Hi everyone,
I have been dealing with some pain (off and on all day) and stiffness in my middle finger (Right hand). Before this and still, I have numbing in my (right) thumb and forefinger. Any ideas what it might be?
Hi Sherri. Is your thumb and forefinger the same colour as the rest of your hand? Only asking because I suffer from Raynaud's and sometimes get the same symptoms
I have no discoloration.
Hi Sherri
I have recently started getting pain in my finger.....ring finger of my right hand.
I havent had it checked because I assume its my arthritis spreading a bit.
This is the first small joint it has attacked.
The rest is my hips, back, ankle, and neck.
I was told yesterday {havent tried it yet} that to buy some root ginger, chop it into little pieces and use one piece and rub it on the finger and also use it as a tea.
Keep ther rest of it in a paper bag in the fridge
Love
Eileen UK
My hands are probably the least problems of the body wide OA...I use a lot of topicals and why not get some for your hands and or rubbing oils.....My mom was always opening and closing her hands and I find I do the same.....I was told over 30 yrs ago I had OA in my thumb and it's only gotten worse, but not a real pain issue....I deal with it....I deal with it all.... I was thinking back then of becoming a massage therapist but that thumb changed my thoughts...I have good strong hands basically and my friends love when I massage their shoulders.....anyway, there is help to be had and done. Joy 76 US
PS: keep the hands warm, my daughter bought me a hand heating pad a couple yrs ago and I use it when it gets colder here.....
Now that you mention it, unconsciously I open and close my hand also. I hadn't thought of it before but when I do this it is because they feel stiff with no pain. Maybe this was the beginning of it and I paid it no mind.
Keep doing, concentrate on the fingers that are worse too, doing nothing is not the best. J
Thank you Eileen I will try that. 💚
Hi Eileen. I've recently started to use ginger, both orally as an anti-inflammatory and was also recommended to use it topically as a treatment for hair loss, which I've suffered as a result of a severe allergic reaction to taking SSRIs. It has really well documented evidence as a natural anti inflammatory. If you dont mind the flavour, try steeping some in boiling water, adding lemon juice and a little sweetener (preferably honey) and drinking it like herbal tea. Some indian friends of mine swear by it.
Hi Loxie
Up until now the nearest I've got to ginger tea is a herbal tea bag
Using it topically was the way it was suggesteed for my finger.....all the rest of OA etc is in big joints.
My husband bought some stem ginger yesterday apopped out today.
I decided to try it.......But where has he hidden it
So still havent used it topically
Thanks for the information
Love
Eileen UK
Hi Eileen. I personally find the taste of ginger disgusting 
but I'm determined to at least give it a try, might have to have a glass of wine to hand to glug down straight after hehe. By the way fresh ginger is best, not ground or stem ginger. I was told that when you apply it to the skin, it stimulates circulation, which is good for both my hair issue and my arthritis pain. I blitz mine in the blender and mix it with some nice body oil, so I get moisturised at the same time. I was warned it bleaches hair but I'm white blonde anyhow (hmmm make that little old lady grey) so it doesn't make much difference to my hair. I think you can also buy transdermal ginger patches but I haven't found any yet. The fresh root stuff is so cheap I'll stick with that for the moment and see how it goes. Hope it works for you.
Hi Loxie
I dont mind the taste of ginger mixed with things, in food etc.
I can use ginger teabags {with 2 sweetex} I know thats not as good but its better than not trying it!!!
How do you plan to take it that it tastes so bad.......and you need your wine What is the difference in stem and fresh ginger? I've root ginger??? Got plenty of ground in the house for cooking but wouldnt use that.
That sounds a good way to apply it to your skin. I've just used it on my finger, a little bit chopped off {the ginger...not my finger} and rubbed it on. It did help temporarily .......I will look it up {google}
My back and hips have arthritis as well.
Let me know if you find the patches ........I'll give it another try and see what happens.....thats for the updates. I need all the help I can get about this.
Love
Eileen UK
Hi Eileen. Ginger teabags are good too, as theyre usually made from fresh ginger infused and dried. The 'fresh ginger' i'm referring to is the root. Stem ginger is the upper part of the plant and is usually preserved in sugar etc. This part is not as effective as the root. Powdered ginger has very little beneficial effect due to the process used to roast and grind it.
The fresh root is so cheap to buy, I get it from a local asian store in large quantities for cooking anyhow. Just really gag at the flavour of it neat, eg in ginger cake or infusions. I'll stick lots of lemon juice in it, swallow quickly and grab the wine bottle if needed *grin*. For my hair, I've just stuck the chopped up root, not even bothered to peel it, in a blender with a little water and then sieve it through kitchen paper into a jar which I keep in the fridge, then each night I pour some onto my hair and massage it. Sometimes I'll rinse it off, other times I'll just towel dry it and shower it off in the morning. It smells quite nice on the hair so it's not a problem leaving it on, guess it would be an issue if you have dark hair as it naturally lightens hair.
Rubbing it directly onto the skin is probably excellent but for larger areas, ie back and hips (I have OA in ankle and thumb joints), mixing it with body lotion or oil is probably easier to spread around effectively. I'm sure as long as the ginger is getting applied to the skin, it doesnt really matter what you use to spread it with. The greeks use olive oil, the indians use Neem or in the south and sri lanka, coconut oil (which is also excellent for hair growth). You might try Argan oil, which has excellent moisturising properties and anti-oxidants. I'm guessing you could mix it with any oil used for body rubbing, even adding some essential oil, choosing one that's also good for inflammation, like
Cypress, JuniperBerry, Grapefruit or Frankincense (I read about a study at Cardiff University, where scientists have been examining the potential benefits of frankincense to help relieve and alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. They found that frankincense inhibits the production of key inflammatory molecules which helps prevent the breakdown of the cartilage tissue which causes the condition; I have no cartilage left in my ankle, so probably a case of 'shutting the gate after the horse has bolted' for that location but would help my thumb joints where the problem has only just got unmanageable stage, also peppermint oil, which has a cooling effect, perfect for the finger and thumb joints as ice packs work well in these areas.
Sorry about rambling on, I've become quite nerdy about the subject trying to find things to help my constant pain without killing myself on harmful drugs etc.
Hi Sherri
Thanks for all that information. I have an Arthritis Care Volunteers meeting today from 10am until about 4pm 
So wont get much chance to think about it today......but all the things are there.....oil and root ginger so I'll re read the post when I come home and digest it Its just 7am and I better get ready now
Its great to have all that information thanks
The most I'll be able to do today is take paracetamol or codeine when I'm at the meeting and get up and walk around if I feel stiff.
Hear you later
Love
Eileen UK
Ok, enjoy your day😜 Woke up with hand swollen and stiff. This is new. Hand exercises are really painful. Sucks to be me today.
aww so sorry. Try soaking your hand in a bowl of warm water. It really helps.