Patrick J. McDaid, M.D.

If you live with arthritis in your hands, you already know how sensitive your joints can be. Even small triggers—weather changes, stress, or minor injuries—can lead to stiffness, swelling, and pain. But what about something as simple as an insect bite or a bee sting? Surprisingly, these everyday occurrences can sometimes aggravate arthritis symptoms in ways you might not expect. Why the Hands Are Especially Vulnerable Your hands contain many small joints that are already pron

Summer is the season for staying active — walking, gardening, traveling, playing sports, and enjoying time outdoors. While movement is great for overall health, the warmer months often bring a spike in joint pain, overuse injuries, and flare‑ups of existing conditions like arthritis. With a few smart strategies, you can enjoy summer activities while keeping your joints healthy, supported, and pain‑free. Why Summer Can Be Hard on Your Joints Warmer weather encourages longer an

Natural Ways to Soothe Your Ulnar Nerve & Ease Cubital Tunnel Pain Including Gentle Lifestyle and Healthy Eating Tips Cubital tunnel syndrome can be frustrating and disruptive. Characterized by tingling, numbness, or pain along the ring and little fingers, forearm, and elbow, it occurs when the ulnar nerve becomes irritated or compressed—most often at the elbow. While severe or persistent cases should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, many people find meaningful reli

As the weather warms up, many of us jump right into spring cleaning, gardening, yard work, and outdoor hobbies. But those first few weekends of activity can leave your hands, wrists, and arms feeling stiff, sore, or overworked—especially after a long winter indoors. Taking a few minutes each day to stretch can improve your flexibility, reduce injury risk, and make all your spring tasks feel easier and more enjoyable. Here’s a simple, effective routine to help warm up your upp

Feeling pins and needles in your fingers — also known as tingling , paresthesia , or that “falling asleep” sensation — is extremely common. Sometimes it’s harmless and temporary, but in other cases, frequent tingling can signal an underlying medical condition that needs attention. Understanding the possible causes can help you decide when it’s nothing to worry about and when it's time to talk with a doctor. Temporary, Everyday Causes Many people experience occasional finger