Cramps and locking fingers

[helenfirebird]

I have been diagnosed for nearly 18 years now and have the kenalog injections every six months to keep my symptoms under some sort of control. I also have Raynauds and Scleroderma. For the last three or four years I have been getting severe cramp in my feet, yes it occurs when they get cold but from about September to June I also get it every night between 6 and 7pm even if feet still encased in warm boots etc. The pain can be so bad that I cry with it.

I've sldo for the last few years had times when both hands get either a trigger fingers effect on the index finger or a tightening of the muscle up the outside edge of my hand - so tight you can see the skin all pulled inwards. This has been annoying but not concerning. Recently I have found that the trigger finger effect is happening more and more, even simple things like stirring a saucepan while cooking dinner it is constantly locking and the muscle contraction is happening more too.

I was wondering if anyone else gets these effects. It can't be I'm due my steroids as I only had my injection in September. If anyone has any ideas would be glad to hear them. Thank you.

[Riverbird]

Hello Helenfirebird,

Funny you should bring this up, as the last few weeks have seen the two outer edge fingers on one hand keep locking down all of a sudden, almost like a cramp/numbness but with no pain, but then quickly release. I did not associate this with the lupus and wondered if it was the beginning of Dupuytrens Contracture. I too have a mild raynauds and I think that for me the hands are the most susceptible and generally painful part of SLE. I also wonder if anyone else gets this sort of thing too.

[helenfirebird in reply to Riverbird]

Hi Riverbird. When mine first started it was just occasionally and I put it down to getting older but have to admit I do get some pain with mine. I haven't heard of Dupuytrens Contracture so will do some investigation. Let's hope we find out whether it's one of those weird Lupus things or separate. Thanks for your help.

[Snowdragon]

Hi Helen......I also get the horrible foot cramps,like you when my feet are cold.It often happens in bed and has even happened when I am in the bath.Like you said the pain is terrible..I find if I press my foot down or against something it sometimes helps or if i feel them starting to distort(the toes) try to catch it early.I was told calcium and vit D helps andd have noticed when i miss a few days as I do sometimees it gets worse.Hope this helps abit.I never imagined what the pain was like in the feet till this. xxx

[helenfirebird in reply to Snowdragon]

Hi Snowdragon. Thank you for the suggestion I'll buy some next time I'm out and give that a try. As you say the pain is excruciating and you can feel it start so hopefully it might work for me too. Thank you again.

[jondadon1]

I have the same symptoms and I don't know the root cause.