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I don't know if anyone has ever posted on this subject and, if so, I apologize for the redundancy.

For those of us dealing with age related arthitis that hinders our piano skills there is something that can help many of us without the use of NASIDS. It is a good fish oil (from smaller fish like sardines and anchovies). My rheumatologist says it reduces inflamation so, with his approval, I tried increasing my usual dose by 4x broken into two doses a day.

Wow, was I pleasantly surprised. Within two weeks there was a noticeable difference as the tendernes and swelling is gone and my fingers feel like they did 20 years ago. I can play a bit faster and quite a bit longer. As a result, I now enjoy playing much more and have become remotivated to progress. As a bonus, my good cholestorol jumped 10 points in a month.

The Doc says everyone has different responses depending on their own physiology and how faithful they are about taking the oil. Just make sure it is a good brand not loaded with impurities. I get mine at Whole Foods and I take four 1200 mg capsules a day.

Any oil is fat, however, so be sure to include the calories in your planning if you monitor your caloric intake.

Glad you brought this up. I have some stiffness in my fingers sometimes, but my thumb joints are the most bothersome, so I'd like to give this a try.
Regarding the calories, here's some info I found on WebMed.
Do the tablets you take contain these EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids? Or is there a different type of fish oil for arthritis issues?

It's long been known that the Western diet has the wrong ratio of omega 3 (from fish/seafood) to omega 6 (corn oil & meat) polyunsaturated fats. Too much of the latter, too little of the former. Too much omega 6 is linked to an inflammatory effect.

The Inuits (before they became 'Westernized') and Japanese have the lowest levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and the highest of HDL (good) cholesterol, and correspondingly, the lowest rates of heart disease in the world.

The best sources of omega 3 oils are mackerel, herring, sardines, salmon and anchovies.

For some years now, high-dose omega 3 supplementation (from purified marine sources) has been prescribed for people who have suffered a heart attack, because it's been found to reduce the risk of a subsequent heart attack in the most dangerous period, i.e. the first two weeks after one.

Seconded. I started to get a little bit of arthritis a few years back. (I started taking glucosamine and chondroitin back then). A little bit later I thought I'd try some "omegas" as well. I got a bottle from the local Boots (UK pharmacy chain). It was omega 3, 6 and 9. When I got back home, a little research turned up exactly what bennevis said. It's omega 3 westeners are likely to lack; and more omega 6 is the last thing we need.

So I threw away the cheap tablets and bought some omega 3 oil capsules instead. I can only, uncharitably, assume that a mix of "omegas" is cheaper and easier for them to manufacture.

I can't say if any of it is working other than my hips and hands thankfully never got any worse.

More good news... thanks!

I take "Rx Omega-3 Factors" sold at Whole Foods. Each capsule contains 1170 mg of oil with 630 mg of Omega 3, 400 mg of EPA, and 200 mg of DHA. No Omega 6. This was the specific reccomendation of my Doctor. He said I could go up to 6 capsules a day is I like. I think the brand name is Natural Factors.

My Doc did say, however, that more harm than good can come from taking inferior grade oils that are full of impurities and even mercury so if anyone is thinking of taking larger doses make sure it is good stuff. Do your homework.

Thank you very much for that information. I just looked and I see they sell that brand on Amazon. Awesome!

Cod liver Oil not fit the bill?

Cod liver oil will contain vitamin A and too much vitamin A probably isn't good for you. My omega 3 oil capsule bottle lists only a small amount of vitamin E (as a stabilizer apparently) in addition to the main ingredients, EPA & DHA.

Arctic explorers have died of Vitamin A poisoning from eating polar bear liver....

BTW, pregnant women are not allowed to take any supplements that contain Vitamin A.

...and yet more good news from TX-Bluebonnet! It's $10 less at Amazon... thanks.

When you take 4 or 5 a day and give some to the dogs as well a bottle of 240 empties pretty quickly.

de cajon,

Yes indeed. My Doctor specifically warned me not to take CLO for the exact reason you mention. Apparently, too much Vitamin A causes all kinds of havoc.

I placed my order and should get it in a couple of days. I'm expecting it to work miracles!!

So off I goes online and look at vitamin A. It is an essential vitamin. How do you know if you don`t need it? Any obvious symptoms? (sensible answers preferred)

Hi peter, here some good info from the National Institute of Health.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-Consumer/

Vitamin A is a tricky one. It's absolutely essential, but an excess is bad. And it's fat-soluble so it builds up, unlike typical water-soluble vitamins. (It's even been said that liver or liver pate shouldn't be eaten more than once a week.)

The good news for us in the West is that nearly all of us have enough from our diet. It's in low-income countries, particularly Africa and South-East Asia where deficiency is a problem.

Just had a look at the cod liver oil bottle . . .there is vitamin A in there to the degree that a daily dose of this stuff will also give you 100% of your vitamin A requirements. Before you start on the carrots . . .Strewth! See what you mean .

NOWfoods fish oils are pharmaceutical grade.
I'm taking Krill Oil.

Another thing that helps joints greatly is to do joint mobility movements everyday. That is basically moving the joints to their fullest extent everyday. Or lets say... the fullest you can move them with out bad discomfort or pain. Many of us have never moved certain joints in certain ways. Many of us haven't moved our joints to their fullest extent in many years. Doing so increases the health of the joints greatly. It increases blood flow past the joints also. It does a whole lot more than one would think it would.

I`ve got a clicky thumb tonight, it`s warm and wet. Playing the piano will help; using the `puter doesn`t. I`m babysitting, so no bloddy piano . . . .Beer might help . . .

It looks like A, D, E, and possibly K are the ones to watch out for:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypervitaminosis

Well, it's my 2nd day taking fish oil. Still feel the same. I also added iron and magnesium citrate to my new daily regimen.
BTW, those translucent fish pills are kind of cool. You can actually use them to help read the fine print if needed.