I'm gonna scream!!!!

tinydancer

My knuckle on my left hand is in absolute agony And I'm left handed too :x

There must be something I can do to ease this pain, please any advice anyone.....

When i clench my fist its as if the knuckle is sticking right out my hand....boooooohoooo

barking1

Not sure what you can do but sending you a genle ((((((((((( ((((((((((( hug hope it helps xx Jane

Minnierose

Really old school I know, (and you've probably tried it already) but I find that the best thing for swelling is constant ice packs. Even if it doesn't bring down the swelling much it feels really good. I've been walking around for two days with one on my shoulder. I look like a hunchback but its the only thing that works!

Min x

applerose

I can only suggest painkillers and an ice pack but am sending a (((hug)). Hope the pain eases soon.

tinydancer

Thanks all, i never really try ice packs usually go for heat packs instead. Will try them though.

Trying to explain what the pain is like isn't easy either is it

millie78

Sympathies from here. I know what u mean I can never describe the pain - I resort to " its worse than childbirth!" Is it just me or do u find there's a window opportunity to take painkillers othewise they just don't work?

dreamdaisy

I use the analogy of having toothache in my joint. Not everyone has arthritis but most people have had toothache. Wherever the 'toothache' may be it's still an affront. DD

tinydancer

Oh help this pain is just unbearable
I actually feel quite nauseous with it now

I hope and pray this isnt goin to stay forever, I know in the
Past it's been bad for few days sometimes
Couple weeks but never this long.
Can't take it much longer.....

phoenixoxo

Hi tinydancer,

I'm so sorry you're in so much pain.

Would you be able to arrange to see your doctor tomorrow? Or perhaps contact a rheumatology helpline?

Hugs,
Phoebe

earthspirit

tinydancer oh i dont know what to do for you - try putting your knuckle in your mouth a bit or running your lips against it - remember they way you did if you got a cut or something when you were a kid. the gentle pressure and warmth might give a bit of release from pain.

you could go to local pharmacy or phone nhs24 and ask them what you can take - most people, but not everybody can quite safely take paracetamol codeine and some nsaid in a combination of 2 or 3 of them. do not do this without checking as you may have whatever condition i dont know about where any of them could be harmful

hope you get some relief soon

Heather65

Oh poor you ,i know what its like when you have pain that wont go away ,i find cold is good for me and painkillers hope it stars to ease soon ,
Heather

dreamdaisy

Oh lordy lordy - which knuckle is affected, tinydancer? Is it swollen, hot or cold, grown in size? It could be time to contact your GP or rheumatologist as it would appear that this has been going on for too long. DD

tjt6768

I'm really sorry you're suffering so much hun.
I hope it eases soon..
Yorkshire Blokey hugs....

tinydancer

Thanks all for the advice.

It's my index finger on my left hand. I really should contacts rheumatologist but last time I went she wanted me to start on methotrexate and I am really scared to start on that and really don't want to go down that route. I know it's really stupid and I should try it and it'll help no doubt....dont know what to do :shock:

earthspirit

tiny i dont know if you have had any steroid injections? when both my hands had flared totally out of shape it felt like a miracle after having intramuscular kenalog injection in hip - virtually painless process and it worked within days - i still do have hand pain but nothing like that original one that sounded a bit like yours.

i think most people would agree that they usually work and do give a temporary reprieve

maybe try sitting with your hands in a basin of cool water for 5 to 10 mins at a time then softly towel dry them and do it again 20 - 30 mins later. little things can sometimes make a huge amount of difference

stickywicket

Why are you scared of meth, tinydancer? A lot of us are on it, it's very well tried and tested and you would be well-monitored by regular blood tests all the time.

The thing is, without the disease modifying meds like meth, you're just tinkering at the edges. You might be able to take away a lot of the pain but the damage will continue. That's why they're called disease modifyers because that's what they do. The rest only deal with the symptoms.

You could, as earthspirit says, ask for a steroid jab. They work brilliantly for me but not for everyone and they're usually just a temporary solution intended to help until other meds kick in. I suggest you ring your rheumatology helpline and check it out with them.

dreamdaisy

Meth is a proven treatment and for some it works very well indeed, so much so that they rarely post. I first tried meth tablets but after a while I developed a rash so they were stopped. I had no other trouble with them apart from that. I now do injected meth and that is fine, admittedly I feel 'brighter' in myself when I have to stop it when I catch a bug but I know it is helping to prevent further joint damage and that to me is so important. (I also take sulph and humira.) Please discuss your concerns about the drug with your rheumatologist or rheumatology nurse and think about your future. Your knuckle is bad at the moment - how about if that kind of trouble popped up in other joints? None of us know what the future holds but surely it is best to try and make that the best it can be. It's not an easy decision tiny, we know that. DD

valval

hi just wanted to say if using ice make sure it wrapped in something. i hope you have conacted rhummy you need some help all that swelling will be causing dammage and needs stopping good luck val

tinydancer

Hiya, I got a steroid injection in my hip last September cos my hands and feet were in total agony and yes it did help for couple months. When I last saw my Rheumy she didnt want to go down the road of steroid injections often cos she said I'm too young for that, I'm 38, and they can only do 3 a year I think she said. She felt that the sulph maybe isn't working as well for me and wanted me to start on methotrexate along with sulph (which I've been on for just nearly 3 years)
Yeah maybe it is worth just going on it.

dreamdaisy

Long-term steroid use is not a good solution as it affects so much of the body despite easing the pain and inflammation of inflammatory arthritis. I never had much success with the injections but I loved the oral steroids and will still give myself the odd treat if I am off the other meds and I have something important to do. I too began with sulph and that did a good job of controlling the psoriasis part of the PsA but it never touched the arthritis which is why the meth tablets were introduced. They can work very well together and surely it's worth a try. You are carefully monitored when taking meth (a nuisance but a very necessary nuisance) so that any trouble can be quickly spotted. DD