I was tempted to title the blog Stiff Little Fingers. This would be accurate as far as my arthritis goes, but might raise false hopes in the hearts of ageing punks. I added the link as it’s one of those words that can cause confusion when written by an Englishman and read by an American.
What happened to suggest the title was that I went to bed last night, slept reasonably well and woke up with a little finger that wouldn’t bend. It’s ached for years, and often seems rather cold compared to the other fingers on that hand, but so does the little finger on my other hand.
I now have a ring finger on the right hand that is arthritic and a little finger on the left hand that looks like it’s starting to go.
It freed up while I was at work (sorting junk postcards this morning) though it returned in the afternoon when I drove to Grantham (I only did a half day in the shop today).
So, it started with one finger (I would link to that post but can’t even hazard a guess where it is), moved on to a knee and is now colonising another finger. At this rate I have about twenty years before all my fingers are useless. (Though if my calculations are accurate I will spend my late 70s only able to type slowly and operate doorbells).
As I’ve said before, I’d have taken more care of my body if I’d realised how long I was going to need it.
You have put your finger on a crucial problem here especially in the last sentence. I am very interested in what you say because (a) I think blogging is such a healthy activity for us older people, mentally, emotionally and socially and (b) because physical problems can make blogging hard. On my blog, a link to the Older Bloggers’ Survey, which you and your readers would enjoy doing, I think.
Done it! 🙂
Great! It’s all happening.
🙂
Hope you get some relief soon, Quercus. Some here swear by gin soaked raisins for arthritis.
🙂 If it’s for medical reasons I’ll happily give it a go!
Here’s the reference! 🙂
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2015/10/01/how-do-you-make-gin-soaked-raisins/
Looks like a lot of people benefit from them – I will revisit the link tonight when I am able to put the sound on. Thanks for that. 🙂
That title could be a punk song.
I’ve left it a bit late but I’ll contemplate on the idea of being a pensionable punk icon. 🙂
Have you seen Nick Lowe lately?
I just looked him up – I see what you mean. 🙂
😉
I’ve had the injections too and was grateful so perhaps another go would be worthwhile. Have tried wiggling it or is that too painful?
It freed up after some coin sorting and now I can hardly feel it, so I suspect wiggling it is the way to go. If it becomes a regular feature of my mornings I will go to the doctor, despite the trouble that always gets me into. 🙂
As if you didn’t have enough to contend with.
It gets worse…
I threw my stick in the back of the car tonight, the handle caught on the edge of the door opening, the whole thing flipped and the ferrule gave me a sharp tap somewhere that brought tears to my eyes.
You know it’s a bad day when your walking stick kicks you in the nuts!
I know I shouldn’t laugh – but I did, oh boy, I did.
Even I saw the funny side of it, eventually. 🙂
Serious advice here! I left my left hand too long and the people at QMC have only managed a partial cure. The right hand they have cured. My problem was carpal tunnel syndrome which I mistook for arthritis/ old age. It’s worth a visit to the GP at least. The operation is local anaesthetic and lasts six minutes. They time a tourniquet with a stopwatch.
I’m trying to keep out of the way of the doctor at the moment, but will take your advice if it persists.
Hmmm… Maybe there is some kind of exercises you can do.
Good idea, I’ll have to look into it.
My commiserations 🙂 Is it rheumatoid, osteo or a different type of arthritis? There’s not much they can do for osteo except anti-inflammatories and pain-killers but there might be help for you if you have some other type.
I’m not sure – when it was treated a couple of years ago they gave me an injection in the joint and we left it at that. This might be time to go back and check.
Cortisone injections are wonderful!
I didn’t actually enjoy it at the time but it did work well. 🙂
They aren’t pleasant. I often think they feel like I’m being hit with a hammer, but the relief afterwards is so good!
You really know how to sell the idea! 🙂
😀
Oh, gosh! Can’t like this. Hope you find something to relieve the pain.
The pain wasn’t that bad, fortunately, just a bit in the morning and again in the afternoon. I’m upping the turmeric from two to four capsules a day.