I'll use topical oils, frankincense or cypress. Never thought of Absorbine Jr., I'll give it a try.

Yes! Please check out Absorbine Jr. It's a glue stick like bottle doesn't have the mess like Icy Hot does. I rub it on and go on my motorcycle rides. Its great

I have the same problem riding my bicycle. I finally gave up and moved inside to my trainer in September. Hands are pretty important when you are riding on 2 wheels of any type!

I have a very strong prescription Diclofenac, which is commercially known as Voltaren. Except mine is twice as strong. Does it help? Almost never. Once I put it on an elbow flare and it helped, but it just makes my hands goopy and it never helps.

The only thing that really helps is being on the right meds. I added methotrexate to Arava/Orencia, 4 weeks ago, and this is the second day I actually feel close to normal, as far as flares are concerned.

My thought is if your hands are that swollen, you need to up your meds. Because the thing about hand flares is they deform the hands, till you get to a point where you lose function. My cousin has RA and she has almost no use of her hands.

So I would tell your rheumatologist you are going through this. You may be experiencing a med failure, these drugs don't keep working forever! Or you may be getting worse and you may need to add something new, plus be monitored.

Let us know what happens.

Are you taking any prescription medications for the RA? "Just dealing with it" makes me think you are not.

What DMARDS are you taking?

Hey TimmyS,

Wow! Absorbine Jr.??? I haven't heard of or even seen that since I was in high school! LOL! Glad to see they make it still because I loved that stuff! Maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Anyway, I use this stuff called BioFreeze. When caring for a bulging disc in my back my physical therapist would use it & it worked very well on my back so every once in a while on a larger joint like if I get a shoulder or ankle flare I'll use it & it does the trick. I've tried using it on fingers but doesn't seem to help as much on the smaller joints.

i have tried volaren cream, did not work that great.

I rather swallow an nsaid pill than have it crushed up into some of the prescription creams I have tried.

maybe treat the disease so it is not making synovial fluid or attacking you inside? while you are waiting for a right med mix maybe one of the 17 prescription nsaids that the rheum can tick off or if you don't want a prescription anti inflammatory then the standby at cvs motrin or aleve if you are not allergic? ice packs or night splints that you can buy at cvs?

a disease modifying anti rheumatic drug from the rheumatologist at a wicked low dose since I am sensing maybe you want to go the natural route? If I am wrong and you have been tweaking the medication management of RA like forever and it just continues to get in the way of your passion of motorcycle riding - do you have good weeks and bad weeks or do you need to ride everyday? i am thinking modify, adjust, lower your expectations, keep your passion, tweak it. I am glad you are doing what gives you joy. sometimes you win. sometimes ra wins.

depot

I have used Aspercreme. Wondering how long you've been "dealing with it" and if you're aware that while you can do that, you may have permanent damage.

If you use temporary solutions for RA, you are more likely to be sorry down the road, than staisfied. Get with a good med program. This is for anyone else who replies to Timmy's old message. This what you're talking about, Marlene?

Not sure what you are saying, Linzsey! This post is less than a year old, and not one poster has left the group! Not finding where this particular post has any good information, either.

That is also different than posts from 2010 or 2013 that I see on this page, with most of the users gone.

If someone did change names, which was common when DS migrated, then it would be nice to know that! Of course, that is up to them!

I am newly diagnosed, and for the longest time, like you I was just dealing with it. About a year ago, I did some research on the net and found a few things that have reduced my pain and swelling greatly, some herbal and mineral supplements, they even help with your skin to keep it hydrated and smooth. But I know now since being newly diagnosed I may have to add meds to my regimen.

Here are the things I've been using, you may want to research them yourself and check it out, read the reviews: Chang Shan sold under the name "Sclero-eze" and also I take 6000mg D3, 24mg Astaxanthin which is 1000 more absorbable than Omega3's and Krill pills. I also take Hyaluronic Acid to help build up synovial fluid and Collagen type 1-3, and I take a few tablespoons of Gelatin powder mixed in a hot clear broth every day.