Osteoarthritis in hands

Greetings people of MP

Ive recently been experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis in my hands. Specifically in all of the DIP joints in my fingers. The bones at those joints have grown to the point where they are permanently bulged. This is known as Heberdens Nodes and tend to hurt more than they used to. I recently visited a doctor which offered the advice of "just work on keeping your fingers strong and it could delay any more bone growth" but I fear that crimps have been the reason for the speedy arrival at these symptoms ( im 36 )

I am just wondering if anyone out there experiences the same thing and would be down to share their experience and ways you deal with it to still climb your strongest and continue to push yourself.

 My biggest fear here is that I will no longer be able to climb demanding routes, or go for long days of multi-pitching without totally flaring up these symptoms. I took a 1 month sabbatical from climbing, dosed up on anti-inflammatories, iced and heated the area to see if it would help reduce the inflammation, but no luck 

What exercises, warm ups, stretches, recoveries etc, etc, can I do to make sure that I am taking the best care of these joints? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. 

I am 47, have been climbing heavily about 5 years now, and have started having arthritis in my hands, such that the next few days I can't sleep due to the pain. I've started taking glucosamine, but it's too early to tell if this is actually helping.

Good luck!

I probably have Bouchard’s nodes (basically the same thing at the PIP joint) in several fingers as well as many ganglian cysts. I’m 42.  
I have had some success by keeping my volume on small holds lower, avoid excess repetition and REALLY avoid dry-fires. Cross loading my knuckles can also light them up.  So hard crimps and finger locks are kind of dangerous.  I’m doing harder finger locks and crimps than ever before, I just have to warm up my fingers more carefully and call off a session when I feel significant swelling or pain.
Personally, I have also found that gripping ropes aggravates my knuckles. Ascending ropes and belaying top ropes can really inflame my fingers. Using a hand ascender helps enough that sometimes I even lead with one so I can pull up after a fall without directly gripping the rope.
Doing all that has helped me.  Last year my fingers were a real problem and I could barely climb.  Now I’m climbing harder than ever.  

It’s a great excuse to quit drinking if you haven’t already.

mbk wrote:

It’s a great excuse to quit drinking if you haven’t already.

100% agree.  Avoiding inflammatory foods and mild allergens has helped me as well.

I have documented osteoarthritis (and bone-on-bone) in my cervical spine, lumber spine, knees and hands and have had this for 30 years.  My hands look like the google image pictures for Heberdens Nodes.  And yet I only very rarely have the pain that is associated with active inflammation. Flareups are typically mild and easily controlled.  For flareups, I typically use topicals like Voltaren or CBD cream, and sometimes oral NSAIDs. Ice is a great tool as well.  

So the existence of the bony growth that you are seeing is not inevitably correlated with pain and dysfunction.

I used to have far worse and more frequent symptoms many years ago.  In the years between I have become very careful to have a very low inflammation diet. There have been numerous clinical and epidemiological studies showing the benefit of this diet on pain control of both osteo and rheumatoid conditions.  It's very easy to find descriptions of this diet online, on foods to avoid. I have low alcohol consumption.  I take a lot of supplements with anti-inflammatory properties like CBD, fish oil, etc. Good luck.

Wish my hands were like your's Phyl.  Unfortunately, I can't climb anymore due to my arthritic hands. . . boo hoo. . . 

Steve Williams wrote:

Wish my hands were like your's Phyl.  Unfortunately, I can't climb anymore due to my arthritic hands. . . boo hoo. . . 

Oh Steve, my friend :-(

Thanks everyone for your input. I am definitely going to examine my diet and make sure to avoid anything that causes inflammation as well as adding foods that can reduce it. I dont drink anyway so Im off to a good start. Been back on the wall the last few days and have been feeling okay. Ive actually been trying the CBD topical stuff and it actually helps. Climbing will just be business as usual. Im not gonna let it get to me but stay vigilant and listen to my body. 

These are the supplements I use for anti-inflammatory and joint support. The Physivantage I got turned onto in the “protein” thread I think. I used to just mix unflavored gelatin with juice but this comes in flavors so my husband prefers it. Plus Alex Megos is a fan!  The Cosamin brand I like because it’s hplc purified and I have shellfish allergies (people with shellfish allergies can have reactions to many products sourced from shells).  Turmeric is great but can have absorption issues. Hence the formulation with bioperine.  The CBD products can vary widely. My ortho MD “prescribed” the brand I use. It’s formulated locally. My sister had to try products from a couple of different shops before she found a product local to her that helped. (She’s allergic to NSAIDs so she can’t use the Voltaren.  )

As to oral drugs, Different people tolerate different Rx and OTCs differently. Some of the OTC products like Motrin can tear up your stomach. My back doc tried 1-2  products with me before the Voltaren (diclofenac), which really works well for me. I’ve been using it for decades now. I use the oral products sparingly, they all have side effects with long term use. Fortunately the Voltaren gel has been OTC for quite a while now and that is great for hands. ( I use it on my knees and shoulders as needed).

