OA in fingers

magenta

Hello,

I posted a while back about Heberdens nodes and how I had wee lumps appearing on my finger joint. Well, I now have swelling and pain in all my finger joints ( the ones right at the tip). Also, when I woke this morning, my knuckles (on hand) were swollen and had red marks on them. My toes are also sore-again like I've banged them.

My fingers are sore when I hold my steering wheel but tonight, eating my dinner, the joints on my fingers were really sore-a sharp pain. If anyone reading this has OA in their fingers, does this sound familiar?

Thanks,

Magenta xxx

valval

sounds like you are in a flare can you take ibuprophen to help with swelling try ice wrapped in a towel or wheat bad if does not improve go to doc you might need some meds to help val

dorcas

Hi Magenta

Ouch! your hands sound sore! :eek: I have PA (not OA) in my hands and some of what you describe fits very well with my own experiences of arther , including the Heberden's Nodes.

As Val said... it sounds as though you are having a flare. :roll: Best seek some attention from your doc and get adequate pain relief and perhaps a review of your condition to determine if you need a stronger anti-inflammatory(s)......and to make sure it's OA that's causing it.

Meantime you could try val's ice pack suggestion... or I find hot water/ heat pack helps.

Let us know how you are?

Iris xxx

barbara12

Hi Magenta
I have OA, and my left index finger has a lump but isn't painful, but my thumb has no lumps and is extremely painful...its all very confusing...if I was you I would have it checked out with your GP...and please let us know how you get on.

weejean

Hi Magenta

I have OA in my hands. My knuckles and finger joints get very swollen and painful and if I knock them off something, even slightly, the pain is just terrible. I dont have any lumps on my joints but my knuckles are getting bigger and I will have the first two knuckes in each hand replaced in the future. As everyone else is advising, you should go and speak to your doctor for pain relief and maybe investigations into exactly what is going on. I wish you well xx

magenta

Thanks Val and Iris,

I've never had this before. Anything I've looked up says it's indicative of PA. A rhuemy years ago mentioned I may have this but because I didn't have psoriasis, he said can't be that. I'm on an anti-inflamm (Etodolac)and one of my GPs tried changing it with rubbish results so I went back onto it. I'm not going to bother going to GPs again aboout this as they don't do anything.

I had xrays done in March which showed no signs of wear and tear, so again , GPs will not do anything.
It all seems to have happened so quickly.

I've got used to my thumbs being sore and having to restrict some movements but I don't like this with fingers. My dexterity has suddenly been reduced. I couldn't do a simple task today because of my fingers 'not working'.

Thanks for the advice,

Magenta xxx

magenta

Hi Weejean,

I don't think the drs will do anything. I'm going to an ortho appt. soon and I'm going to tell him everything and hope he'll feel sorry for me and get me some help I'll see how they go but I'm back to work tomorrow so I think they'll get worse so maybe I'll end up at the drs!

Thanks,

Magenta xx

lindalegs

Hi Magenta ..............I've just been talking to your sister Eileen

I have nodules on my knuckles and fingers in fact I'm at the stage where I have nodules on my nodules :shock: :shock: I have RA - as I think you know. These days my fingers are only painful when I knock them (no matter how lightly :roll: ) or during a flare. I too am on Etodolac and get on very well with it. The ice/heat suggestion will help with the pain and swelling ( I prefer ice myself) and also try gentle hand exercises to help keep the dexterity.

Luv

dorcas

magenta wrote:

Anything I've looked up says it's indicative of PA. A rhuemy years ago mentioned I may have this but because I didn't have psoriasis, he said can't be that.
Magenta xxx

Hi Magenta,

Not everyone who has PA has/ had Psoriasis! so unfortunately (or fortunately) I have to disagree with what your rheummy said!
In fact in 20% of known cases of PA the joint inflammation comes first.

I've posted you a link to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance which you may find helpful... although I'd caution you against self diagnosis!
http://papaa.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=26

good luck when you next see the rheummys.

Iris xxx

magenta

Hi Barbara,

I'm sorry when I replied earlier to Val and Iris, I must have missed your post :oops: I've only seen it now, so thanks!

