Arthritis in Thumb Joints

[txgolfer45]

Sucks getting old.  I'm 63 and developed arthritis in the thumb joints at the base of the thumb.  Advil seems to help.  Need to start icing too, i think.  Doesn't hurt during the swing.  But, putting a glove on and taking it off does cause pain.  Other ideas to help with arthritis pain?

[FlyingAce]

I have arthritis in my hands ever since I was in my 20s. Now my finger joints swell/stiff up after every round of golf (but absolutely no pain while playing). I find resting is the best medicine. I also have a finger massager (from Amazon) that I use at night. It looks like a clamp with small rollers. Good luck!

[Patch]

42 minutes ago, txgolfer45 said:

Sucks getting old.  I'm 63 and developed arthritis in the thumb joints at the base of the thumb.  Advil seems to help.  Need to start icing too, i think.  Doesn't hurt during the swing.  But, putting a glove on and taking it off does cause pain.  Other ideas to help with arthritis pain?

I sometimes will squeeze a soft rubber ball to keep all my hand joints limber. Some folks might use that "silly putty" child's toy.

I know one guy I golf with who sqeezes a tennis ball. He has arthritis in both hands. He says it helps with the associated pain. 

I don't have arthritis (yet) but sometimes the tendons on my ring finger, on both hands will tighten up. Not really a cramping thing, they just won't bend. This happens more when using a heavy  hand tool, like a skilsaw, or hammer.. Not so much when I golf. That's why I squeeze the rubber ball. 

Obviously there are otc, and prescription drugs that can help with arthritic, and other aches, and pains that mess with one's golf game. 

Edited July 22, 2019 by Patch

[txgolfer45]

I've been taking Advil/ibuprofen.  I will talk to my Dr about other options as well.  I am in the gym 5 - 6 days a week.  Will start using that squeeze ball that is sitting on my desk at work too.

[dennyjones]

I woke up today with arthritis pain in both thumbs.   After the morning work, the pain has subsided but hopefully it is a infrequent event!  I don't want to take any more med than absolutely necessary. 

[DrMJG]

I understand the glove discomforts; as to keep all my fingers happy, I now use gloves on both hands. As well, I do not take the gloves off when I play. 

My choice of gloves took some experimenting..

I use the Zero Friction brand as they end up adjusting to my needs the best.  

I have also used Bionic.  Bionic was easier to put on as I used a size made for my hand.  One version they have is somewhat touted as good for hand problems.  They are really good and many courses have at least one version available

The Zero Friction come is one size fits all and adapts to the size of the hand; and, it tends to keep the fingers still.  It is, after it is on, feeling as if it is not there because it adjusts to me. They are not carried b some ranges/courses, but are available on line in many colors! Zero Friction, as a bonus to me, are more reasonable in cost.

I take aspirin before the round and after.  I use a ball to squeeze on days I don't play.

Best to you!

[MarvChamp]

On 7/22/2019 at 11:28 AM, txgolfer45 said:

I've been taking Advil/ibuprofen.  I will talk to my Dr about other options as well.  I am in the gym 5 - 6 days a week.  Will start using that squeeze ball that is sitting on my desk at work too.

GREAT ADVICE FROM EVERYONE! I have RA. My hands are kind of gnarly, with swollen joints, knots on joints, etc. I have had to go to a higher level of pain management. I see an ortho/hand specialist. INFREQUENT injections really help. Also a Rheumatologist. I take two meds to slow down the progression. One, Meloxicam, is a heavy duty Ibuprophen that really works.

Plus as @DrMJGsaid, two gloves. I have used the Bionic and then just regular gloves as the treatments began to work. Low impact exercises like aerobics in a pool are good.

FINALLY MY BEST ADVICE...Don't play around with osteo or rheumatoid arthritis if it is starting to affect your life.. It is progressive and can be crippling (esp in hands, knees, rotator cuffs). See a specialist if at all possible. I think doctors on the site will confirm this.

