Knuckle pain.

wibberley

Did anyone else suffer from knuckle pain before their RA was diagnosed? I did but put it down to cutting carpet to line the cage of my new guide dog pup!

Have just read in a mag that this is a common sign of the onset of RA - just wondered if anyone else experienced this?

Lois x

tillytop

Hi Lois,

I didn't suffer from knuckle pain before my diagnosis (feet were my first problem) but knuckle pain followed very quickly thereafter.

Just read on Caprica's thread about your headaches when you started sulpha - so glad they have now disappeared. I nearly gave up on sulpha for the same reason but mine went too as I got used to it thank goodness!

Hope the sulpha works for you.

Love Tilly x

wibberley

Hi Tilly,

Yes, I've been on the sulpha for 6 months now, and so far so good.

Fingers crossed it keeps working well for the both of us!

Lois x

tillytop

Thanks Lois, and so pleased for you.

I am no longer taking Sulpha because I moved onto other things and the consultant felt that, whilst it wasn't doing me any harm to continue, it probably wasn't needed with the other drugs. I took it for about 12 years though with no probs at all once the initial headaches subsided.

Really good luck with it!

Love Tilly x

whitey44

wibberley wrote:

Did anyone else suffer from knuckle pain before their RA was diagnosed? I did but put it down to cutting carpet to line the cage of my new guide dog pup!

Have just read in a mag that this is a common sign of the onset of RA - just wondered if anyone else experienced this?

Lois x

Hello Lois

Mines started with dreadful pain in middle finger of right hand - moved to toes, both feet, returned to whole of right hand, shifted to left hand: excruciating pain, could not use right hand.

Was on hols with my friend (nurse) she applied bandage ,I rested for three days after which time pain miraculously disappeared. GP put it down to being overworked. Arthur struck with full force a few weeks later and I've suffered with every joint in both hands since that time.

:idea: Try massaging hands with a little warm Olive oil (any brand will do) at night and wear gloves to keep them warm.

:?: Have you seen the OT for splints?

Pure wishes & love

Whitey X

wibberley

Hi Whitey - thanks for the tips. That olive oil massage would also do my dry skin the world of good!

Hiya Lynn - good to hear from you. I've been up to my neck in kids activities but am now nearing the end....they go back so school on Weds....yay! :P

I remember at the time thinking I might have gout! I had no idea it was a prelude to RA? After the RA did surface, my knuckles were probably the only joints not in pain!

Lois x

tkachev

I have knuckle pain on 2 fingers n my R.A free hand so Im wondering if the pain is spreading.

My elbows were bad for 8 years prior to R.A so often wonder if they were connected.


Elizabeth

scattered

My hands were the first place I had symptoms. I used to get Carpel Tunnel like pins and needles - in fact that was what was first diagnosed - then I developed shooting pains going across both knuckles and swelling. The second GP who saw me took one look at my hands and said I had an inflammatory arthritis. Wham, bam, the beginning of my RA journey!

rachelj

Hi Lois,

I too had knuckle pain and put it down to some form of RSI from typing too much. It felt like I had punched a wall, I only went to the doctors because the first knuckles on my index figures became so sore I couldn't hold anything, turn a key etc.

I hope you have your RA under control, I am waiting to see the rheumatologist for the first time to confirm my endless pains are RA.

Take Care

Rach

marion1952

Hi Lois

I had hand pain before i was diagnosed and also thought it was tendonitis caused by walking my dogs.. it was a 'searing' pain through the middle of my hand and made me cry.

Are your knuckles swollen and 'squishy'?

What's the pup called? Is it a he or a she?

Marion x

wibberley

Many thanks for all your replies.

Sorry, I hadn't explained myself very well - this knuckle pain was over 2 years ago, but I just read about it being a symptom of RA today! My RA's now well controlled with sulpha (for now).

Marion, I just board pups occasionally now for Guide Dogs - got a 10-week old black lab next month...can't wait!

Lois x

marion1952

Hi again Lois

I just had the severe hand pains for 4 months before I developed full blown RA, but a lot of people do say they had various hand (and feet) pains for a couple/several years before the RA developed properly ..

How lovely that you board guide dog puppies!! I am jealous..
I have 2 Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) aged 6 and 5.. they are half sisters (same father, different mother)..


Marion x

sugarbuttie

Hi

I am replying mainly because you are called LOIS!

This is my favourite girl's name & for this reason, obviously, it is my daughter's name (she is only 4).

Lois-ness aside....I am at an early stage in the arthritis stakes. Had steroid injection til next appt in Sept when I will hopefully start sulph.

It all started in my hands....stiff fingers, thumbs, wrists etc...pairing socks & pegging washing out are 'no go' areas for me. I am getting a small pair of scissors for my handbag as I am sick of struggling with little packets (ketchup in mcdonalds), lollies in park, sugar in cafe etc.......

So, not knuckles per se but HANDS yes...small buttons NO little packets NO...sweet wrappers..NO!!!!!!

Seems hand trouble is how it all starts...

wibberley

You have good taste Sugarbuttie!