Hi Linda,

I'll need to have a look at what you told my sister! Heat works better for me, I'm heating my bag whilst I type! The Etodolac, I feel works ok but it's one particular dr at my surgery who, for some reason, doesn't like it. He questions me every time I go for an appt. to say I'm sore-he's actually very rude hence why I don't go to him!! I'm so happy to see you back on-line. xxxx

Hi again Iris,

Thanks for your link. I know it's not great about self-diagnosing but I feel better thinking I could maybe come up with the answer to all my problems. I'm not with a rhuemy anymore. I'm going to have to go back at some point to GPs to ask for a referral but as I don't have a positive RF in blood they won't do it :x

I meant to also say that my fingers feel like they've all been caught in a door-every joint is swollen, all that's missing is the bruising you would get!!!!
Thanks again everybody, I'll keep you updated,

Magenta xxxx

PS I'm being nosey here, Iris, where in North Lanarkshire are you from?

skezier

Hi Eileen,

Flower this just doesn't sound like oa......

oa swells the joints but usually it doesn't swell the whole finger... I also have oa and pa and don't ever know whats doing what in my hands as there is both attacking them now.

Just that doesn't sound like oa.

I use heat on mine cus I can't stand the idea of the cold.....I also move them a lot and kinda think it might help BUT I have little feeling left in my hands now a days and it might hurt to do that if you do have feeling in them.

When you see the ortho he might fast track you back to a rumo with a bit of luck as well as look at your oa....

Hang in there flower. Love and a ((((( ))))) Cris xx

magenta

Hi Cris,

Thank you. I don't know what to do now-except grin and bear it!

Hope you are well?

love Eileen xx

skezier

H Eileen,

see what the ortho says cus you see him soon. He will know if its oa or not but I just wonder cus its not quite what oa usually does.

I use a lot of heat on mine.... Its also complicated by the acro and raynaud's in my hands case but ice might be better at getting the swelling down. I just can't do it lack of feeling or not

Its not long now till you go is it? I do think if you can a photo might be a good idea though mine don't really go down much. It's Hard to know in my case cus the 2 of them are slogging it out in my hands so I don't know which is doing what but yours doesn't really sound like oa but the ortho will know!

Hang in there and leaving you a ((((( ))))) Cris xx

frogmorton

Hi Eileen

l am certain l posted on this thread before but think its gone AWOL :sad:

Take aphoto yes as Cris said...oddly enough l have done the same!! Make sure you are wearing your rings or something to evidence it really IS your hands me paranoid?? NEVER!!!

Love and hugs

Toni xx

woodbon

I have OA in my fingers and wrists and it often flares up if I try and use my hands more. I have a fair few nodules - my little fingers looks like a twisted twig! My fingers swell when the pain is bad and go red and don't want to bend at all except into a sort of claw with my middle finger sticking up straight!!! :eek:

The OT reccommeded using heat then cold straight after the other, but I prefer heat. Love Sue

magenta

Thanks everyone,

The swelling I have is now is travelling down the finger.In the morning and when I'm driving, writing etc.. they get worse. Night-time (right now) they are bad. The swelling isn't drastic as such-just there and I know they're swollen. The only way I can describe what it looks like (and feels like!) is, if anyone has ever got their finger jammed in a door? I used to always do it with the car door-you would get a dent and then swelling between the nail and finger joint. Also, my joints seem more pronounced than normal. I can see the difference but I don't think the dr will agree. I'm sorry this is very confusing.
My pinky finger in particular, feels like the joint is being compressed :shock: Does OA get worse at night?

Thanks, and hopefully you'll get what I mean,

Magenta xxx

angie1973

I have OA in both index fingers. The knuckle on each finger (top knuckle when you make a fist) is getting bigger, like it's spreading out, and when I am in a flare, this feels warm and red, but doesn't swell too much.

It feels stiff in the mornings, eases up over the day (I type a lot during the day) and then gets stiffer again at night. If the temperature drops or there is damp or rain I really know about, as my joints ache.

I have it in my left big toe, neck and knees too, and it's the same kind of feelings.

The doctor doesn't see you every day, but you do, so you know your body better than anyone. If it feels like they are swollen and getting worse, I'd get it checked out. If you wear any rings, and they are feeling tighter etc, then you know it's the swelling.

