Osteoarthritis....?

just been diagnosed in my thumbs (!?) and have been told to use ibruprofen gel and painkillers....already take lots of pills.....any ideas how to ease the pain without more drugs?

You ask about ideas on how to ease your pain, and immediately you get a cut and paste answer from the NHS site which tells you nothing. What a waste of time.
As a sufferer, the best you can do is to take the pain killers given to you by your Doctor, although Ibu CAN affect the kidneys, so if you've any doubts in that direction, make them known.
One of the usual "alternative" remedies is Glocosamine. It's quite expensive, and I was taking 1500g a day (and that's a bloody horse tablet!) but more importantly, it didn't do a thing for me despite a great deal of perseverance, so don't go down that road unless you think it will help you. I suppose it's fair enough if you want to - nothing ventured etc - but in my case, despite cod liver oil and gluco, I still had one hip replaced and I'm waiting for the other one AND both knees to be done - so like I said, I DO have a bit of knowledge on the subject rather than extracting it from elsewhere. Hope yours doesn't get any worse! Best wishes, Eb#

Osteoarthritis mostly affects cartilage (KAR-til-uj), the hard but slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet to form a joint. Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another. It also absorbs energy from the shock of physical movement. In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away. This allows bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. Also, small deposits of bone 鈥?called osteophytes or bone spurs 鈥?may grow on the edges of the joint. Bits of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space. This causes more pain and damage.
An estimated 12.1 percent of the U.S. population (nearly 21 million Americans) age 25 and older have osteoarthritis.
Hands: Osteoarthritis of the hands seems to have some hereditary characteristics; that is, it runs in families. If your mother or grandmother has or had osteoarthritis in their hands, you鈥檙e at greater-than-average risk of having it too. Women are more likely than men to have hand involvement and, for most, it develops after menopause.

When osteoarthritis involves the hands, small, bony knobs may appear on the end joints (those closest to the nails) of the fingers. They are called Heberden鈥檚 (HEBerr-denz) nodes. Similar knobs, called Bouchard鈥檚 (boo-SHARDZ) nodes, can appear on the middle joints of the fingers. Fingers can become enlarged and gnarled, and they may ache or be stiff and numb. The base of the thumb joint also is commonly affected by osteoarthritis.

How Is Osteoarthritis Treated?

Most successful treatment programs involve a combination of treatments tailored to the patient鈥檚 needs, lifestyle, and health. Most programs include ways to manage pain and improve function. These can involve exercise, weight control, rest and relief from stress on joints, pain relief techniques, medications, surgery, and complementary and alternative therapies.
VR
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/arthr...
In a well-respected study in mainstream medical literature (not alternative medicine) Condroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine had the same analgesic benefit with fewer side-effects when compared against Ibuprofen (advil, motrin). If you consider supplements drugs, OA is usually made worse with over-usage or under usage. It can be managed limitedly without medication.
First of all I will suggest you take take less protein in your diet. You can take tablets of Guggul (Commiphora mukul - a herbal drug)
Guggul also has anti-inflammatory activity. One study reports that it may be beneficial in osteoarthritis. Myrrhanol A, a new triterpene isolated from guggul (Balsamodendron or Commiphora mukul Hook.)-gum resin, displays potent anti-inflammatory effect.
Also visit:
http://www.deliciouslivingmag.com/health...
It depends what kind of arthritis it is, but cider vinegar works for some types of arthritis and gout.
If the pain is caused by ureic acid crystals collecting in the synovial fluid of the joint cavity, then the malic acid in apples can dissolve the crystals; they are then excreted. Malic acid is found in apples and green gooseberries.
You put one tablespoon of cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey in a cup of hot water, and drink that 3 x a day. Also eat apples, green gooseberries, and drink apple juice. If you're going to see any benefit it will be by the fourth week. It can't harm.
Omega 3 capsules are useless, the type of Omega 3 they contain cannot be digested or used by the human body! For more Omega 3 eat 2 portions oily fish a wek, or try Columbus brand eggs. The hens are fed on a natural diet and the eggs are cholesterol free.
Glucosamine is another supplement that has real benefit.
Avoid processed foods that contain tartrazine and azo dyes, these aggravate joint pain.
And massage your hands gently every day, stretching your fingers back as far as you can to keep them mobile. And keep them warm.
I have osteoporosis and am in some classes and take calcium too. Are there any any exercises you can do to help? There are like vitamins/herbal remedies that work, ask your health food store and your doctor about these kinds of drugs.