There's no treatment for arthritis in fingers, is there?

[BlackInk]

I've had gradually worsening arthritis in my fingers (and elsewhere) for a good few years – painful, hot, knobbly, weak joints that seem to flare up then settle then flare up... but never completely resolve.
I had an x-ray a few years ago on a finger and it was confirmed as osteoarthritis. I'm 49.
The little finger on my right hand has been swollen and very painful for a few months now with no sign of improvement. Swelling is centred around the top joint of the finger but the whole finger is visibly fat.
I have similar issues with other joints – especially my hips, elbows and feet – but it's the hands that bother me most. I feel like a gnarly old lady...
Is this worth bothering a GP about? I have other health issues that I'm already struggling to resolve, so don't want to mention this unless I'm likely to get help! I can't take anti-inflammatory painkillers (Ibuprofen etc) at all due to stomach trouble, and can only take Paracetamol sparingly.

I know someone who had arthritis and she went for an allergy test. It turned out she developed an allergy to citrus fruits. When she eliminated them from her diet her symptoms went away and only ever returned if she unwittingly ate citrus.

Yeah right.

I doubt she had arthritis to start with.

A few natural treatments

• blow up a regular party/children’s balloon to the size of a lemon 🍋 and squeeze it x5 times in each hand.
• scrunch up a piece of paper and squeeze that in your hand
• fill a bowl with hot water and swish your hand back and forth. Using the water as gentle resistance.

the most important thing is move those joints or they’ll seize up like a rusty hinge :)

These exercises have been good for me

www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis/arthritis-hand-exercises

Movement definitely helps

I learned a
Simple exercise in my Pilates class which helps a lot: make a tight fist and tben open your hands and fingers out as much as possible, with your fingers splayed. You feel a bit of a stretch.

Oh if you want a good exercise learn BSL.

There’s an app!

”Bright BSL”