I've been climbing since ~13/14 and nearly stopped at 45 due to inflammation. I don't have arthrities (yet ?!), though if I climb a lot as I once did, I cannot close my hand to make a fist. I don't think glucosamine or others do anything. A Meloxicam or mobic once in a long while usually at least the day or after to address inflammation.

• the body has a natural anti-inflammation response, provided you eat well and enjoy alcohol once in a while. I enjoy a Radler some days in the summer.
• massive volume of OTC anti-inflammatories will create a stomach ulcer, this isn't a medical review thing but was once a heralded place for banter like rockclimbing.com
• knowing your genes and family history is the best bet, play well in the guidelines of how your family aged.

Anthony Altemara wrote:

I am 47, have been climbing heavily about 5 years now, and have started having arthritis in my hands, such that the next few days I can't sleep due to the pain. I've started taking glucosamine, but it's too early to tell if this is actually helping.

Good luck!

Let me know how the glucosamine works out. I hear so many mixed opinions about it but im curious to try 

I have had OA for over 20 years and have a lot of experience both personally and professionally. I posted in this thread trying to help but it got taken down. My only guess is because I posted a link to my very affordable course on how to naturally improve OA through lifestyle changes...I even offered a discount just because I feel compelled to help other climbers. It's ok to post a stack of supplements that someone will have to buy though. Along with everything else that gets sold on this forum and links to giant corporations selling outdoor gear. Wow, MP. 

Is this allowed?...I have a YouTube channel @nurseguidedwellness. Lots of videos on osteoarthritis there. 

Valerie A B wrote:

I have had OA for over 20 years and have a lot of experience both personally and professionally. I posted in this thread trying to help but it got taken down. My only guess is because I posted a link to my very affordable course on how to naturally improve OA through lifestyle changes...I even offered a discount just because I feel compelled to help other climbers. It's ok to post a stack of supplements that someone will have to buy though. Along with everything else that gets sold on this forum and links to giant corporations selling outdoor gear. Wow, MP. 

Is this allowed?...I have a YouTube channel @nurseguidedwellness. Lots of videos on osteoarthritis there. 

I guess I never got a chance to see it before it was removed for whatever reason. I really appreciate the resources and hope to pick your brain a bit.  

B Y wrote:

I guess I never got a chance to see it before it was removed for whatever reason. I really appreciate the resources and hope to pick your brain a bit.  

Look on my channel for the playlist: Joint Health. They are all under there. My most recent one I am trying to reach a broader audience. And I am right now scripting a video for anti-inflammatory diet.

You are welcome to pick away.

B Y wrote:

Let me know how the glucosamine works out. I hear so many mixed opinions about it but im curious to try 

I took glucosamine for about a year.  I could not identify any distinct benefit or improvement, so I stopped.  

Valerie A B wrote:

I have had OA for over 20 years and have a lot of experience both personally and professionally. I posted in this thread trying to help but it got taken down. My only guess is because I posted a link to my very affordable course on how to naturally improve OA through lifestyle changes...I even offered a discount just because I feel compelled to help other climbers. It's ok to post a stack of supplements that someone will have to buy though. Along with everything else that gets sold on this forum and links to giant corporations selling outdoor gear. Wow, MP. 

Is this allowed?...I have a YouTube channel @nurseguidedwellness. Lots of videos on osteoarthritis there. 

Wow that is too bad. That was a good post and I thought your course sounded like a good resource. 

I'm aged 67, I get arthritis pain in the hands and most joints (wrists, elbows, knees, ankles).  This and other inflammation. I beat it with diet and supplements.  I only get the inflammation when I cheat and eat bad stuff.

Bottom line:  No processed sugar.  No processed seed oils. (just avocado oil, olive oil, the real kind). No alcoholic beverages of any kind for 7 years now. Eat good protein, meat, eggs.  Plenty of vegetables.  only fresh fruit.  Avoid wheat.

Not what you want to hear but it works.  I still climb.  Do hard work, etc.