Have your fingers been affected - what was the cause please?

[StarlightinJuly]

Hello,

Have any of you had a problem with knuckles such as this? Antibiotics settled it but they keep reoccurring. GP couldn't say what caused it but could it have to do with my RD?

[Downtime]

Yes I've had them but I thought they were connected to OA which affects those joints. Ive only had it twice but each time it disappeared by itself after a week or two. I've had RA 2 years but OA a lot longer.

[StarlightinJuly in reply to Downtime]

Thanks. Yes I do have OA too but it was just the fact that these blisters became infected, as well as a small area on my neck, that made me wonder about my immune system not coping. Wondered whether the RD made me more susceptible to infection - think I've read something somewhere. Glad yours cleared up easily. Mine are just reappearing now.

[Hidden]

Hi

I was just looking to see if I could find any info about this and came across this U-tube clip which I think may be of interest to you, the clip features osteoarthritis of the hand and towards the end has an image very similar to your photo which suggests that this may be a mucous cyst caused by the OA youtube.com/watch?v=WMFs_Ua...(Not working as expected?)

Best wishes

Lorraine

[flow4 in reply to Hidden]

I am pretty certain that the pic you posted is NOT a Heberden's node. Yours is sub-cutaneous - ie under the skin - and Hebs are deeper, around the joint. They can occasionally get inflamed/infected, but you'd get a cyst within the joint, not a blister on the surface like this.

[nomoreheels in reply to flow4]

I agree Flow, It's certainly doesn't look like my Heberden's nodes, which I've been told are typically OA, Julie's is more blister-like. I'll try to post a pic of mine.

[Hidden]

They used to hit them with a heavy Bible at one time I wouldn't recommend that

[Karen77 in reply to Hidden]

I think they called them gideon's cysts for that very reason!

[Downtime]

Think they used to hit ganglions with a book in the old days. These are sort of painful fluid filled cysts which do seem to come from OA in the fingers.

[Grovemnus in reply to Downtime]

I heard use a bible

[sandybrown]

Please ask your GP to check for infection and inflammation. I can clearly see the yellow (eye or head). Let the nature take care of it, do not damage it. If it is going to take a long time clear a blood test me be necessary.

[Rosebaywillowherb]

Hi Julie, I get these to,on my fingertips mainly,was told it's to do with osteoporosis,which I also have,doesn't seem there's much they can do about them,but they are bloody annoying, especially as they can get quite sore,hope yours clear up soon.x

[StarlightinJuly]

Thank you all

Lorraine, the video was very helpful. If they do keep recurring then surgery may be the way to go.

Bala, I have started a course of antibiotics today as my ESR level is up and the finger is really inflamed and painful.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Julie. I've posted a pic of my fingers on another post healthunlocked.com/nras/pos.... My index & little fingers are affected, they don't look like your finger do they so I don't think what you have is a Heberden's node. They develop in the DIP joints though just above where yours is but like Flow said yours looks more subcutaneous, almost blister like. Sorry I don't have a clue otherwise. Is it sore?

[Grovemnus]

My doc said it is a cuticle infection. Soak in hot water with antibacterial dish soap. I popped the pus bag with a sterile needle