What Else Can I Do?

[Terpman]

Home Remedies/Advice Welcome

In addition to my neck and back, I have arthritis in my hands. I'm 56 years old and thanks to a marvelous genetic imprint, the joints in my fingers are continuously swollen and even starting to deform already. Needless to say, my fingers and hands hurt all the time. So, first I bought a new set of irons, with graphite shafts and then, even though I have small hands, put on mid-size DD2 grips which seemingly help a lot. On my new driver, I got a lower torque shaft and a mid-size Stingfree grip. Then I went to the doctor and he prescribed some arthritis medication. Still, I'm a range rat and my hands ache all the time, sometimes they just plain hurt. I've read the arthritis thread and tried loading up on ibuprofen but that's not good for my heart. What else can I do? Any ideas?

[teespoon]

The large soft grips, and using a ten finger, (baseball style) grip on the club,

has helped some of my friends who have arthritis. Also, they find a neutral hand postion better than a strong grip. Keep tryin' and just swing at your speed.

 

teespoon

[pappawjim1]

You may want to try the "Bionic" glove on both hands. It is for arthritic hands and have heard it helps. They are padded at the joints and palm, which, along with your small hands, may necessitate using a 10 finger baseball grip on the club, as suggested in an earlier thread. Good Luck

[wkuo3]

Check your daily medication, see if there is anything which might have worsen your arthritis condition.

Changing one of my medication had lessen the swelling in my finger joint, and lay off the sauce ( alcohol ), especially beer.

I had also switched to Tylenol arthritis pain formula a caplet is 650 mg, which will work for the length of an 18.

I had also started to take Omega 3 fish oil since last year, and I had felt better after several months of daily dosage.

[bassman1308]

Of all the pain pills I've used, celebrex work best for me. I only take one when I'm going to golf that day. Rather expensive though.

[Asleep]

My chiropractor uses micro-electricity to alleviate pain in my fingers/hands.

 

Every two weeks works like a charm. A number of older pros swear by it.

[Bobbers]

This might help, my wife who is a massage therapist showed it to me and I swear by it:

 

Take a golf ball.

Lace your fingers together lightly with the ball cupped between your palms.

Gently, adding pressure as comfort allows, rub your hands back and forth together allowing the ball to put pressure on the pads at the base of your thumbs, the outside of your hands, up to the base of your fingers, etc. You'll be amazed at how much tension we carry in our hands and how this helps to relax it.

 

She originally showed me this move by using her hands, I decided to try it with a golf ball. She now gives golf balls in a little cloth bag to her better clients so they have something to use as the need arises. Heck, works at the range, on the course, whenever...

 

Try it, nothing to lose, right?

[yoonie]

I hear great things about the bionic glove. Also, if you practice on mats, practice less! Other than that, you may actually want to look at your technique.

[ND GOLF]

I would recommend Glucosamine and Chondroitin. It comes in a pill form and has shown in evidence to be beneficial in about 50 percent of the population. The effects will be seen at about three months. It is cheap and is worth giving it a shot, but the most important thing is to follow through for at least 3 months. We have done quite a bit of research on this in our physical therapy program. Hope I could help.

[Terpman]

I want to thank all for your time, consideration and comments. I am much appreciative. I will certainly look into the tylenol arthritis pills, start using a golf ball to massage my hands and try on a pair of Bionic gloves. I already use a baseball grip and I recently went through a swing change (much flatter) and grip change (more neutral). I will inquire about the electric treatments and taking chondroitin though I don't think, on top of my heart meds (I had quad by-pass in May 2007), that I need more stuff to swallow. Any other ideas out there?

[wkuo3]

Does your spouse play golf ? Have you tried a set of lady's clubs ?

The lighter shaft and head weight is easier on your hands. The Bionic Gloves are expensive but worth a try their Silver series supposed to be designed especially for seniors with arthritis in their hands http://www.bionicgloves.com/shop/?id=2&cat=3

[Terpman]

I swing too aggressively to use ladies' clubs. I was fitted for and play Wilson Staff Ci7 irons with stiff graphite shafts, which are pretty light. I hit the 7i 150. I don't have the fastest swing speed in the universe (average 88 ss with the driver) but I make a strong, full shoulder turn and generate surprising power (according to my two instructors) -- hit my Srixon Z-RW 10.5* driver with 65g R-flex NVS an average of 220. I just want to make the soreness and pain in my hands go away - - I will not stop practicing 2-3 days a week and I will keep playing every week. As George C. Scott said in Patton: "God help me; I love it so."

[Carter43]

I'm 57 and arthritis hit me last season. So far it's only in my thumbs. Took a lot of Tylenol, way too much actually, it took the edge off the pain, but started to afffect my liver. Switcthed to Advil, but that didn't seem to work. Saw my doctor, and he suggested Celebrex. So far it's working pretty good. However Celebrex didn't do much for a buddy of mine so it's not the right pain killer for everybody.

 

I'd go see a doctor and work together to get the pain medicine that works the best for you. Our bodies are like different bags of chemicals, you never know what will work best until you try it.