Riding With Painful Hands

[Simkie]

@Coreene;6068056

A friend at the barn has arthritis in her hands and makes sure she rubs a nice layer of Voltaren under her SSG gloves. Just a thought.

Yup. I have some pretty serious damage to my left hand and some compensatory arthritis in my right. I felt the best when I applied diclofenac cream before riding. It actually has been shown to IMPROVE the cartilage matrix in the joint if applied daily.

Found that out by accident, as Blush got Surpass on her fetlocks every day. Same drug as Voltaren. I just keep a tube of Surpass around for people use.

[rmh_rider]

I also swear by SSG All Weather Gloves. Riding with gloves for me is a must with my sore hands.

They are pliable, you can move your fingers, make a fist, ultra grippy without being overly grippy. You can wash these hang to dry as many times as you want. I have washed in the washer and in the sink. They are never stiff. They are not hot, and they do provide cold weather warmth to a certain degree. Easy to get off also. Leather was too stiff all the way around, and I couldn’t bend my fingers very well if I needed to. Leather resists movement, the SSG All Weather allows all movement, and also provides some support. They are not tight, but they are just the right tightness. Cheap too.

I have a lime green pair and a navy pair! Fun!

Now for the horse part, I got a 1.5 old and trained her myself (at 3 yrs) and she is very sensitive to all aids. Which means she is light and very responsive to my leg and hands. Also went gaited. A RM. A light in the hand and off the leg horse for me on the trails and arena are important to me. Also have leather reins with reins stops. I ride with 2 hands at all times, that way one hand doesn’t take all the punishment. God gave you two of most everything, so use each equally.

[CFFarm]

[QUOTE=Coreene;6068056]
A friend at the barn has arthritis in her hands and makes sure she rubs a nice layer of Voltaren under her SSG gloves. Just a thought.

Lateralwork, does the Meloxicam give you insomnia? I am currently taking it for muscle spasms from knee surgeries, and the insomnia I have from it is just the pits.[/QUOTE]

I have arthritis also and have tried the Voltaren and it did nothing. I’m on Meloxicam and it helps with the pain a bit (although I worry about long term use). I don’t know if it causes insomnia because I haven’t been a good sleeper for years before I started it.

Also, find gloves that work for you. I have spent more on gloves but found that the cheaper SSG’s (American Flag pattern type) help the best. Although, riding doesn’t seem to hurt as much (I don’t feel the weather either when I’m mounted) as tacking up and holding a brush. And Oy Vey, when I trim feet, ouch!

[Preposterous_Ponies]

[QUOTE=Coreene;6068056]
Lateralwork, does the Meloxicam give you insomnia? I am currently taking it for muscle spasms from knee surgeries, and the insomnia I have from it is just the pits.[/QUOTE]

I started on Meloxicam in late December and I’ve been having trouble sleeping ever since… I hadn’t made the connection!

I don’t know what is wrong with my hands (specialist appointment soon… i got an appointment right away which is kind of worrying) but the pain is often near unbearable. Thankfully they kind of just lock in position to hold the reins - my mare requires very, very light contact so it works okay. I just ride through the pain…Meloxicam in the morning and then boat load of tylenol 1 when I get home from the barn.