My hands - is this arthritis?

ArthriticOne

Hi all - I'm new here.

I'm male, 50 years of age

Just before Christmas I started to develop pain in my left thumb when opening jars and doing any task that involved my thumb 'straining' up and back (for example, picking up a kettle full of water - my kettle has a vertical handle).

After a week or two some pain started in my right thumb.

The pain is always at the second joint of the thumb - NOT where it joins the wrist, but further up on the 'second' joint where it's near the web of skin between the thumb and index finger.

I've also experienced a little pain in some of the joints of my other fingers, but that is intermittent and i'm not sure if it's related. Maybe it's psychosomatic?

Over the past couple of days the top pad of my left thumb has sometimes felt slightly numb.

I've also had some pain in my right wrist when it's bent at certain angles, but it's intermittent and variable.

I sit down a lot - my job involves repairing electronic circuit boards - I've been doing this for about 11 years. It's not particularly taxing on my hands and fingers and I only do it, on average, for a few hours per day, sometimes even managing to have a day off (although I work from home and am self employed so tend to work most days).

The joints on my hands look fine - no swelling, so redness.

I have found that lately I tend to sleep awkwardly, and often wake up with one of my hands numb simply because I've been sleeping on it. Once I flex the fingers a bit to get the circulation going it comes back to life within seconds.

Am I perhaps causing problems with my hands when sleeping?

Also, over the past 4 months I've been playing a game on my computer a lot - this involves mainly using my left hand on the 'WASD' keys (my thumb is largely inactive) and my right hand on the mouse - again, the thumb is inactive as it just serves to lightly grip the mouse. Not sure if that is relevant, but I'm trying to be thorough with my information. I haven't played the game for about a week now.

Maybe I have some kind of RSI or carpal tunnel syndrome developing?!?

I saw my doctor about this about 10 days ago - he sent me to get X-rays taken on the NHS. This was done just over a week ago and it'll be another week or two before the results are back.

When checking my thumbs, my doctor mentioned about there being some subluxation, and something about being almost double-jointed with rather 'loose' joints (if my memory is correct).

I'd prefer to get a referral to a specialist and go private - who should I see, an osteopath?

I live in south Wales.

Many thanks for any advice that anyone can offer.

stickywicket

Hello ArthriticOne. Welcome to the forum although I’m sorry you needed to find us.

Waiting for a potential diagnosis is a tough time and it’s something that drives a lot of people here. Unfortunately, although we have a lot of arthritic experience among us, we’re not docs and can’t do diagnoses. All I can tell you, from what you’ve written, is that it might or might not be.

I think your own analysis is good. It might be arthritis but it could also be repetitive strain injury or the fact that you seem to be sleeping ‘funny’ on your hands. The pain in the other finger joints? I doubt it’s psychosomatic but it is true that, in situations such as yours, we can all become more aware of ‘little niggles’ that we would otherwise have been oblivious to. The fact that you have no swelling or redness doesn’t of itself, mean that it can’t be arthritis. I can tell you that, if I hold the mouse too long – even lightly – I will have problems with my wrist and thumb but, again, this doesn’t mean that yours is arthritis. It could mean that mine, in that area, is repetitive strain.

If you want to see a specialist privately I would have thought you’d want a rheumatologist rather than an osteopath but, if it were me, I’d wait on the X-rays. I know it’s hard waiting but, believe me, two weeks is nothing with this disease. Depending on what the x-rays show, and what your doc then says, I’d consider my options again. I hope it’s good news.

elnafinn

Hi ArthriticOne

Having OA in my thumbs I can commiserate with you when they will not do what you want them to do. :roll: I cannot give you a diagnosis on what is the matter with your hands/thumbs of course but I too would first wait to see what the gp says about the xrays. I am surprised that you have to wait 2 weeks for results. You may find they are covering themselves and you could try calling your gps secretary or practice nurse, (however you find out results of bloods and xrays at your surgery) after a week has passed.

Has your gp prescribed any anti inflammatories for you? Splints are sometimes of help too. If you would like to go private after hearing the xray results, why not ask your gp who he/she would suggest you see. They usually refer you by writing a letter anyway. You can have steroid injections in thumbs etc so that is something to think about. This would usually be done by a hand surgeon if he thought it a good idea and would be done in the appointment time especially if it is a private consultation.Perhaps rheumatologists give steroid injections too, on this I amnot sure as I have OA not RA. Steroid injections are not a total cure but can give relief for quite a few months if you are lucky. We are all different so have varying stories to tell.

Out of interest, did your gp send you for any blood tests? I have a feeling that should you see someone privately and they wish to do xrays, they would be done again because as far as I am aware NHS/private do not share information.

Do let us know how you go on.

Elna x

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's lovely to meet you and I sincerely hope you are not destined to be part of our gang. I think a better user name for you would be 'Possibly I'm an ArthriticOne'!

Please don't rush into any decisions until you have had the results of the Xrays, if it is shown to be OA then your GP will be the one dealing with it. The problems could be a combination of general aging, having a fiddly job, too much mousework (or even housework ) but whatever it is it is very early days for you. You may be feeling other pains as you are using your hands more awkwardly as a result of the thumb trouble, or, because the thumb trouble is new you are more aware of pain than before. As for the sleeping thing, well, I can't help on that, but it may be worth finding out about some form of glove-wear to support the finger joints and keep them warm. My Ma bought me some 'arthritis' fingerless mittens, they are made of neoprene and I find them totally useless but they do help others.

