Hand deformities??

karl81

Hi everyone i have a question about hand deformities.I whent to see my doc a while ago about the slight weird angles of a couple of my fingers on my right hand, my hand diffrences look like when spock does the hand signal for live long prossper from star treck.But i have now noticed that my left hand is also showing signs of doing the same sort of thing.When i saw my doc he said i have Anular drift but what's getting to me i have only had my Arthritis for 3 years and iam only 28 so what iam worrying about is what will my hands look like when iam 50? iam noticing that they my fingers are moving off more and more.So i ask does any body have any advice on this Anular Drift? i have three forms of arthritis my main ones are psoratic arthritis and the psoratic arthritis form of Ankloysing spondlities.I can't take any disease modfying drugs due to liver problems.

valval

hi i do feel for you as am 48 and when noticed fingers changing it hit me hard even though knew it could happen it was such a shock do the exercises on here to keep hands stronger but they not great can not help but wanted to say hi and send (((hugs)))

dreamdaisy

Hi Karl81. Oh, I am so sorry. I too have psoriatic arthritis but so far the hands are ok. That's the problem with this group of diseases, you just don't know how it will affect you. I can't offer any advice but hang on in there, this is a good place for finding information and getting support. Take care, Dreamdaisy.

elnafinn

Hi Karl

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to read your posting.

Is this your gp that you are seeing who is diagnosing your hand deformities or a consultant? I would have thought you should be seeing a Hand Consultant or a Rheumatologist. From your posting it does not appear that you are getting too much support from the medics. Would you agree? It does make one feel a little better about things if one at least feels one is being "looked after".

I am sorry I cannot be of any help but wished to comment because I am saddened by your message.

Luv
Elna x

franki

Hi Karl

I think this is called ulnar drift and I am pretty sure you can get splits to help, I think you maybe would have to get your GP to refer you to occupational therapy to get some sorted. They are worn during the day to help ease the pain and to help prevent further deformity.
Hope this helps

franki

karl81

Yeah when i first started to see the changes in my hands i went to see my Gp he thought it was Anular drift he told me when i see my reumatoligist DR David walker from the Freeman hospital to find out what he thinks.He said it was Anular drift and took some xrays they showed that the joints have moved but so far no joint erosion which is good news they think at the moment it's only the tendons, however a arthritis nurse also said once the the joints start to move it's only a matter of time before the joints start to show erosion it's due to the joints that have already moved are unstable wich i suppose is ok.Thanx for the kind welcome and huggs.

dorcas

Hi Karl and welcome to the form from me too.

I have PsA and some OA and have quite a lot of problems with both hands. I agree with other peeps that wearing splints and doing hand exercises is very important in terms of prevention of further Ulnar drift and getting the meds right to prevent inflammation and joint erosion.

I see you have problems with DMARDS but what treatment are you on? and has your rheummy considered the anti tnfs?
a lot of rheummys are now keen to start peeps on these drugs as a way of effectively controlling arther and maintaining joints.....

I think that the earlier you have access to OT Hand Therapy the better as they are specialists and can make a huge difference to keeping your hands/ fingers mobile; so I would encourage you to ask for a referral asap.

Also it may be worthwhile asking if your rheummy dept or OT have a lifestyle management course...can be very helpful in learning how to protect joints and manage arther .....useful no matter what stage of arther we have as I found out after being referred 15yrs on from the start of PsA!

hope you get the right kind of support to keep your hands from more 'drift'..... protection and prevention are the key. (wish I'd been told that years ago)

Iris x

karl81

I went for T.N.F's but when they looked at my M.I.R's scans no imflamation was seen on them so they optid to hang back a little caus they don't want to put my liver under any unecessery stress however my arthritis has a habbit of settling down when it is time for scans ect i was later imformed from jane skerrett(director of the A.S socitey) that some of the other members scans came back compleatly normal yet they got put on T.N.F's.When i was first diagnosed i had xrays ultrer sounds on my hand joints you name i hadd it done and nothing showed up.I have been under my consultant for 2 years now and the first time he he saw my hands swollen was only 3 months ago, he was shocked i wasn't ccaus my hands are always swollen at home, when he saw my hands the last time he could not understand caus in the past all of my scans showed next to no imflamation in my joints but now i have all these damaged ligoments and tendons so scans are by no means bullet proof.My P.S.A has got so bad inn my back hips ect i now have a powered wheelchair supplyed by wheel chair services yet the M.R.I's showed nothing.Sorry for nagging but i get very frustrated at times.

dreamdaisy

Of course you do. It must be so frustrating because you know how you feel, and you know the problems you face, and your bloody body ain't supplying the physical evidence when it should! Arthritis is a devious and wilful master.

It took nine years before I was diagnosed with PA. I have had so many treatments - sulphasalazine, methotrexate, leflunomide, steroids (oral and injected), cyclosporin, infliximab, enbrel, humira (currently) and some I've forgotten. I have had scans, x-rays, knee drainings, I've spent up to three months in bed with a flare, oh it goes on and on and on. It's the most dreary roundabout, but on these forums you will find kindred spirits who know what it's like. Use us to vent your spleen - I promise no-one will grumble at you! I hope you have a tolerable Thursday. Dreamdaisy

madness1985

Hi,

ive got RA and have had it for under 2 years. My ra has changed my life espically in my hands. My hands are totally deformed. Basically im 25 and i crnt use a pen properly sum days i crnt write at all i do everyting i can. Holding thing are a pain i crnt wear gloves, tops are hard to get on (my partner dresses me) but sleved tops r a nitemare as my right hand is almost like a permant fiest so it isnt easy at all.

Rhmy drew pictures last appointment and seemed worried.

On the positive you just learn to live with it its hard. My legamites have dropped in some of my fingers too my physio told me theres nothing that can be done its permanate damge now.

Take care xx

karl81

Hi i know where you are coming from with the pain you get in your hands, i have also noticed when my hands are bad i get alot of shooting pains from my wrist all the way up my arm, when this happens my fingers and my thumbs twitch it's well weird.I can't sign my own name alot of the time , i have been refused a few times the stuff i was buying caus my signiture does not match my old card signiture.I have noticed that my finger that is going a diffrent way has also slietly dropped below the other fingers, i did not know till now that was a difformities aswell.