So sorry to hear you are suffering with your hands, I had that same nightmare last winter. Every morning I would optimistically attempt to make a fist only to be 'very' sorely disappointed. What did help was putting my hands in a sink-ful of tolerably hot water for a few minutes. The relief was short-lived but nice while it lasted.

Good luck with the sulpha - I did endure some humdinger headaches while my body adjusted to the meds but got there in the end. Don't do what I did - take 3 tabs in one go, thinking I was supposed to take them weekly. I nearly passed out in Marks & Spencers!

Marion - Shetlands are gorgeous. There's a pup near us and everytime we see it there's a chorus of 'can we have one???' from the kids! Our own pet is a retired guide dog, who to be honest, isn't very happy at having pups around. I compromised and only take pups who are still young enough to sleep in crates!

Does seem to be hands and feet that suffer first!

Lois x

dorcas

Hi Lois

I don't have RA...so can't answer your question.

I too have probs with PA arther pain in hands....including the knuckles of my left hand.

I use heat to help... hot wax is much more effective and longer lasting than dipping hands in hot water
I bought myself a hot wax therapy 'unit on advice from my hand therapist. The hot wax is very soothing and because it is a non invasive treatment you can use it as many times a day as you want....so when my hands are bad I use it often!

Love the idea of the guide dog pup...great fun! I have two labs..Ruby and Jakey boy who at three 1/2 years of age haven't yet outgrown being scatty :roll: but even though they are 'loons', my old cat Smudge knows exactly how to put them in their place

Hope you're having a nice sunny Sunday.

Iris x

woodbon

Hi I have stiff and painful fingers, but the blood tests have all been fine. I have had carpel tunnel, so it could be that. I know that one of the first things they x-ray is the hands, to check for RA, so it must be one of the first places. Love Sue

deborahjane

this was my first sympton,but is was more in fingers,and painful to write,then it went to my feet,was diagnosed with ra,not long after,that was 15 years ago now,hope you get some relief soon, 8) 8)

skezier

Hi Lois,

Was wondering how you are and hope Nevile is good?

I got problems with the first joint of the knuckles as well.... had swelling on them for years but as the rf never came more than height normal they didn't take much bother to it.... now the wrists have joined in and the elbows they say its pa so maybe mine were an indicative thing?

They don't hurt too much but I get then lock into cramp quite a bit as well.

Hope your keeping ok though and all this lot are growing and growing. Get mugged by 3 every time they see me and so glad my shoes are steel toed cus primmy is at the chew the feet phase...... :roll: She is lovely and thrown back to her grandma who was 5/8th T/B I so wish I had money to buy her and her Mum ((((( ))))) and so good to see you. Cris xx

Hey Marion,

2 Shelties..... no wonder they can be naughty Mine send slurps and tips on advanced naughtiness (mind they may not need that ) Cris xx

flossy46

I still haven't been diagnosed yet but after reading this thread I am more convinced than ever that I have RA. Every time I go to the docs though the swelling has miraculously gone. I was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome about 10 years ago now.

dreamdaisy

Take some photos of it when it's bad, then you have proof. It is so frustrating - it's like going to the dentist - suddenly the toothache vanishes about 10 seconds after making the appointment! Have you had blood tests flossy? DD

janie68

Isn't it funny how RA does different things to different people? I know they say RA tends to hit the hands first. For me it hit my feet first when I was first diagnosed. 15+ years later, it has only got my hands within the last 6 months. But it is hitting them big time now, the swelling over my knuckles is horrible. I have splints that I wear every day but on and off and they do help. My knuckles crack too, the noise I cringe at. Ugh!

So splints get them if you haven't already, use ice packs if they are hot (the knuckles) then alternate with heat. That may help

Janie

flossy46

I've had blood test but nothing showed up. I'm having a very bad day painwise and think I'll be off to the hospital when I finish work tonight

skezier

Hi Flossy,

Nothing showed in my blood tests except inflammation. Have you been sent to see a Rumo? Mine is pa and that doesn't come up in your blood.... I think you should take some pics and also I really think ask to see a Rumo again or first.

Hope your ok in your self? Cris x

flossy46

Hi Cris,

my swollen fingers don't show up all that well on pictures as i have quite red skin.

haven't been referred to reumatologist yet as every time i go to the doc there appears to be nothing wrong.

my doc is really useless. as i've said on here before i am going to have to try a different one next time.

flossy46

hi everyone. not been on here for quite a while but pains have come back recently. went back to the docs again and this time he gave me Arthrotec. seemed to work but then i got a very strange side effect which i wont go into on here. still not been referred to rhuematologists as my doc is convinced that it is fibromyalgia. i don't know how much longer i can go on like this. getting very frustrated now

skezier

Hi Flossy,

Nice t see you again

I might be wrong but I think you can insist on having a consultants opinion..... Might be worth trying?

Flower I had useless doctors for over 12 years... its down to them that my neck is too far gone and been written off cus they wouldn't even send me for an xray. I know how upsetting and frustrating it is to be in that position and is there any way you can get another practice or walk in center to take you on?

I tell you I know to my cost what useless doctors do to you long term....

He you can break the deadlock and I honestly think you have to get away from those doctors and get a referral to a rumo. Leaving you a ((( ))) and a bucket of stamina to fight the useless doctors you seem to have. Cris x