I am getting some arthritis in the hands, it doesn’t affect the photography very much, except in one particular instance.
I have a Sirui ball head for my tripod. I am starting to have some difficulty both tightening it up, and releasing it when it is tight.
Do others have the same problem? What do you suggest in the way of tripod heads, I would prefer something that isn’t going to be heavier than my tripod 
How does the screw look like? Is it a round one how big is the handle? Mybe something like this could help:
https://www.westmark.de/de-de/kombiöffner-propeller-10512270
During the studio tour for Evan & Katelyn studio, Gerald Undone discovered the magic of geared tripod heads. The one Evan is showing is probably the Arca Swiss D4 head. There is also a version of it that supports panning.
But a quick researched showed that there are cheaper options from the likes of Neewer, Manfroto and others. Maybe even one of Arca’s other options is cheaper.
But maybe a design like this would help you.
I almost never use tripods, and when I do, I find the ball head that came with them insufferable. The funny thing is, that whenever I do an I hate ball heads rant, I get a huge chorus of So Do We! So it seems to be something that the tripod makers impose on us, when a huge number of us simply wanted a pan head.
Whilst I’m glad to say that I don’t, as yet, have arthritis, I have had joint-pain stuff, with gout, in the past and it did affect my fingers.
Maybe this time I’ll get a chorus of But we love ball heads, but I’d say, get a pan head. Even an inexpensive one, because They Are Just Easier.
They are not devoid of knobs, but IIRC, the main axes (duh… axeeees?), pan and tilt, on mine are friction-controlled by the two handles. So, one can tighten/loosen by turning with the whole hand, not just thumb and finger.
That’s my suggestion. Replace the ball head with a pan+tilt.
If you use big, heavy lenses, I think there are fluid-heads (?) that allow you to balance the weight of each lens.
I too like tripods with handles rather than just ball heads. But, since you have a ball head maybe just finding a replacement tightening bolt that provides more leverage.
Hi @epeeist
I take turmeric extract (curcumin) every day. It seems to have helped with arthritis in the hands.
It’s not fast-acting like NSAIDs, but over time seems to reduce inflammation.
Passing this along in case it is helpful.
I’m a turmeric fan too. I have even sprinkled it on wounds when my cats get into fights, and (small-sample anecdote so far) find it heals faster than stuff from the vet.
I am glad it is giving you relief. Be aware, though, that there apparently potential problems with supplement-strength turmeric. Sorry, no link ( I dredged my usual source), I read it from a general interest in herbal medicine and then forgot it. But for those considering supplements, worth an internet search to check it out.
I’m using a Sirui ballhead too. I know, how tight the screws are. I think, you need some kind of a screw opener, like here: Öffner - Hilfsmittel und Medizinprodukte für Pflege und Leben (in german, but gives you an idea, or use deepl.com, I can order and send it to you) or here https://www.essentialaids.com/kitchen-aids-feeding-aids/openers.html You should better buy a tool than a new ball head.
Hi,
Which model do you have?
Ideally, you should have teardrop-shaped button rather than a round button.
Like the KS-40 model
Have you checked with your vet to see if it’s safe used in this way on felines? All sorts of foods that we eat can be tolerated very differently by dogs and cats.
Guys, this kind of stuff should be discussed with a real physician. No internet or AI. Take care and don’t trust anyone you find randomly in the internet, just because is recommended by 9009le. 
Good point. No, I didn’t.
Very true! But even now, there are “real physicians” that are simply prejudiced against herbal cures.
But I do take it seriously when I read of genuine researches finding adverse effects.
It’s a tricky area. There is something to be said for the isolation, purification and standardisation of active ingredients, but, IIRC the resultant substance can behave, in the body, in different ways to the natural one. Again, IIRC, that was said to be the case with turmeric/curcumin.
/aside, and apologies to the OP
We shouldn’t make generalizations, and I know I’m just about to make one, but… in my experience, the prejudice is not against the product but against the lack of evidence. Well-trained physicians, and any scientist for that matter, wait until there is good evidence (ideally from double-blind testing) before they will support a treatment.
And not only do we need to know it’s effective, but we also need to know what the side-effects are and potential complications. Until those trials are done, physicians can’t really promote a treatment, and it’s the same for herbal remedies as any other lab-created one.
I like d-ring screws.
Supplements may not work for everyone, even if they do for some. Researchers are finding that the placebo effect is much more complex than we have understood it to be in the past. And what we have assumed to be placebo in the past are in fact not that simply explained.
Personally, I take glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and turmeric (curcumin) on a irregular basis (due to a combination of needs and doubts). Since I have many types of chronic pain, I cannot tell how much these supplements help specifically, but I can confirm that including MSM makes a difference for me.
Do not solely rely on supplements. Physical and mental maintenance and therapy go a very long way!