Please let us know what the Xray results are, and I hope we can better help you then. I wish you well. DD

frogmorton

Just a quick welcome from me

Glad you have found us.

I concur with Elna on the results issue....they are very likely o be there already....he surgeries often say 10 working days so hey dont get inundated with telephone calls. Having said hat whenever there are issues on any of my tests l have had a telephone call from the GP without me calling them.

In your shoes l would get an appointment with your GP ready so you can discuss he results. Do not discuss with receptionist, wait to see the GP because if the results are clear you will want to know the next course of action won't you?

Love

Toni xx

ArthriticOne

Thanks very much for all of the advice, I really appreciate it.

I'll give the surgery a call tomorrow to see if they have the results, and also book an appointment to see the doc.

The additional thing I've been noticing during the past two days is slight numbness on the topmost pad of my left thumb - I can't help but think this is a nerve being 'squeezed' somewhere, and is no doubt related to the pain in my thumbs.

I should also say that I have full movement in my thumbs, it's just that in certain positions there is some pain. It also varies from day to day.

jillyb1

We're not doctors so can't diagnose . Hope you get to see your doctor soon so you can get some answers , thinking of you . Jillyb

stickywicket

Please let's know how you get on, ArhriticOne.

ArthriticOne

I've just had a thought (don't laugh ) - a month or two ago I was getting a lot of thick mucus at the back of my throat that could sometimes make me gag.

I recalled reading that milk could thicken mucus, and I used to drink 3 or so mugs of hot chocolate per day (mostly made with milk and a couple of spoonfulls of Green & Black's Hot Chocolate).

About a month ago I stopped drinking the hot chocolate and the thick mucus disappeared, but conincidentally the aches in my thumbs started ........

Coincidence? Perhaps!

bambi59

If you think chocolate will sort out my hand pain ill surely try it !!
if this would be the cure I think my whole body would be pain free, i don't drink any hot drinks, only the occasional chocolate, but my hands and especially thumbs are painful. The only effect of the hot chocolate diet is inches around my waist and a little contentment.
The best relief I have found is a cmc (joint of the thumb) joint support for my left hand and right hand. I originally went through the carpal tunnel and tests for nerve damage tests due to numbness tingling. I do have nerve damage to hands but not carpal tunnel. My hands stick in place when using knife and folk, mine is all down to arthritis I think.
Once the results come through you will be advised by your doctor who to see, and where you can get help privately
good luck to you arthriticone
and im just about to increase my drinking chocolate intake watch this space
just thought could be the hands around a hot cup could help heat usually does 2 cures in one

frogmorton

Aha!!

I just bought some hot choccy for the kids - with it being so cold...brrrr!!!

Think l will give it a go too

Dont forget to let us know how you get on with the doctor.

Love

Toni xxx

bambi59

hi
its me again just thought :oops: the hot chocolate question it may not seem so weird because, my nephew went to the doctors with pain in both hands a couple of months ago. He plays a lot on the computer gaming so thought the same as you. he was first told it was arthritis but after tests it came back as vitamin D deficiency. vitamin D found in milk chocolate and sunshine, gamers don't get out in the sun a lot !! so as you see there are lots of options the doctor can choose from. Thats why its best to wait for the results. I don't like the psychosomatic label I think there is usually a reason for pain. I hope you get to the bottom of it as it can be quite frustrating.
sooooooooo is the hot chocolate theory so way off the mark, may not be.
the hot chocolate is still a good idea
please keep us posted

dreamdaisy

Dairy and sugar are individually good producers of mucus, combine them and wowsers! I spent my childhood avoiding both substances thanks to chronic eczema and asthma. Even now, despite the immune-flattening drugs I take, mucus makes its presence felt when too much of summat sugary has been consumed. DD

ArthriticOne

Interesting about the Vitamin D. IF it is the hot choc that's helping, I wonder if it really is the chocolate or the milk .....

Think I'll try the hot choc while waiting for the X-ray results.

BTW Bambi, any recommendations for a good thumb support please?

ArthriticOne

dreamdaisy wrote:

Dairy and sugar are individually good producers of mucus, combine them and wowsers! I spent my childhood avoiding both substances thanks to chronic eczema and asthma. Even now, despite the immune-flattening drugs I take, mucus makes its presence felt when too much of summat sugary has been consumed. DD

Interesting, I hadn't realised that both Dairy and sugar are such a bad thing re mucus. Thankfully I rarely take sugar, I use sweeteners instead (which no doubt also cause problems!).

bambi59

Hi
yes arthriticone the best thumb support for me is one I have now iv tried a few some have made it worse, others cumbersome not to mention expensive.
write in on e--y CoolMesh Wristlet Thumb Brace
you can choose size and what hand at only 3.75 + 1.50 post
some are 20.00+ so its worth a try I have found the cheaper one better!
good luck

ArthriticOne

Great, many thanks.

ArthriticOne

Well, just seen the doc and the X-Rays were negative (thankfully) - no sign of any physical problems whatsoever.

Looks like it it's the ligaments as my joints are VERY flexible and sub-luxing. Have been recommended to try some kind of exercise ball for my hands, so will start a new thread to ask for recommendations.

Thanks all