Non VSG to the Older Crowd: Any thought on OsteoArthritis?

Good morning fellow sleeve buddies.  I was wondering if any of you battle osteoarthritis?  I started this whole weight loss process largely in order to save my knees.  I have arthritis and was told I needed b/l knee replacements.  If any of you have this, you know how debilitating it gets.  Anyway, the weight loss really helped and I'm pretty sure I'll get a few more years out of these knees.  Problem is, now the arthritis is in the base of my thumbs.  Can't lose weight for that.  It's hard to do things like turn door nobs, start IV's, attach electrodes, etc.  I went to the Rothman Institute (big time medicine in my area), and got the old thumb joints loaded up with steroids and lidocaine.  They told me my joints at the base of both thumbs are bone on bone now.  Hopefully the steroids will help for a while, cause I support my grandchildren and cannot retire yet.  Sorry to be so long winded!  Anyway, my question is, have any of you explored homeopathic routes to slow or relieve osteoarthritis?  I am an anti drug type person and really have no intention of taking the killer meds the doctors pump out.
Any ideas?????  Love you all!

Have you tried glucosamine/chondroitin?

There's mixed out there about whether it does anything, but it certainly doesn't do any harm, so it's worth a shot. If you do decide to try it, make sure it's glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate.

My dad was doing Viscosupplementation for his knees for a while before he had to do replacements (he is SMO...and a major reason why I decided to get surgery as I didn't want a double knee replacement).

and I don't know if acupuncture would help. Maybe more for the knees than the hands?

My best friend is a Natureopathic doctor.  She is currently treating my sister for OI and RA (rheumatoid arthritis).  I can't remember all the things she has her doing, but I know she has her on a diet that eliminates foods that are inflammation makers.  Those foods are nightshades and wheat.  I have to think about what else she has her doing.  I'll call her later and ask, then post what I hear.  If you google nightshades and arthritis, and wheat and arthritis you will find the connection between those foods and arthritis. 

Thanks, I've never even heard the term "Nightshades"  I'll have to google it

I meant "OA" not OI.  OA, being osteoarthritis......sorry about the typo, I hope you knew that my sister is being treated for "OA"

Nightshades are:

• Potatoes (but not sweet potatoes)
• Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• Sweet & hot peppers
• Ground cherries (a small orange fruit somewhat similar to a tomato)
• Goji berries

Also Google the omega 3's versus the omega 6's.  I read up on them the other day and the omega 6's are inflammation enhancers and the omega 3's are anti-inflammation.  Interesting.  Maybe can help with your inflammatory response.  Good luck!

Hi Marie;
I have this issue too in my right thumb and wrist big time. And I am a ceramic artist so I need my hands to work. Plus have other hand issues. So I am very interested in this topic. My hand doctor has given me cortisone shots in that joint a couple of times and they really do provide relief but it only lasts a couple of months and they can't give shots that often and there are limits.  I do dip my hands in hot parafin for comfort and it feels great but its not a long term treatment. You can get a Hometics parafin spa for about $30 at Bed Bath and beyond.

I too have wondered about alternative treatments and am considering acupuncture. Some people report it helps a lot for such stuff. It will be awhile before I go there as I need some other treatment for Dupuytren's disease in my hands that causes scarring and need to do that first.

Right now its mainly my right hand and wrist but I get a little hip pain sometimes. I plan to see the rhumetologist one of these days about more cortisone but I know that will be a limited option but maybe she has other stuff. I see a Certified hand therapist who has helped me with my other issues and I may see what she says about this stuff as she has it too. I have a special thumb brace to help give support though it is sort of cumbersome for art work and I don't use it much.

So I will be curious to see what you find. And I will report if I find anything that helps the thumb thing. Its in the lower thumb and wrist joints. Sometimes i can feel stuff sort of crackling around in there. I know a woman (a doctor) who just had surgery on that joint a couple of months ago. Last I heard it was slow recovery.

Diane

Yes acupuncture! Find a good one that knows Chinese medicine. I rely on that. But I have to say I have different results from different acupuncturists. And yes you will need more than one treatment but find a good acupuncturist.

I had suggested acupuncture because it was one of the only things that helped my migraines. There are limited studies out there with OA, but it's not invasive and doesn't hurt, so it's worth a shot. I'm even using acupuncture for my dachshund's degenerative disc disease. and it's done wonders for him as well. :)

But yes, find a good one that also does Chinese herbs if you can. The combo seems to be the best.