The orthopedist had me using wrist braces, anti-inflammatory meds, ice, rest, and steroid injections. I can do a half day or so of work and be OK, but two full days back to back seems to land me in a world of pain and then requires a week of almost total rest.

I decided to get a second opinion, since it looked like I might be heading towards surgery and the left wrist diagnosis was still very vague. Orthopedist #2 isn’t totally sure what’s going on either, but he says it’s probably arthritis. I’m only in my mid-40's!

I asked him if I could still work/garden. He said yes, but I may have to modify how I do it. Obviously, the Good Doctor doesn’t garden, because the new braces he gave me immobilize my thumbs. I don’t think one can do plant care without opposable thumbs!!!

So I am very despondent right now. I really don’t want to find a new career, but I also don’t want to be in pain every time I brush my teeth or hold a pen for the rest of my life.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation. Thank you.

As a last ditch effort, he got on-line and found a liquid joint care product that intrigued him and decided to try it. In two weeks, he was pain free and has been so to this day. His bad knees were also improved.

You'd think that I would have started taking this stuff as a preventative, but I wasn't that smart. I was recently diagnosed with bone-on-bone arthritis of one knee and the other one looks bad, too. It took me a bit longer to feel the benefits, but though not pain free, I am about 75% improved.

Our product of choice is Flexicose Liquid Joint Care. We have bought it by the case for two years, now. Don't be tempted into the inexpensive pills that can be purchased at Cost-Co, etc. Compare ingredients and the percentage of the ingredients. I am sure that there are many good products out there; we just happened to have discovered this one.

It would be well worth the investment to try something like this. His chiropractor now stocks this stuff for his clients after learning about Robert's story.

We are both relatively young (50s) and I'm not sure if that has anything to do with how well glucosamine works. My elderly aunt didn't have the response that we have and had to have surgery.

At this time of year, it would be hard to avoid activity that will aggravate the situation - it may be a case of grin and bear it until your slack season. Using ergonomically designed tools and pruners could help - they do for me. And I wouldn't underestimate the power of diet as well - various food types can aggravate or worsen inflammations (chocolate, caffeine, red meat, dairy products) and others can help to relieve inflammation - soy products, green or black tea, pineapples, grapes, broccoli, and fish to name a few.

And maybe it's time to consider modifying your career in landscaping to a less physical activity. You might consider design, consultation, project management or estimating, greenhouse managment/growing, etc. There're many possibilities to consider.

I also am inclined to think tendinitis - maybe it's wishful thinking, because surgery can help that, whereas surgery for wrist arthritis is not so doable.

I've had to cut back on my work significantly. I rest for weeks until it gets much better, then it flares up again when I start doing a significant amount of work. And the pain doesn't start until a day or two after, so it's a real crapshoot about how much is too much. One time it was merely an hour of intense weeding, another time it was two solid days back-to-back of planting container gardens.

I am hoping to switch to something less physical, but I'm not sure I have the experience, credentials, contacts, or interest to make that work for me. It's the hands-on stuff that I really enjoy the most.

Meanwhile, I am throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it. Acupuncture, yoga, glucosamine/chondritin/MSM, copper magnetic bracelets...along with the less-than-helpful traditional doctor stuff.

Since I'm not selling this product and it is highly advertised, I won't mention the name here. You can find it in the pharmacy section and it comes in a six pack as well as individually sometimes.

The only time I had tendonitis the steroid shot into the area cleared it right up. Have you considered carpal tunnel? Usually caused by repetitive movements related to you job. It's an inflammation of the nerves in your wrist and usually requires surgery to correct.

I've been taking glucosamine/chondritin/MSM pills, and actually already ordered a liquid version online, but the pills are really messing up my digestive system, so I'm going to stop for a few days. :(

I have rheumatoid arthritis, in both hands, wrists, feet knees etc...I am 37. I use the wrists braces on days that I am really sore. The key is to not overdo it and to use your body in different ways, it is difficult though in the line of work we do!

If I were you I would get a referral to a specialist in arthritis. There are specific blood test that will rule out rheumatoid arthritis etc. Tendonitis can be a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis and if it is this form of arthritis it is very important to get on disease modifying drugs. Over the counter and health-food supplements are not going to stop the disease from progressing. Trust me. You don't want to end up with completely immovable fingers and deformed joints.

Glucosamine only works for osteo-arthritis, so it is important to find out what you are actually dealing with before you waste money on over the counter preparations.

Veggierosalie is right. I closed my nursery in 2006 because of joint pain. After fooling around with all kinds of over the counters remedies I finally got blood work and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I am now going to a homeopathic doctor and can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. In the mean time try DMSO cream twice a day. It worked wonders on my sore hands.

I have also been using the Flexicose liquid supplement and returned to my weekly yoga class (I have a wonderful teacher who is very good about modifying positions for any medical issues people may have).

I also found a different hort job in which the work is more varied. I still have days where I feel some discomfort, but it is manageable with Tylenol Arthritis formula. And I only work part-time, and never two days in a row, so I get some time to rest and recover in between. I do wear my wrist braces on occasion, and ALWAYS if I expect to be doing any heavy lifting.

I'm pretty that it is osteoarthritis.

I don't remember the exact length of time that I followed the program at this point, but it was for at least a month. I haven't had to resort to the process for several years, now.

Another suggestion would be to read the book Your Body's Many Cries for Water by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj. A friend suggested the book after she read it and knew that I had lower back pain. The back pain is a thing of the past as well except for the times that I don't keep up on the intake of water and become a bit dehydrated. When I notice a bit of back pain, I become more conscientious about the amount that I am drinking in order to keep pain at bay.

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Bodys-Many-Cries-Water/dp/0970245882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251276518&sr=1-1

Terran

Terran

Really consider Veggierosalie's advice. My husband has had osteoarthritis for years from occupational wear and tear, so nobody, even his doc suspected anything else and precious time elapsed before he was referred to a rheumatologist. He was diagnosed with atypical RA. Managing that early is the key to prevention of really disabling joint gnarling.

I also agree with what Bboy said. Eating plants from the nightshade family has been implicated. I have been on a tomato binge all summer and I suspect it might be contributing to my unusual summer sore fingers. But, they'll just have to be sore, lol. I'm not giving up my fresh tomatoes out of the garden.

Good luck.

My days in spring sometimes stretch into fourteen and sixteen hours and the types of lifting and maneuvering I do makes me pay particular attention to my body mechanics. I am sixty two now, and can still hoist eighty pound bales of soil at least shoulder high numerous times a day. When g'house benches need moved and I'm working by myself, guess who gets to do it? And, compared to landscaping, I have it easy.