Sorry for the rant...I spent from October 2017 to May 2018 seeing doctors and in physical therapy with this stuff. (But I leave Tuesday for Michigan to attend my military unit reunion and will play 2 rounds of golf. YAY!)

Best, -Marv

 

[Bonvivant]

On 7/22/2019 at 11:33 AM, txgolfer45 said:

Sucks getting old.  I'm 63 and developed arthritis in the thumb joints at the base of the thumb.  Advil seems to help.  Need to start icing too, i think.  Doesn't hurt during the swing.  But, putting a glove on and taking it off does cause pain.  Other ideas to help with arthritis pain?

Have you tried not using a glove? I know that isn't the question you asked, but it was the only problem you were stating. I've never been a fan of gloves and I really don't see why they are needed at all. If you can swing all day without taking off/putting on a glove, then just skip it altogether I say.

[Wm94109]

From old injuries I have osteoarthritis in my hands, neck and knees. I use half gloves on both hands and knee braces.  I do not remove the gloves or braces during golf. 

I am happy to get old as some of my friends never made it to retirement. Take care and enjoy. 

[Sandy Divot]

I switched to graphite shafts, and it has made a huge difference.

[MrLee]

I have had to deal with arthritis in my hands for 15 years, now age 69.

I had base thumb joint surgery on one hand 12 years ago, Trapeziectomy.  They remove the bone at the base and replace it with part of a tendon taken from the forearm.  It was about 2 months before I could attempt to swing a golf club, a month or two longer to actually play,  and it took a year to regain full strength in the arm.  But I have not had a problem with it since.

I am now developing the same problem with the other thumb.  I am hoping it won't require surgery, but experience tells me it is likely.

Otherwise, I have used Aleve as my primary pain reliever. I also wear a brace designed to protect the thumb joint when I play, it allows me to play without additional pain.  I use mostly Winn grips, I find they are very soft, Lamkin used to make a grip that was a little firmer but not too bad, the 3Gen, but it is out of production.  I hear the Golf Pride CP2 is good but I haven't tried it, but you should use a softer, larger, and easier to hold grip than a standard rubber grip.  I also switched to lighter shafts in my clubs.

I have other joints in my fingers that are bothersome, but doing just about anything with hands is difficult without a healthy thumb. Good luck with yours, I am trying to last a few more years before I am put out to pasture.

[Miss Birdie]

I have arthritis in my hands, not specific to the thumbs but that's probably where I notice it the most. I've always played standard size grips but I ordered mid-size grips on my most recent set of clubs and it seems to help, especially with after round pain.

[DrvFrShow]

Winn Dri-Tac grips are great for arthritic hands.

[Fuddalan]

Arthritis, especially in the hands is the bane of golfers. We tend to think of osteoarthritis as being due to wear and tear, but in my experience any degeneration and wear is another symptom. There are many cultures around the world that do highly physical work all yheir lives but experience little to no arthritis.

I believe, and my research suggests, that arthritis is inflammatory based. Not inflammation from a localised impact injury, but general low level whole body inflammation. It's what you put in your gob daily that can have the biggest impact on this inflammation - for good or for ill. If your diet is highly acid (that's after the food has digesred,not before) then you willl produce lots of inflammation.

The solution is to educate yourself and pump a lot of alkaline forming foods in to the mix. No you don't have to cut out any of the good stuff, just have portion control and eat the alkaline stuff.

Medication, grips, gloves, shafts etc etc. are all compensating and covering up. I know. I tried them all. But now I'm 90+% arthritis free and enjoying my golf immensely. Happy golfing all.

P.S. If you have Rhuematoid Arthritis its a little trickier as its an auotimmune disorder. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, but it is a journey, in that RA reponds favorably to extended juice fasting. The documentary Fat Sick and Nearly Dead demonstrates how auto immune disorders respond to fasting. Good Luck.