Swollen, hot, sore fingers :(

ValOrient

Hi all, not been about for a while but dear old Arthritis seems to have reared it's ugly head bigtime with me lately.

I recently decided to come off the NSAIDs after being on them for 16 years, figuring as I am in pain while taking them, I might as well me in pain off them without the added stomach cancer risks. All went will until a couple of weeks ago when my fingers on my left (worst affected) hand swelled up badly. The middle and ring finger are worst, and I have hot, incredibly painful joints and swollen fingers. I am back on 7.5mg meloxicam and it took the swelling down a little (enough to get my wedding and engagement rings off) but they are still incredibly painful and swollen a week later.

Doctor today had kept me on the meloxicam and I am to have blood tests to try and see what it is. He feels it is not RA (despite link with Raynauds which I have) but that it may be Gout or some other form of inflammatory arthritis.

No other joints are affected and the usual OA aches and pains/stiffness remain in neck and wrists/right hand.

Any ideas? Blood tests are not until 6 Sept.

valval

sorry no help here but wanted to wish you well val

Suestpeters

awww bless you - sending gentle hugs your way ((((( )))))
Sue

julie47

Hi val

I just wanted to wish you well and hope that when you have your bloods done that you get the results quickly and are put on a med that will control the inflammation.

(((((((())))))))
Love Juliepf x

frogmorton

Oooh you poor thing

I bet typing this message hurt you....

I am glad you are having bloods done, but your doc could do other tests if he thinks it might be inflammatory arthritis such as ultrasound scans....

I am so sorry, but can't remember whether you have seen a rheumatologist at all? If not maybe you could ask for a referral to one?

In the meantime cool water soothes mine when they are playing up.

Love

Toni xx

ValOrient

frogmorton wrote:

Oooh you poor thing

I bet typing this message hurt you....

I am glad you are having bloods done, but your doc could do other tests if he thinks it might be inflammatory arthritis such as ultrasound scans....

I am so sorry, but can't remember whether you have seen a rheumatologist at all? If not maybe you could ask for a referral to one?

In the meantime cool water soothes mine when they are playing up.

Love

Toni xx

Thank you to all for the good wishes xxx

Unfortunately cold water is out as it will set my Raynauds off which is as painful as the fingers are right now.

I've never seen a Rheumatologist, and feel asking my doctor is a little pushy. I might find the courage if it continues though! I assume that referrals to specialists etc costs the doctor's practice money which may be why I've never been referred up yet

dreamdaisy

It sounds as though the NSAIDs were doing their thing, doesn't it? Which were you taking? DD

ValOrient

dreamdaisy wrote:

It sounds as though the NSAIDs were doing their thing, doesn't it? Which were you taking? DD

I started years ago with Diclofenac Sodium and then moved to Arthrotec finally finishing on 15mg Meloxicam. I am back on 7.5mg Meloxicam 2 x a day which I hope will help.

LignumVitae

Asking to see a rheumatologist is fine, especially with the reynauds too. They can sometimes do tests that a GP can't. I hope things settle soon...elevating them and resting them might help. I really hope they settle soon. LV xx