I use a gel pack, which you can either freeze or heat which helps the joints feel better. Heat works better for me, so I stick with what I know

It does sound more than just OA though, might be worth being persistent with your doctor.

Take care, Ange..xx

magenta

Thanks Ange,

I've been in alot more pain today. It's sos painful, now pain in all of my fingers into knuckles and into palms. My left thumb is very painful. I couldn't release my handbtake today to drive home. I had to use my right thumb to release the button and use both hands to move it. Also I've noticed, when writing or doing fiddly things, my right hand jerks forward-outwith my control.
I'm going to write it all down but I can only manage for a few minutes at a time before I have to rest-sometimes my writing is unreadable. I know what I'm trying to write but my hand won't do it!!!

I know I should go to gps but I can't be bothered with it. I get so frustrated and end up crying.

Thanks for your reply Ange and hope you're keeping well,

Eileen x

skezier

Hi Eileen,

I just hope they will help you this time! The help is so long overdue and well got everything crossed for you.

Hot water gets my hands moving a bit more freely and flexing them wiggling the fingers also can help. I think mine is the pa in the fingers and knuckles cus they mirror but I have oa mixed in with it and never know what is doing what.

hang in there flower and for once they better help else I shall shoot out the pocket and really go for them! Love and a hope Cris xx

frogmorton

Ooh yes Eileen!!

My ex MIL used to fill the sink with as hot water as she could manage to loosen the stuck ones in the morning with her trigger finger.

Nothing lost trying it???

Love and hugs

Toni xx

woodbine

Hi,
I have oA in my fingers and thumbs (and other places!) - and I know just what you mean about when you know your fingers are swollen, but feel that it's not enough to convince the Dr - good to know I'm not the only one, as sometimes it feel as if it's only in my imagination - well, it would, except that they're painful too!
I only have a couple of definite nodes, both on my index fingers, but a lot of pain in most of my finger & thumb joints. I also have problems getting my rings off now. Like others of you, my writing is getting worse & worse - and it never was very neat to start with Sewing is very painful too.
We have a friend who has OA in his hands and feet, whose fingers swell up quite often. My mum has OA too - and lots of nodes on her fingers. (We are both finding that the middle joints of our little fingers are slowly bending a bit - not sure why.)

So, while I think that new symptoms are always best checked with Dr, I'd agree that OA certainly can cause nodes and swelling on the fingers.

Not sure if that's helpful - hope so,

Naomi

dotty123

Totally can relate to this, my middle joints are larger than normal now and extreme pain in them, esp when knocked. I have lumps in the palm of my hand which hurts to change gear and pull up the hand brake ( tho just changed car to automatic.. still hurts to pull handbrake ) My little finger won't bend on the end, but that doesn't cause too much of a problem.

It does sound very much like OA to me. Again I feel that the doctors and hospital of not much use, nothing can be done.. so they say.. just pain killers..

xx

magenta

Hi,

Thanks again everyone for your replies. I'm really struggling now. My wrists are very painful. I think it must be some kind of arthritis. It's always symmetrical, both wrists, both ankles, shoulders and each hand. Feels like every joint is bad.
Sorry for the moan but I'm sore today.

Thanks,

Eileen x

weejean

Hi Eileen

You just go ahead and moan as much as you want, we all have days like that. My left hand is really bad just now, my knuckles are enormous and so sore and stiff. I, like many others use hot water to try to ease the pain and it also helps to get things moving in the morning. I always feel worse at night and when its cold/damp. I know you feel that your doctor is no use but please try again. If you have no confidence in him change to another doctor, thats what I did and the doctor I have now is amazing. He cant cure anything but he takes the time to listen to me and I really feel that he cares and understands. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you. Sending you hugs xx

magenta

Thanks Jean,

I'm hoping the dr and ortho person next week will come uo with something. I'm getting quite tearful now with the pain. I'm going to have to stop typing for now.

Thank you,

Eileen x

woodbine

Hi Eileen,

Just noticed what you said about your problems being symetrical, and was just wondering if your mum, or any other relatives have oA?

I'm asking this because I have a hereditary type of OA called nodal OA, and like yours, it's progressed symetrically - first both hands, then both knees and now both elbows. My mum's OA is the same. Nodal OA particularly affects the hands, so it might be worth asking your GP/specialist about this.

Naomi