My fellow Du'ers, my sister, also a Senior, has very bad arthritis in her right foot. Also some fingers.

[hlthe2b]

6. Acupuncture can be highly effective. There are other options...

especially for arthritis restricted to the hands, where movement is still intact, and the patient is not suffering from dementia. One would be a handheld small infrared device (sometimes referred to as a "cold laser" ) that can be used by the individual at home. Some of them are very tiny and FDA-approved with multiple settings for various purposes. Others have only one setting and are able to be used on larger areas (ex., a painful shoulder). Eye protection (dark lenses) is necessary, but is usually included with these devices.

You can purchase them on Amazon. But do your reading. They are safe (with appropriate eye protection), but look for those that are widely reviewed and likewise FDA-approved. They can be as small as a mini flashlight, which would work well with hands.

But, yes, acupuncture can also be effective, but it requires frequent visits to receive appropriate care.