Newby here ...loosing my grip!

Ck1

I've known for years I have arthritis...the twisted, bumpy fingers were a bit of a give away, but I was a little surprised when I lost my grip a while ago... literally! Thus I decided to get an official diagnosis and yes osteoarthritis was the cause. Months later and tried exercise, compression gloves and still the same. So question one will I ever be able to make a fist again or should I say fists x 2. Question 2 how do you know when the cracking, popping and painful joints not xrayed, are arthritis too and 'degenerate joints' (love this description the doctor gave me over the phone!!) or just normal now I'm in my 50s! I'm now wondering if the dodgy knee, elbow and shoulder are also arthritis or am I getting paranoid and really loosing my grip literally!! 😆

Ellen

Good morning @Ck1 welcome to the online community.

I see from your post that you have had a recent diagnosis of Osteoarthritis in your hands and are struggling with your grip.

I am going to attach a recent thread on this very subject:

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/703797#Comment_703797

and this information about hand pain which does contain a link to some useful exercises for your hands which might help:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/hand-and-wrist-pain/

The clicking/crunching sounds you are hearing in your other joints may be what is known as crepitus? see this old thread:

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/36313/crepitus-joints

Please do feel free to join in anywhere you feel comfortable.

Best wishes

Ellen.

Trish9556

Hi @Ck1

I think you need to go back to your GP and ask if you can see a physio, probably through a referral to a msk team. They will examine you, arrange for X rays and scans as necessary. They will also give you exercises.

In the meantime therapy dough, or play doh is good for exercising those fingers etc in. I have a pack of therapy doh that simes in different strengths so you start with the softest and just play with it for now. Pull it, knead it, stretch it and squeeze it.

I've had problems with my hands fir years and started this after my trapeziectomy.

Love n hugs

Trish xx

Ck1

Hi Trish, thank you for your reply 😊. Sorry for the ignorance, but what is the msk team? I have had x-rays on both my hands and two blood tests which resulted in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis. My doctor made phone appointments only, so we've never met and her advice was to look at this website for information and exercise ideas. I will definitely give the play doh a go, thank you. Anything is worth a go as my finger tips are an inch away from my palm so very frustrating. Thanks again, Clare 😊

Ck1

Hi Ellen, thank you too for all of your links and information. This is very much appreciated. I will get reading, thanks again, Clare 😊

Trish9556

Hi @Ck1

MSK = Musculoskeletal team. In most areas now its them who decides what treatment you get and not GPs. Frustrates me as it's more delays

Dr refers you to MSK (PHYSIOS)

Physios assess you, send you for x-rays, MRI and CT scans, give you injections in the joints, acupuncture, refer to pain clinics and surgical teams

However there is often a break between the different bits and then you go through the whole GP to MSK referral.

Trish xx

Ck1

Hi Trish, thanks for that, sounds like a fun process 😁.

stickywicket

Will you èveŕ make a fist again? I've no idea but I've had RA and OA most of my life and, not being the puģilistic type😆 have managed without fists very well.

Are all the noises arthritis? Probably not but worth assuming this is a waŕning so take care of the various joints. Exercise them carefully. Degenerate? A friend with PsA had to come off her meds as she had a 'deranged liver'. (She went back on them once her liver had de-deranged itself.)

I'd say take it all seriously but not overly so.

sw8689

Hi, were you referred to a rheumatologist? My regular doctor diagnosed me with Osteoarthritis degenerative disc disease. Then years later, I saw rheumatologists and was properly diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis which can be treated. Just a thought, that it may be helpful for you to have a specialist take a look at you if you haven’t already being so young with so much osteo.

Ck1

Hi stickywicket, no plans either to be a professional boxer anytime soon 😆

airwave

Scans, x rays, exercises, GPs? I can confirm this is all pie in the sky, I have had arther on my back since I was young and now at 67 I have had RA confirmed and am still waiting for treatment. This is not to say it’s all on purpose it’s just a very busy system and they don’t all sing from the same hymn sheet.

Self help works well and should be your first thought. No, not everyone who has aged gets OA, and you certainly don’t have to wait for it, witness all the junior cases, just another fallacy (excuse!) that gets banded about.

If you want something other than painkillers then you will have to chase it.

its a grin, honest!

Ck1

Hi sw8689, I just spoke to my doctor on the phone and she referred me for blood tests and X rays of both hands. Knowing me, I'll probably read a bit more and see how it goes for a while. Nice to know there's hope out there though. Thanks again for your post 😊.

Ck1

Hi airwave, I would call you cynical, but I know what you're saying re the system and that it really is pot luck. I say this from first hand experience with a disabled child. Anyway as was famously quoted in the longest film ever ...'tomorrow is another day' so we'll see what that brings and 'grin' away 😁