Flicky Tumbs!!!!!!

[Diddydriver]

Hi, everyone, for the past three months both my thumbs are either locked or they flick at the middle joint and then lock in that position. It is very painful and I can't use them. I mentioned it to my rheumy nurse but all she said was " it is all part of RA " . Has anyone else had or have this problem where should I go for help?. I hope you are all as well as this disease allows you to be.. x

[GranAmie]

yupyup... mine lock on steering wheel now n then; no ideas tho x

[nomoreheels]

Could be trigger thumb DD. I've had trigger finger (middle) & had a steroid injection to release it. It's done the trick even though my Rheumy thought it was so advanced it may need an op if the injection didn't work. Your nurse is right in saying it's part of RD, it's inflammation stopping the tendon casing (can't think of the word) to allow the tendon to move smoothly as normaI. I don't think she wasn't very helpful though, if it is trigger thumb. Splinting or anti inflammatories are usually tried first. If it's left too long they could stay permanently locked then the only option is an op so please do seek medical advice.

[nablur in reply to nomoreheels]

Me too. And my pointer finger too. I feel like I’m in a constant state of inflammation.

[Diddydriver in reply to nomoreheels]

Thankyou nmh that reply is very informative.

[nomoreheels in reply to Diddydriver]

Sheath, it's the tendon sheath that becomes inflamed & doesn't allow the tendon to move smoothly. Just remembered!

[AgedCrone in reply to nomoreheels]

Quite agree nmh...recently had steroid injection for trigger finger....released it immediately & pain went instantly....that was the third finger to lock...now I bypass my GP & phone up the hand surgeon who does it straight away. I have to pay as my GP can't/won't do the injection & the local NHS hospital wouldn't even put me on the waiting list as their hand surgeon is busy with "real emergencies"

If I had one Free Wish....it would be to inflict all hospital receptionists with the pain of something really painful....just once.....so that they could at least sound sympathetic when they have refuse to put you on a waiting list!

[nomoreheels in reply to AgedCrone]

Oh if it were only so! Pleased to hear your steroid injection also solved the problem, it is a positive & quick response isn't it? Though I think it's a bit much having to pay for it, busy Surgeon or not. My Rheumy did mine, is that not a possibility for you should it happen again? My old male GP (now retired) told me it wasn't trigger finger so did nothing. It was the first time I'd had it so couldn't argue in case he was correct & it wasn't. I tried splinting it myself & failed miserably. At my Rheumy appointment months later she confirmed it was trigger finger. She wasn't,t happy with my GP as it had become permanently locked by then, why she said injecting may not work. The relief was wonderful.

[AgedCrone in reply to nomoreheels]

The more I hear about GP's & trigger finger the more I despair....the first time I had it 20 years ago my then GP told me I should expect aches & pains at my age ....I was in my 50's!!! To me now.....a mere child!

Unfortunately now I think my rheumatologist is even busier than the hand surgeon. I only see him once year, but my Rheumy nurse is extremely good & if I have a problem she contacts Rheumy & gets an answer for me.

Luckily I had been a nurse & still had some contacts with my first trigger finger, & it ended up being one of the first signs of the delights to follow with RA.

In fact it was a blessing in disguise, as I saw a rheumatologist, got the injection & started Dmards.......& today I'm on just RTX.......& (fingers crossed) I'm doing well for an old'un!

I have just had ultra sound guided steroid injections in my feet on the remains of neuromas that re-grew after surgical removal in 2011! It's a waiting game to see if it has worked, or if I have to have the surgery again! But it's a minor blip to what could have been had I not been diagnosed so quickly.

So anyone reading this who gets trigger finger...don't accept being rebuffed....insist on getting that steroid injection ASAP....& get tested for RA if you haven't already been diagnosed!

[Diddydriver in reply to AgedCrone]

Thankyou so much for your reply, having read several replays I now have an appointment with my gp tomorrow. Sorry you had all the trouble you mentioned, hopefully the medics are much better than they was years ago. I was diagnosed with ra 4 yrs ago and have trigger thumbs for 3 months I thought it may right itself but now I know that is not the case as they are going worse.

[AgedCrone in reply to Diddydriver]

Good luck tomorrow..the injection stings a bit, but it's virtually instantly pain free.

If your GP tries to put you off...have you reply ready!

My GP 20 years ago was a real old misery...in fact I wouldn't have trusted her with a needle!

[nomoreheels in reply to AgedCrone]

Cheeky blighter! How very dare he!

I hope the steroid injections on your feet work, saves surgery & recovery time.

[AgedCrone in reply to nomoreheels]

Tell me about it....7 years back when I had the neuromas surgically removed I could hop around quite happily on crutches........but when I had the injections recently the foot surgeon said the longer I could keep the weight off them the better.....he said 4/5 days except for getting up to get food etc.

I won't know if the injections have been successful until December when I have an ultra sound....but my balance does seem better, as does the hip & knee bursitis ...which the foot surgeon thought might be aggravated because I was walking " wonky".

Anyway I got the crutches out before hand for a little practice & no way could I manage...my wrists are too weak now to support my body (55kgs so not too heavy) even on elbow crutches!

Anyway I did manage & am back driving now...but a friend found a hire place to hire a sort of mini motorised scooter at not too exorbitant rates.

So that is always there if needed....but tbh I will have to be in agony or unable to drive before I give all my friends a good laugh as I try to drive one of those! I can't even control my Dyson vacuum cleaner...& don't even mention the leaf blower!

But oh I do miss pretty shoes!!