Is this how arthritis begins?

I’m not a fish fan. So I must take fish oil to supplement my needs. When I forget to take it, my joints start to hurt. When I take fish oil, it stops hurting. Simple as that.

With fish oil, you get what you pay for. Quality matters.

Joints could be hurting and curling ( mine did after too much computer and cell phone use).
Just from over use of devices. If not in your family don’t worry about it.
Just thought of something…tendinitis from over using your hands.
Be careful as tendons are like elastic bands and if one keeps extending the tendon it may not retract to original condition. Once one looses all feeling in the tendons from being stretched too much for too long some people can lose the use of their hands altogether as My doctor advised me to quit my job for that very reason. Better to rest the wrists then lose all use of them.

For me, similar, but not my fingers – my knees. Not unusual in your 60s, don’t worry too much about it until it gets really painful if ever. Take advil if you need to.

My right thumb started hurting about 5 years ago. I think it is arthritis. It doesn’t hurt all the time, mostly in winter. But that was 5 years ago and nothing else is hurting, yet. Also, mine does not resolve itself within minutes or even that day.

I’ve been exercising my hands throughout the day by making a fist and pushing my pinkie fingers closed a little until it starts to hurt a bit.
I’ll try taking it easy and taking a little fish oil for a couple of weeks to see if it makes a difference. It is easy to do.

Any other suggestions?

I’ve had arthritis For almost 40 years, but I remember that I started noticing stuff like that first. If it is, keep the joints flexible. If they get really unpleasantly affected by pressure changes, most NSAIDS will be a good, immediate fix. Capsaicin creams and balms are very effective as well.
Sometimes washing dishes can be very soothing.

@LuckyGuy/s wife will love that last line.

It sound like it could be the beginning of osteoarthritis. Or, maybe not.

As you know I’m not a doctor, but regarding the baby aspirin, I really doubt the 81mg dose will be a therapeutic dose for inflammation or pain in an adult. That dose dose affect platelets to thin the blood a little, but if you think in terms of fever or pain, that dose probably wouldn’t touch those symptoms in an adult.

You certainly can try the low dose (assuming there is no reason for you to avoid aspirin) see if it helps. If it doesn’t you could take three pills see what happens, or try a regular dose 325mg pill. Typically the dose for pain and inflammation is two 325 pills, but start low and see what happens if you go the pill route. Remember to take with plenty of water and a little food. You might try taking Aspririn or NSAIDS at a normal adult dose for 3–5 days to see if you can just knock down the inflammation similar to how a short term prednisone Rx is used.

My MIL has fairly severe arthritis in her finger joints, and once every 5 years or so she takes two weeks of prednisone and it helps for a while. She takes NSAIDS regularly too.

Try magnesium spray on your fingers that hurt three times a week. It’s cheap and magnesium is absorbed well. Don’t over use on large parts of the body, there is a such thing as too much magnesium. This is similar to using epson salts.

I would get your vitamin D level checked if you don’t do that already. I know I know, typical JL answer. I was having hip and elbow joint pain for the first time in my life last year, and I tested my D and it was very borderline, so I started taking it religiously again to get my number up, plus eating healthier in general. The pain after several months went away. I can’t be sure what helped, but I do think the D might be a factor.

Also, check your calcium level and magnesium.

Your doctor might very well Chech D and calcium regularly, and you can just look at your most recent tests.

Here’s what to avoid eating to minimize arthritis symptoms. https://www.healthline.com/health/foods-to-avoid-with-arthritis#dairy

Here’s a list of supplements from the arthritis foundation (based on clinical trials). https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/supplements-herbs/9-supplements-arthritis.php