Wax for osteoarthritis relief?

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a professional saxophonist. Music is both my vocation and my avocation so you can understand how disturbed I am by the onset of osteoarthritis in my hands. I’ve been advised to use hot paraffin baths to ward off this condition; however, no one seems able to tell me for how long or how often. The arthritis is clearly getting worse. It now affects more of my fingers and a wider area than before.

Can you please advise specifically how to use the paraffin bath and any other preventive measures of which you are aware? By the way, I am a male, 66 years old, in excellent health. I exercise every day and eat sensibly.

DEAR READER: Paraffin works to soothe dry skin and painful joints by warming and hydrating the [Read more...]

Arthritic fingers can be painful

DEAR DR. GOTT: My doctor X-rayed my hands and said I have osteo in them. They get stiff and ache. What should I take for it and what should I not eat? Thank you for your help.

DEAR READER: I assume you are referring to osteoarthritis, not osteoporosis because of your claim that your hands are stiff.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joints that results from a breakdown of cartilage. Symptoms include pain and stiffness of the affected joints. The condition is commonly associated with aging. As such, it is seen more in older people than in younger ones.

Healthy cartilage is smooth, elastic and flexible, allowing for easy movement. When osteoarthritis occurs, the surface of the cartilage softens, becomes pitted, frayed and/or cracked. [Read more...]

Acupuncture eases carpal tunnel syndrome

DEAR DR. GOTT: You recently answered a letter on carpal tunnel syndrome. I am a 74-year-old woman who has had tremendous relief from acupuncture for about 12 years. Back then, I had six treatments, and, until recently, I have had few symptoms. Now, owing to overuse of my hands by gardening, cooking, using the computer, etc., I am starting to have trouble again. Still, I do not awaken in the night and have to get up and shake my hands as I once did. Have you other input on this?

DEAR READER: The carpal tunnel is literally a passageway on each palm side of the wrist that protects the main nerve to the hand and accompanying tendons responsible for allowing the fingers to bend. The syndrome occurs when pressure is placed on the median nerve, causing pain, tingling, numbness and eventual weakness of the affected hand. [Read more...]

Carpal-tunnel treatment

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 64-year-old female with carpal-tunnel syndrome in my right hand. I wear a wrist splint when I go to bed. For many years, it hasn’t been too much of a nuisance, but over the past few months, about once every seven to 10 days, I have an episode of painful numbness that takes more than a half-hour to go away. The incidents happen at night while I am sleeping. I have to get out of bed and try to shake the numbness away. I have also tried running hot water from the faucet over my hands, but it still takes a long time to subside.

I do have numbness in my hand during the day, but it is not as intense. It occurs when I apply my makeup, style my hair, write, drive and a few times it has happened while playing tennis. Is there anything short of surgery that can be done? [Read more...]