wrist problems

jennylynn

Hi there everyone,

I originally posted this in the work matters part of the forum, but a very kind member suggested i re-post here as although my wrist problem is work related, people may have some advice.

Apologies if you have already read this post.

Still relatively new to the site so i apologise if someone has asked for similar advice (and i just havent come across it!) just wondered if anyone else had problems with their wrists in the morning?
I have PA and am currently taking MTX, Celebrex and Cocodamol. I'm pretty stubborn with my condition, and really do push myself to keep as active as possible but i am really struggling with my left wrist, mainly in the morning.
I get alot of pain in the night and often wake up with pins and needles, but by the morning the inside of my wrist is very red and tender. The main problem is holding things and gripping things until it eases off later in the day.
I'm doing a dentistry course at present and really need to keep my wrist in good condition, so i was hoping someone would have some tips or exercises to keep it moving?

Thank you

Jenny x

tjt6768

Hi Jenny, welcome to the site.
I was diagnosed with sero-neg Arthur in both wrists in March, put on hydroxycloroquine straight away, sadly it's not really worked at all, but I have been doing excersises from the physio, they're at least helping with the loss of strength that I also have like you.. I too have real problems on a morning, pins and needles like nobody's business, all in my thumb, little finger and ring finger mainly.. I have been using capsciacin cream, it doesn't really stop the pain as such but it does help enough for the excersises to be bareable..
I am going back to the rheumy on the 17th, will post on what they say..
It's so frustrating when you just cannot grip something eh?

Tony

dreamdaisy

Oooh, that sounds miserable. I don't know if a wrist support would be any good - would it be possible for you to be referred to an Occupational Therapist? They (I think) would be able to assess your wrist and perhaps give you some tips and hints and coping strategies: I know that many others on here have contact with OTs and find them useful. I wish you well. DD

lavenderlady

having just had a wrist replacment op last month I know how bad wrist pain can be I would suggest a good wrist support for night time I often use a hot water bottle to relieve the pain and stiffness, my left wrist was done and my right wrist is still painful but not as deformed by arther as my left wrist, but the biggest boost is no pain in my new joint, I've been left with a bad wound that got infected leaving me with a hole on the back of my hand/wrist and numbness in my fingers but am ever hopeful it improves with time, as for you try algesal cream my DR gave it to me it doesnt heat up or cool down but makes the pain disapear plus if you massage it in , it all helps, for pain relief i use 3 for different degrees of pain Zapain dehydrocodeine and tramadol I also have 3 ammitriptyline every night which might help you with your wrist

jennylynn

Thank you for all the advice and the kind words x:))

Got a response from the rheumy nurse at the hospital.
She basically said that if i go to my gp and they recommend any new medication (steroids, antibiotics etc) for my wrist then it could affect my ability to take part in the clincal trial (still not confirmed that my blood work was ok for me to go ahead) so not too sure what that means?! if i can take part in the trial i should have an appt next wednesday, if not i dont really know where that leaves me....

she did recommend the arnica gel and witch hazel though. I tried wearing a support but it actually made it feel much worse. I think i am possibly just going to have to live with it until i can get back to the hospital.
I'm really torn by the clincal trial, in some ways if it works it could make all my joints feel better, but if not i feel a bit like its all just deteriorating for no reason when they could be trying something else, the dose of methotrexate i am on is not working and the rheumatologist told me that back in july.
I know everyone can sympathise with the waiting and the hospital appointments!!!

Jenny x

dorcas

Hi Jenny and nice to meet you

I have PA affecting a number of joints including both wrists and some fingers. I have had surgery on both wrists (after 10 yrs of gradual joint deterioration) which has helped me greatly.

Before having the ops I found that hot wax treatment that I had at physio was very soothing and relieved the constant nagging pain in my wrists. Physio suggested I buy a hot wax hand therapy unit so that I could do the treatment at home... and for me it was money well spent..(costs about £40.00). It doesn't reduce arther's onslaught but does help in coping with the pain and stiffness.

I was interested to read that you may be starting a clinical trial?... I may have missed this but wondered which drug it is?

Hope all goes smoothly for you Jenny.

Iris xxxx x:rudolf

Wonkylegs

Hi Jenny

just seen Iris's post and have added the wax therapy unit to my christmas list anything is worth a try eh?

hope you are ok
hugs
WOnky

jennylynn

Good evening all

sorry its taken a few days to respond, i treat patients on thurs and fridays so i am usually pretty tired towards the end of the week!

Iris, thats some really good advice! and i love the idea of the hot wax therapy, i am looking into purchasing a unit. I dont think i have mentioned the drug, to be honest i couldnt remember what it was! its called Ustekinumab. I know its currently used in psoriasis treatment and they are trying to see how effective it is in PA. I have actually only just today had the green light from the hospital that i am eligible to take part in the trial, so thats good news!
I am going to see the joint assessor on monday and have all my baseline measurements and xrays taken on wednesday, so i am hoping to know more about it then. Not actually sure when the treatment is going to start but lets hope it is effective and that everyone can benefit from it.

Hugs to all,

Jenny x

mp1952

Hi Jenny

I used to have a 'searing' pain in the inside of my wrist and spreading up my arm when I first developed RA in 2008. In my case it was because the inflammation in my wrist was interfering with the nerve in the carpal tunnel area of my wrist. I had a steriod injection in my hand/wrist and it helped with the pain.

I also have the paraffin wax kit the same as Iris (Dorcas) and it is very very soothing.. (I leave mine plugged in all the time as it can take several hours to melt the wax again if you keep switching it on an off)..

BW

Marion

dorcas

Hi jenny x:)

WoW... that is such interesting news! I read an article on Ustekinumab in the Lancet some months ago that said that this drug had shown great promise in treating PA in trials in Europe and Canada.

At that time it had only been approved in the UK for the treatment of persistent and widespread Psoriasis... but not the Psoriatic Arthritis/ opathy.

.... so this is wonderful news and may give hope to lots of us with PA. x:D

Please let us know when you start this drug and how you get on with it. x

Very best luck Jenny!

Iris xxx

ironic

Hello jenny,
Great that things are moving forward for you, hopefully it will not be long before you join the trial. I do hope your pre- appointments go well for you. Fingers crossed that the gels give you some interim relieve. I don’t think that you will regret buying the wax unit.
Take care and let us all know how you get on.
Lv, Ix