hand and wrist pain

[kimbo52]

I am 52 years old and I have had chronic pain in BOTh my hands and wrists extending up the forearm for 2 years.
I have seen physios, reumatolgists, hand specialists, you name it, I have been there.
I have had physio, acupuncture, hand therapy, a carpel tunnel release on my left hand (hopeless) and recently a right side rib ressection.
I have had xrays, bloods, bone scans, vascular studies, and MRI to my thoracic region and this week an MRI on the top part of my neck. The first MRI (performed in OCT 2010) says that I have minor posterior discovertebral spurring extending from c3/4 to c6/7 most pronounced at c6/7 where there is only minimal canal stenosis.
I am at my wits end and cannot function with this pain. Do you have any suggestions here? Thanks Kim

[kimbo52]

Thanks for your advice. I will look into the glucosamine etc and give it a try also. I LOVE shellfish and have been enjoying it for years without any problems but I guess I should cut right down if it does aggravate inflammation

[Creampuffy]

I have the same thing going on with both my wrists and even the fingers on my right hand. My problem stems from doing my gardening and having MCS has made it worse. The only thing I have been able to do to keep the inflamation down is applying a lotion that contains Glucosamine, MSM and Arnica made by NOW. It took a few weeks before I noticed a big difference. The reason being these  ingredients take time to build up in your system and because they  actually heal the areas to some degree it takes longer. I also have to watch my diet and stay clear of foods that I am allergic to that can cause inflamation. If you wish to try it make sure you are not allergic to shell fish (glucosamine)  or MSM (from pine tree bark) or Arnica ( arnica montana flower). You can buy  MSM and arnica lotions separately and there is a glucosamine product that is made from corn but it is expensive. I am also taking vitamins which seems to be helping too.