NOS88

I did a quick search, but didn't come up with anything (could be I don't use the search function properly). I've been diagnosed with moderate to severe osteoarthritis in my index fingers of both hands and moderate in all other fingers. The index fingers are both pretty deformed at this point. And the pain has become somewhat problematic, in that, I find it difficult to apply much pressure on the brake levers. In any event, my primary physician has referred me to a hand surgeon. A cursory review of online information leads me to wonder what possible benefit there may be to see this specialist. So, I'm not seeking medical advice. Rather, I'm interested in the experience of others who may have similar situations/conditions.

The mild rant: While much of my career has been in the field of social gerontology, I still find parts of this getting older stuff a pain in the a$$. I guess it's time to face reality and sell off the guitars. I haven't been able to play in about 2 years. Oh! The bright spot is that maybe I'll get enough for them to buy a new ride.

DX-MAN

Going through it yourself really personalizes things, doesn't it? I'm there, too. No diagnosis for the thumbs, but they sure act up! Oddly, shifting (which you would think would stress the joint more) has no effect; but just having hands on the bar aches significantly. No hand deformation as of now, either.

My biggest issue is the (R) shoulder, the joint is seriously degenerated; I can rotate the joint and make it sound like cellophane...!

HAMMER MAN

i have RA & osteoarthrits in my hands as well as other joints. i have the same issue as well as with shifting my sram force and ultegra components on either bike. I actually try and use the palm of my hands for braking and my 3rd & 4th fingers for shifting. dosent always work all of the time on percise shifts and the braking but i just try and do the best i can. i had surgery on my little fingers due to growths on the inside + trigger finger and personally i believe it made it worse as they hurt more now than before.. I am on an assortement of Dimards for RA and i also use Etolac which helps as wells. Riding has becomeharder due tothe joint issues,however i also believes it helps

Nightshade

There has been some good luck with hand pain with compression therapy gloves that fit very snugly.

Dudelsack 

No advise to be offered here, but everyone agrees about the getting older can be a PITA sentiment.

Stuff like this isn't fair, to be sure.

The irony for me is once I shattered a finger while MTBing. My hand surgeon had terribly deforming OA of his hands. And his hobby was playing the violin!

Other than one minimally deformed DIP, my hands are fine, and for that I am very grateful. A great deal of stuff like this is genetic. I should be more thankful for my heritage than I am.

Anyway, best of luck.

HillRiderEast

I have arthritis at the base of my thumb. Told that surgery is last resort. I find using compression gloves afterwards helps. I would like to get a parrafin bath device to dip my hands as well.

CHAS

Sell the guitars, buy harmonicas. Harmonicas don't require such nimble fingers.

Have damaged my hands so much that they can no longer take a DF bike, have been riding recumbents. It took two months for my hands to recover from a metric century. I took pains to avoid the problem to no avail.

TiHabanero

My wife has the same ailment. Her doc sent her to a specialist, but before she went I told her he will tell her everything she has already heard from her doctor. Then he will tell her about surgery.

Sure as there is sunshine that is exactly what happened.

Not much you can do about it other than suffer.

DnvrFox

Ditto for my wife - a lot of deformity of all fingers. Fortunately she has no pain, and is resisting surgery, as am I for her. She has simply had too much stuff the past 10 years, and can't stand one more procedure. Her doc says "keep movinig, keep moving."

However, she can handle shifting with grip shifter and brakes just fine - which amazes me. I am very fortunate as I simply have no osteo in my hands, etc. Genetics!! But, my back was/?is? another issue.

I was wondering if inline brake levers and electronic shifting might help? I have the inline levers and love them, and they have a different pull angle, etc. It is worth considering.