painful wrists

jenzie06

I've been getting painful wrists over the past few weeks. It feels like there is swelling in there which is painful but the pain radiates up into my fingers. The swelling and pain seems to take turns to be in each wrist.
Recent blood tests suggests that the RA is stable but my fingers go very red, swollen and painful especially in the evenings so I'm a little confused. They are very stiff in the mornings as well as painful feet.
Everything is meant to be under control as I'm 17wks pregnant. Whenever I see my consultant or rheumy nurse my hands are calm and not swollen (slightly frustrating!!). When I tell them that they get red, hot and swollen in the evenings and stiff in the mornings I get the impression that they don't believe me. It does get dismissed fairly swiftly. My consultant actually said last time that he thinks I'm sensitive to pain, which I read as he thinks I'm a complete wimp! I get the impression that he thinks I run to him everytime it hurts, which is totally untrue!

If the RA is under control, what is going on?!

kathbee

Hi Jenzie

I have had RA for 11 yrs now and
I have also been told recently that my RA is not active
at the moment, that info is from my blood tests,
however, I have had the pains you
describe in my wrists and hands/fingers.

Its a carpal tunnel type thing as I was fist
diagnosed with that before the RA was
confirmed. It does come and go though
its not there all the time.

Maybe you should go to your doc or rheumy
again, although to be truthful I am losing
patience with the rheumy dept I attend.

Hope you feel better soon
Kath

wibberley

Jenzie, I fully understand your frustration.

When I mentioned to my rheumy that my fingers (spec. thumbs) were sore and I could barely hold a glass in the mornings, he laughed it off as being old age - I could have slapped him, 43 isn't old age....well, not as far as I know! Not only that but as I was leaving, he shook my hand...really, really firmly. Talk about hitting the roof!

Then mentioned it to my GP and without looking at my fingers she said 'oh, that will be early osteoarthritis' :x !

So, the pain continues.....

Would it be possible for you to apply a topical cream eg movelat, to the parts that hurt the most? I see you're pregnant so you may want to check with the pharmacist or GP first. Other than that my only suggestion is soaking your hands in warm water, which does help....for all of 5 minutes!

You have my sympathy!

milmandy

jenzie06 wrote:

I've been getting painful wrists over the past few weeks. It feels like there is swelling in there which is painful but the pain radiates up into my fingers. The swelling and pain seems to take turns to be in each wrist.
Recent blood tests suggests that the RA is stable but my fingers go very red, swollen and painful especially in the evenings so I'm a little confused. They are very stiff in the mornings as well as painful feet.
Everything is meant to be under control as I'm 17wks pregnant. Whenever I see my consultant or rheumy nurse my hands are calm and not swollen (slightly frustrating!!). When I tell them that they get red, hot and swollen in the evenings and stiff in the mornings I get the impression that they don't believe me. It does get dismissed fairly swiftly. My consultant actually said last time that he thinks I'm sensitive to pain, which I read as he thinks I'm a complete wimp! I get the impression that he thinks I run to him everytime it hurts, which is totally untrue!

If the RA is under control, what is going on?!

Carpel tunnel is more common in pregancy so could be that rather than your RA..pins and needles feeling can also be part of it. Worth mentioning it to your midwife? Awful when you don't feel doctors believe you and frustrating whrn the complaint quietens down on day of medical appointments!

cthornley

my RA went haywire whilst pregnant as did my bloods ... mostly I think due to the lack of meds but also as your body is dealing with an awful lot when you are pregnant and they sometimes does all act against you.

Your rhemy should be dealing the symptoms whatever the bloods say, although I will readly admit my rhemy was truly awful when i was pregnant which is why I now have a different one!!!

My GP , obs consultant (I was under the care of a specialist obs consultant due to the RA/steroids etc), physio & MW worked together as it wasn't as clear cut as looking after me when I just had RA to deal with. (my hopeless rhemy was also supposed to be part of this team :roll: but well!!!)

But to get this care I had to push and was very lucky to have a supportive GP & MW

The pregnancy physio at the hospital got me new splits whilst I was pregnant as I found that even when my inflammation markers where down I had swelled hands and wrists so I had gone up a whole size.

I found that pain and stiffness got worse as pregnancy went on so its worth pushing to get this sorted whist at the early stages - are you on steriods at all? These can be taken safely during pregnancy and may help - ask your drs

jenzie06

Thanks for all your replies. Carpal tunnel has crossed my mind but I don't have tingling or pins and needles in my fingers. It just feels like the swelling is pressing on the tendons making them painful. If it carries on I think I'm gonna get in touch with my OT. I take steroids everyday but only a low dose. I think I've been pretty lucky really as the pregnancy is going ok. Now developed a nice pregnancy rash on my face but thats the only thing that really needs any attention (lots of calamine lotion!!).
I'll give it a week and see if it settles down then I'll go and see my GP cause she's lovely. I'd like to get as settled as possible before the screaming bundle of chaos arrives. Only 3 wks til 20 wk scan and we can find out whether its a girl or a boy!!

dorcas

Hi Jenzie,
reading your post and thinking about how to ease your painful hands without any risk to your wee bundle... I have sore hands and my OT treats them with hot wax as part of the 'regime'; the relief is unbelievable!

I have since bought a hot wax hand bath for use at home... safe and easy to use & not very expensive (£38.00 from argos).

Apparently using hot wax treatment for arthritic joints has an ancient history...used by the chinese for centuries.

Perhaps you could ask your ot or physio if they provide hot wax treatments in their department? I know that not all hospitals do...but it might be worth you asking so that you can see what it's like for yourself. Iris x

suzster

i had the same thing when i was pregnant, although at the time my RA hadn't actually reared it's head, although i think this was the start!
i was told it was carpel tunnel which didn't really help!
my best advice is to try sleeping or if you can't just try before you go to sleep hanging your hands / arms over the edge of the bed! this really helped me so much and still does now as it never wenr away, sorry!
i also used heat pads at night, you can get ones from from the chemist the come with gloves, i wore them alot, although it was the hanging my arms over the edge of the bed that helped most!
you have my sympathy because i know exactly what you are going through.
i really hope you get some relief.
take care
sue

woodbon

I have OA in my wrists and hands and that is very painful at times, my fingers swell as well. I also have carpel tunnel. I don't think that causes the pain as I've had an op on one hand, but still have the pain which is OA!
Love Sue

skezier

Hi Jenzie,

Wow is it nearly time to be able to tell what 'little un' is? You know if you decide to be told you have to let us lot know don't you?

Sorry about your painful wrists, I use heat on mine and also tubigrip helps mine as well. Mine were very swollen and go red a bit (I have pa and it was my wrists that lead to the diagnosis) and s the sulfa has started to work and the swelling has gone down they have hurt more :? Hot water and a hot water bottle help mine and cold might but I am too chicken to try it

My pain clinic doctor said that over a period of time long term pain basically makes you less tolerate to it and maybe that's what he meant? Anyway good luck with the next scan and you and the little un take care. Cris x