How to treat Degenerative Arthritis in my hands?

Question:
I'm wondering what else works for those who have the same condition.

Answer:
I have degenerative arthritis in my hands. The past several weeks my hands, mainly the joints, have been so painful I can barely grasp something. I have been waiting since last August for my Medicaid to approve the purchase of hands and finger splints for support. Meanwhile, I am looking to find if there is (are) specific medication(s) that help with this type of pain. Currently, I am using Salsalate in combination with Extra Strength Tylenol, since I am unable to tolerate many of the other NSAIDS. I'm wondering what else works for those who have the same condition. Paper plates and plastic glasses have been a mainstay in my house for the last few years. I call one of the children to get the milk or anything heavy. Only thing thats tuff is getting the cookware out of the oven when it is hot. Can't really expect a 6 or 8 year old to do that one for me. I am also taking Azulfidine and 5 mg. of prednisone. I take 6 pills a day and it is working good for me. I was on 4 pills a day and still was bad. I hope this continues. If not, I will ask for Enbrel I weaned of the 5 mg. of prednisone but I hurt more. So I am continuing to take 5 mg. My RD says 5 mg. is not bad at all. I guess not. Anyway this is working for me now. Again, my RA is considered mild but I hurt real bad and had horrible fatigue for many months. My RD says Azulfidine is used a lot in Europe and they seem to be having good luck with it. Are you under the care of a Rheumatologist? There are over 100 different diseases that come under the general heading of arthritis. A Rheumatologist (RD) is best equipped to diagnose and treat these diseases. Each disease is treated differently. Have either of you tried Low Level Lasers? Many of the articles in the peer reviewed medical journals are very promising particularly regarding rheumatoid arthritis and I have recently acquired a low level laser. If you are in the Austin, Texas area and would like to try low level lasers please let me know. you dont mention any prescription drugs and I wonder if a rheumatologist is caring for you. If not, please rush to see one. Remember RA causes damage to many organs in your body. It is not just pain that we worry about, its the attack on our entire body. I mentioned in my post above degenerative arthritis. I'm not sure what other people classify that is but here we classify it as osteoarthritis, which showed up on xray, it is not rheumatoid arthritis. Aslo, someone mentioned prescription drugs. I stated above that I take Salsalate which is a prescription drug and that I have an intolerance to NSAIDS and I'll add most other anti-inflammatories. I did see a rheumatologist in July of 1998 who checked me thoroughly. As to other types of products that work more often than not, I don't know if there are such things that work for most people with this condition. Have you tried Glucosamine Sulfate? Cush has a web site about it. It is otc, but some people are getting remarkable results with it. I dont have the url for the web site but I am sure someone will be along in a minute to give it to you. I don't have any cure or anything like that. But I do know that sleep is very, very important. Unfortunately, with pain everything seems to snowball. And the more pain - the less sleep, the less sleep - the more pain. Make sure your doctor gives you something to help you sleep if this is a problem for you. Much as I'm against drugs (though I recognize their need for so many things), I am firmly pro drugs if that's what you need to sleep.