I'm 21, I have arthritic symptoms in both my hands, right now it's mildly painful and more annoying than anything else, although I occasionaly develop swelling on the back of my hand playing Foosball. If I don't do anything I expect I'll have claws by the time I'm 50, if not sooner. What can I start doing now to prevent it from getting worse (or even better, get rid of it)?

hi....My fingers started developing nodes on the joint by the
fingernail and also the joint in the mid finger section. They,
or shall I say, mine are the results of hereditary, a predisposition on my mother's side and osteoarthritis. They
are calicum deposits and there really is not much that can be
done to prevent them. I am 61 now and just make the best
of it. My hands are not quite claws, but they surely are not
the hands I had when i was younger. Pain goes in spells and
sometimes there is no pain for a long time and then there will
be a growth spurt and the pain starts. Let me know if you find
out anything I do not know Thanks....Karen

Hi Migo,

There are things that you can do to prevent your hands from becoming claws (at least most people can). You need to go to a rheumatologist and have blood tests and just let the dr. feel and look at your hands. You need to make the appt. soon, as it sometimes take 2 mo. to get one.

Karen and I may not be talking about the same kind of arthritis. I am talking about RA. The meds I take are supposed to keep my hands from forming into claws and not being able to move them. They move pretty well right now - just hurt/ache really bad.

Hope you get some help.

Wannabe

hi tobefreetoroam.......you are probably talking about what
the young lady is experencing since I have big nodes on the
sides of my knuckles and on top of some of the fingers and
mine was osteoarthritis and for that, they offer you nothing.
I have one finger that points in one direction and one in another.....you have to laugh after awhile!!!!!!Karen

Hi Karen,

I cant believe that they have nothing to give you to stop the growth of your nodes!!! Can you bend your fingers any at all? Can you use them to work and do things with at home?

I know what you mean. If you do not laugh, you would cry! And laughing is much better! :>

Take care.

Wammabe