As groomers, we make our living with our hands. They are our most important tools and our most precious asset. Now that I am well into my 60s, after 45 years of part- and full-time grooming, the pain in my arthritic hands is pretty much constant throughout the day and night. I have a specialized hand doctor, general weakness in both hands, have had multiple surgeries and injections, use braces or compression aids, get regular massages, and must employ other strategies that are a constant, and expensive, part of my life now.
Since rheumatoid arthritis can be inherited, is more serious and medically caused, it is not usually linked to work-related stress or injury. Osteoarthritis is what groomers commonly struggle with as they age. Osteoarthritis is caused by physical activity, stress, repetition, working conditions and other matters over which we have more control, such as our diet.
In a recent poll of those over 50 in the United States, over 60% reported having arthritis that limits their activities, 30% reported being diagnosed with osteoarthritis from wear and tear on their joints, and 70% reported being in pain from it.2 Osteoarthritis is described as a degenerative joint disease by other medical experts and is more likely to occur as a person gets older.
Dr. Wayne McCormick, a geriatrician at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine says, “It’s basically just worn-out joints. Osteoarthritis is most commonly seen among people over 50, particularly women.”3
Cleveland Clinic tells us, “There are hereditary forms of osteoarthritis that are caused by mutations in genes for collagen. This type of osteoarthritis can first appear at a young age, quickly causing severe damage, though not very common. Around 40 to 65% of osteoarthritis has a genetic component, with a stronger link for hand and hip cases. The influence of other factors, such as obesity, joint injuries, aging and joint anatomy, also is quite substantial.”4
Bone spurs are another aspect of osteoarthritis that many of us now experience, which one article describes as, “… when [cartilage] starts to break down, the bones of the finger joints become irritated and inflamed due to increased friction. When this occurs, the body creates new bone as it tries to repair itself, resulting in an overgrowth of bone (bone spur) in the joint spaces of the fingers … Bone spurs may also occur when the body tries to heal itself after an injury or due to repetitive overuse … Activities that cause repetitive joint use and stress in the hands can cause cartilage between the joints of the fingers to break down, causing damage that leads to bone spurs.”5
Hand surgery can sometimes be required if the bone spurs break away inside the fingers and need to be removed. Care for bone spurs includes rest, immobilization with splints, ice, physical therapy with a hand specialist, over the counter NSAIDs and corticosteroid injections directly into the joints, which is something else I have benefitted from.
- Avoid eating processed foods.
- Don’t dwell on your pain, but do track it each day, perhaps recording with a number to indicate the level of discomfort.
- Do not wear uncomfortable or poor-quality shoes.
- Pace yourself and take breaks.
- Get your family and friends involved with your arthritis awareness.
In a Psychology Today article that asks why young people seem to feel immortal, Dr. Gary Wenk explains that it takes well into our 20s and 30s for our brains to fully develop and enable us to anticipate the consequences of our actions. He says, “When your frontal lobes finally complete their process of myelination, they begin to work properly, and you stop doing dangerous things. Most importantly, you stop feeling immortal.”7
Sadly, by the time many of us pet groomers are in our later 20s and 30s, we have already established patterns and habits, including how we groom, that are not good for our bodies in the long term.
Food choices can also help. One source outlines the follow six foods/food groups as being the most beneficial in reducing joint pain and inflammation:8
The sooner we start thinking about the span of our lives that lies ahead of us and realize that what we do to our bodies now will have significant consequences in our most productive and important years, our 40s and beyond, the longer and more productive our careers—and lives—will be.
- Arthritis. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772
- Arthritis and Joint Pain. (2022, Sept). University of Michigan. https://www.healthyagingpoll.org/reports-more/report/arthritis-and-joint-pain
- Is Arthritis Avoidable? (2023). New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/well/live/arthritis-prevention-symptoms.html
- Is Arthritis Hereditary? (2019, June). Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-arthritis-hereditary
- What Causes Bone Spurs in the Hand? (2023, Sept). Very Well Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/bone-spurs-in-hand-5095905
- 5 Bad Habits to Drop for Better Arthritis Management. (2021, Jan). Arthritis Today Magazine. https://blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/bad-habits-arthritis-tips/
- Why Do Teenagers Feel Immortal? (2010, Aug). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-brain-food/201008/why-do-teenagers-feel-immortal
- 6 Foods That May Help Your Arthritis. (2023, April). Arthritis Foundation. https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/nutrition/healthy-eating/six-foods-for-arthritis