wondering

[darkoshi]

If I'm sometimes having trouble bending my fingers far inwards enough to make a fist, is there anything *else* it could be, besides arthritis?

Comments

[marahmarie]

That was me, btw (working over CSS in other browser while logged-out).

[darkoshi]

From the little I've read, there's still no real meds for fixing the root cause of RA (whatever is causing the inflammation), only for reducing the inflammation. Does that match with what you know?

My mom has had pain in her thumb joints for decades; it's not as bad now as it used to be. But she doesn't remember experiencing the finger stiffness like I'm having now.

I am experimenting with my food intake, on the basis that something I'm eating is causing the inflammation. A couple of things I read suggested that going on a fast may help, so I may try that too.

[marahmarie]

Does that match with what you know?

Not really but with that said, it's a very complicated subject, so you may want to start here: https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis-medications#1

I was surprised to learn on that page that RA can sometimes spontaneously go into remission. My mom's didn't; it was lifelong for her once she got it (early 40s onset, if I recall correctly) and the kind that eventually twists the joints, but just in her hands, as far as I know or that we knew.

As far as food goes, I blame sugar for everything, so that would be my first cut if I was looking to improve literally anything that felt wrong - but that's just me.

[darkoshi]

Thanks for the link.
("Tofacitinib" - that's one of the worst medicine names I've come across; I wonder how they came up with that name!)

Sugar is actually the first thing I've been cutting out. Next will be wheat/gluten or a fast.