Don’t Let Arthritis Take Away Your Passion: How to Manage the Pain in Your Hands
Anyone who suffers from arthritis knows about the debilitating pain that this condition can cause. It can make it nearly impossible to do basic day-to-day tasks like holding a pen or washing dishes. Even worse, it can also take enjoyment out of the things you love like working in the garden, playing tennis, or taking your dog for a walk. Arthritis can affect many different joints, including the knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, and hands.
The condition can be especially difficult for people who use their hands for a living, including many musicians and athletes. Though the pain can be debilitating, it doesn’t have to control your life or take away the things you love. Symptoms of arthritis in the hands can be managed through exercises, arthritis hand cream, pain medications, diet changes and more. In fact, many people have learned to manage their arthritis symptoms and continue to pursue their passions – and you can too.
Arthritis – it happens to the best of us
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and generally develops slowly over time. It can be caused by prolonged repetitive motions which cause a joint to wear faster than it normally would, which means musicians who use their hands and fingers a lot are at an increased risk. Keith Richards, world famous guitar legend from the Rolling Stones, has been rocking for decades and as a result has developed osteoarthritis in his hands. However, he’s still performing and touring constantly, and has claimed that it doesn’t affect his performance.
In fact, playing music may be beneficial for arthritis symptoms
Although years of playing an instrument that uses your hands (such as the guitar or piano) can lead to osteoarthritis, playing these instruments can actually also help to ease the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Generally, inactivity makes arthritis symptoms worse, which is why the pain is often more severe when you first wake up in the morning. By playing an instrument, you are exercising your fingers and increasing their blood flow, which can reduce the swelling, inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
Many musicians dismiss aches and pains in their hands as a necessary part of their profession. However, playing a musical instrument shouldn’t cause you pain, and it’s not something you have to put up with. If you do find yourself experiencing joint pain during or after a performance or practice, you may want to pay your doctor a visit to discuss your symptoms and determine whether or not you may have arthritis.
Athletes who don’t let arthritis bring them down
Athletes can be particularly prone to developing arthritis, because they put a lot of added stress and strain on their joints, and often experience injuries throughout their career that can act as precursors to arthritis. Arthritis can be career ending for athletes, and the sheer pain and discomfort associated with this unfortunate condition is enough to take away anyone’s love of exercise. However, arthritis doesn’t have to ruin your athletic abilities – there are plenty of ways to manage the pain and discomfort. Just ask Kristin Armstrong.
Kristin Armstrong is an American athlete who, up until 2001, was an elite swimmer and triathlete. She worked incredibly hard, trained non-stop, and even competed in the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. Unfortunately, Kristen developed arthritis at the peak of her career, and was unable to continue competing. However, she didn’t let this get her down – she used stretching and yoga to manage her symptoms, and channeled all her energy into cycling.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in China, Kristin won gold in the women’s time trial. Remarkably, she followed this incredible effort up again in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. Although her arthritis may have pushed her in a slightly different direction, Kristin never let it take away her dreams or stop her from achieving her goals.
What to do when arthritis strikes
If you’re a musician or an athlete struggling with arthritis pain, try not to focus on the negatives or worry about whether you will have to give up your passion. There are plenty of ways to manage arthritis symptoms without selling your piano or putting away your tennis racket. For example, the pain associated with arthritis of the hands can be managed by using a heat pack on your hands in the morning and evening, or any time after you use them. You can also try topical creams and treatments, a gentle hand massage, or turn to pain medications when your symptoms are more severe.
There’s no denying that arthritis can be painful and debilitating, but it doesn’t have to take away what you love. Take the time to learn about how to manage your pain, rest when you need to, and make the most of the days when you feel good and can move more freely. Just like any challenge in life, you’ll find ways to work around your arthritis, and feel more accomplished because of it.
