Help,sticking stiff fingers

I was trying to do a bit of baking and dropped the handmixer because 2 fingers suddenly went sideways and stiffened. Happened before with Biro and also on other hand holding a cup.

Anything I can do to prevent it/improve it/stop another disaster??

By the way I have my hopspital admission now for the 22.1.

[JenniferZhou]

This is actually a problem i get frequently, it's very painful!

I don't think there's much that can be done to prevent it. It happens to me when i use my hands a lot (writing etc) so i tend to use them as little as possible to try and prevent it. As for improving it, i tend to firstly, try and bend them and keep them moving (this hurts, and my other hand tends to stiffen from having to move my original one!) and if that doesn't work after a while, i also soak them in hot/warm water whilst doing the same.

Hope that helps

[Hidden]

thanks Jennifer

[Sher78]

Good news on hospital appointment :0)

I drop stuff all the time due 2 locking fingers (although mine don't go sideways, they just 'lock' in whatever position) but mostly due 2 the tendons/muscles/ligament just 'going' & my hands & fingers just open up & I can't grip as there's no strength or 'muscle' there 2 keep them held in position (if that makes any sense?!). I just tend 2 bend & stretch them (as jennifer has said) or make sure I hold a cup 4 example with both palms around it like a vice & hugging it in2 my body instead of trying 2 'hold' it like u would 'normally'. Nothing seems 2 b sacred with lupus & all her buddies does it?! ;0)

[Hidden in reply to Sher78]

That was the first time and i certainly didn't expect it. Thought there might be something to prevent it happening,god knows what. Never a dull moment with this lot

Anyway,how's you? Hope all is quiet at the western front.

Hospital appt is cutting it a bit fine.They said approx 7 days to be in. Daughter arriving 31st and got plain ticket to go London with her on the 5th Feb. I wonder what they will do with me? Already been through every machine there is in May so hope they don't have to repeat that.

But hey, we'll see.

Wishing you a good eve with as little bother as poss.xx

[Sher78]

It's quite scary isn't it? I've always had problems but it's got worse in the last 2 years while I've been flaring :0( It seems 2 b hanging around though now, even though the flare has tailed off. Was gonna get some wrist splints 2 wear 2 bed (they constantly ache like Hell lately) but thought it was probably not a good idea as I already volley the other half with my restless legs in bed so don't wanna whack him with metal wrists as well lol ;0)

As 4 the hospital, they'll prob re-run tests they've already done but usually, 4 CNS, with me they did MRI, ECG, EEG, brain scan, CAT scan, some other freaky head thing (kind of like an MRI but can't remember what they said it was called) & a LP but they won't just randomly do an LP, they would notify u b4 an appointment if they were gonna do that.

My foot is killing me at the mo. Can't remember if I told u but I had a fractured metatarsal repaired 3 years ago & it's got really bad lately. Could b the connective tissue, RA or the screws could've worked loose (my bones r really weak. When they did my foot they found that the bone was black & had 'died' so they sent a bit off 4 biopsy but it came back as a 'normal abnormality' whatever the chuff that is lol!). Personally, I reckon it's 'unfused' again but we'll c when I have the x-ray & if that's the case, then not good, I'd rather have my throat cut in2 again than have people messing with my bones cos they're shite as it is lol. But I'm still breathing & still smiling ursi ;0) Big love & hugs 2 u my lovely x

[norma52]

I'm not sure if this is the same thing or not but recently I have had either toes or fingers going into a kind of spasm and locking. It is painful trying to move them. I have also started to suffer from cramp in my legs which again is very painful. Two different people have told me to drink a glass of indian tonic water every morning as a prevention. It didn't happen every day and I've only been drinking the tonic for a week so I don't know yet if it works or not. Maybe some of the others will know a bit more about this. Worth a try though!

[Riverbird in reply to norma52]

Hi norma52,

Tonic water is sometimes recommended for cramp as it contains Quinine.

The old medicinal tonic water used to contain lots of it, and it has quite a fascinating history in India where it was first mixed with Gin, but modern varieties now often contain just quinine flavouring. The brands Fever Tree and Q Tonic do contain real quinine.

I gather that a glass each evening on a temporary basis should be fine as the quinine content is obviously within acceptable limits and it works for many (after all some people have more than one G&T at Night!) and that for best effect it can be mixed with grape juice which also has other properties that help with cramp. However I gather that Quinine tablets themselves were withdrawn from general sale a few years ago, as if far too much is taken it can cause problems with blood platelets, but I have heard of several GPs recommending people try tonic water as a temporary measure as it does apparently work.

Let us know if it works to you too. Take care.

[norma52]

Thanks Riverbird. I did wonder if it was something to do with quinine. Unfortunately, because of all my meds I'll have to have the G&T without the G! I'll certainly come back with a report though!