I think my chemo has triggered OA in feet, knees and fingers. The OA has been diagnosed by my GP. I have started to get really bad cramp-like pain in my fingers. One or more of them seize up painfully .
Has anybody else suffered this? If so, is there any way to get relief?
Do you have PMR?
Dorry don't know what PMR is
Just a thought.
I do get cramp in odd places - not fingers, but feet and toes, and calves/ankles. I asked my pharmacist whether he thought a dose of Dioralyte might be a good idea as this replaces body salts. This isn’t for immediate relief of the cramp, but to help stop one getting it in the first place. He thought it was a good idea, but it’s impossible to know whether it works or not in an individual. Sometimes I might get cramp twice or three times a day for several days, then nothing for eighteen months.
What sets my cramp off in the first place? Firstly, sitting for a long time (like in a committee meeting) on a hard chair. Secondly, turning over in bed. Thirdly, sweating and not drinking enough water (that’s what made me think of the Dioralyte).
But what I do find gives immediate relief is the following. A half teaspoonful of salt, swallowed just as it is without water. Wait about thirty seconds and the cramp goes, if not have another half teaspoonful. When it’s gone then drink PLENTY of water. One time I got bad cramp I was in a hotel room, in the middle of the night, no access to salt of course. I took a sachet of sugar from the coffee/tea making tray and swallowed this. It worked.
I had chemo, and I think I had more cramp during that phase.
I use ice for the cramp I get in my legs. I always have freezer blocks frozen in case of an attack. My finger cramp may not be that. My fingers size up in painful positions.
Magnesium is a good supplement if you are prone to cramp. It has even helped my restless legs.
Thank you. Have been taking it since treatments finished x
I get cramp badly. The gp gave me pills but he said if I drank tonic water not the slimline version it would do the trick. It does & I don’t take the pills. Hope it helps you.
I had a friend who just finished Chemo and during her entire treatment her joints were killing her …. Eventually she said it’s starting to calm down.
Mine only started after my treatments finished. I keep hoping...
Really difficult to move first thing in the morning?. My rheumatologist recommended Flexiseq max gel. It's not available on prescription or in most chemists unfortunately, best place to look is Amazon. Its not cheap but a little goes a long way. Its not a painkiller, however after using it does allow better movement within the joints, so your able to use your hands more effectively before you start to experience the pain. I have erosive oa, I combine using the gel with my cbd infused coffee, the cbd helps reduce inflammation and helps with pain, I can't use the majority of pain relief available due to intolerances. Sounds like you also have Tendonitis, this will be the reason your fingers lock, just like mine!!. I'm awaiting surgery atm for both the tendinitis and to fuse the damaged bones in my fingers. Meantime, dont ask me to point you in the right direction, you'd get totally lost, none of my fingers point north, east or west, great!. Good luck, let me know how you get on x
A couple of magnesium tablets usually unlocks my thumbs after a session in my workshop.
OA best pain relief
links OA in hip, worn cartilage in opposite knee, stiff neck for months
Wringing dish cloths, flannels etc when you have OA of hands/wrists
Think I might have Arthrtis in my Wrists and Knees.
