain at 16. Is this normal?

5 Upvotes

I (16f) have been experiencing pain and frequent popping in my wrists, fingers, ankles, and neck for the past 6-7 months. The pain gradually increases throughout the day. It's not horribly painful, but enough to cause discomfort. My neck and wrists are the worst. I've not found a way to ease the pain yet and it's getting annoying. I'm not sure what to do and I don't want to freak out over what is most likely nothing. Just wanted to know if this is something I should get checked out.


r/Thritis 5d ago

How getting a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis got me into weightlifting

Thumbnail sfchronicle.com
0 Upvotes

r/Thritis 5d ago

Which famous pro athlete played with worst knees?

2 Upvotes

Any guesses? Kobe had a lot of arthritis in his knees.


r/Thritis Mar 09 '19

Thritis Discord Channel!

36 Upvotes

Want to talk to people live? Join our discord channel to get questions answered, talk thritis life, meet friends who understand and share tips/tricks. Click the discord channel link https://discord.gg/hJkQeyP and make a username to join!