Hi I'm new here

[Soya1974]

Just wondering if anyone else suffers with swollen fingers. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to pick things up especially if they are heavy.

[mccaffs2014]

When my fingers are really bad I wear the support gloves more often (Boots around £18 ). I also use a hot water dispenser instead of a kettle, an electric tin opener and bottle and jar opener. I also use a lightweight Hoover. All these little things help. I hope that you get the medication that helps you soon.

I forgot as steering wheel cover.

[Soya1974 in reply to mccaffs2014]

Thanks for that. I am currently on naproxen but it doesn't seem to be helping

[helixhelix]

Are you recently diagnosed and waiting to go on proper treatment? As naproxen isn’t really a long term solution for RA.

Anyway, I had sausage fingers when diagnosed. Couldn’t hold a cup even. But once the treatment started working everything improved dramatically.

Ice helps, as well as compression gloves.

[Soya1974 in reply to helixhelix]

No I was diagnosed over three years ago put on steroids which helped but cannot stay on them and all my doctor gives me is naproxen am still waiting to see a consultant at the rumatology department

[Hidden]

Not swollen that I have noticed but very stiff and

Losing the feeling in all of my senses. I have a couple of times sat down in a boiling hot bath as I cannot tell of it is burning me

[sylvi in reply to Hidden]

Wow Minty I bet that hurt darling.xxx

[Hidden in reply to sylvi]

The problem is it did not, it just feels relaxing.and warm.

[Gnarli in reply to Hidden]

😣

[dembonesDAMNBONES in reply to Hidden]

There's plugs that change colour to notify you of the bath temperature.

[Hidden in reply to dembonesDAMNBONES]

Please post a link for the plugs

[dembonesDAMNBONES in reply to Hidden]

livingmadeeasy.org.uk/%20ca...

[mrdiggs]

I TOO HAVE LOST A LOT OF FEELING IN FINGERS, ESPECIALLY NOW IN THE LEFT HAND. SKIN FEELS VERY THIN AND ALMOST CRINKLY .THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I'M HOLDING THINGS AND THEY JUST FALL OUT OF MY HANDS-VERY STRANGE. AS FAST AS IT COMES IT CAN GO AWAY.BUT I DO GET A LOT OF CRAMPING AND HAVE TO TAKE A POTASSIUM PILL RIGHT AWAY BEC. IT CAN REALLY HURT.THIS CRAMPING SEEMS TO JUMP AROUND MY BODY VERY MUCH AS THE RA CAN. ONE TIME IT CAN BE IN A FOOT OR THE TENDON COMING UP THE FRONT OF MY LEG OR MY HANDS.THIS CRAZY DISEASE SEEMS TO BE CONSTANTLY CHANGING IN HOW IT AFFECTS US. I WILL SAY SOYA YOU HAVE A LOT OF COMPANY. AT LEAST FOR ME IT SEEMS TO COME AND GO, SO JUST GO SLOW AND BE MINDFUL OF HOW YOUR BODY IS REACTING EACH DAY AND TRY TO ACCOMMODATE. SOME DAYS ARE BETTER FOR DOING ONE TASK THAN ANOTHER -YOU HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE. KEEP THE FAITH--HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON--

[Soya1974 in reply to mrdiggs]

Thank you I am overwhelmed by the kindness of people who have replied

[Hidden]

Welcome to the sausage fingers club😁😂no seriously most of us suffer with this periodically. Myself the heat makes it worse last year I had to have my wedding and engagement ring cut off (ironically on my 30th wedding anniversary) when this happens I drop everything keys milk etc. My fingers don’t react quick enough with stiffness. My husband will do all the heavier jobs!!!!! As he calls them but lifting a saucepan . Kettle and hoovering really is just daily life. Rest and ice packs really help compression gloves are a good idea. This will pass especially when you get your medication right but it will happen again and you will learn your own ways of coping . Your not on your own.

[Soya1974 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I wouldn't wish this on anyone but it's nice to know you are not on your own as it often feels like it 🙄

[ThomasTom in reply to Hidden]

Do you ever get totally numbfingers? Especially when you wake up first thing, or feel freezing cold on the hands and feet like nothing will warm them up?

[Hidden in reply to ThomasTom]

Not so much with my hands but my toes and ankles are often numb feet get cold very easily

[Sarah_89]

Yes it's quite common for fingers to be swollen when the disease is active. Like the comments above, I find compression gloves to help greatly with the pain, even if not the swelling. You could ask your RA doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist, who should give you a pair of gloves. Or you can buy them online or in Boots

[Soya1974 in reply to Sarah_89]

Thanks that's very helpful

[mrdiggs]

JUST REMEMBER SOYA---WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER-LOL. I BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT ONE OF US GETS THAT SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE. YOU HAVE A LOT OF COMPANY----JUST KEEP SMILING AND ENJOY EVERY DAY-

[Soya1974 in reply to mrdiggs]

😄

[Hidden]

When I was first diagnosed over 30 years ago, my hands looked like bunches of bananas! I couldn't pick anything up as it hurt so much. I even had to give up knitting. DMARDS helped, and I was given working splints and resting splints. Although I still get swollen painful fingers when I flare, and I never was able to take up knitting again.

[wishbone]

Can't say I've ever had sausage fingers but do have claw hand so have difficulty picking things up and tend to drop them fairly often because of poor grip. My right hand is by far the most affected, thankfully the left is only slightly clawed. I do wonder how my hands have got so bad yet have experienced little in the way of swelling over the years? Answers on a postcard please.

[Suzy95]

I attended a joint protection day run by a occupational therapist . It gave lots of tips on opening bottles , carrying shopping , cutting veg etc... Buy aids for opening jars and bottles, special knives with adapted handles and any thing that takes pressure of your fingers. Mobility shops sell lots of these things. Hope you feel better soon .

[Soya1974]

Thanks for that will have to try some of these aids

[dembonesDAMNBONES]

Barmaids are wonderful people.

They carry my full pints over to me and take the empties back AND they give me straws, when I can't lift or hold the glasses.

I considered taking to shorts full time, but why fix something, if it ain't broke, right? Lol.

In all seriousness, however, cold helps enormously, as it reduces inflamation...running water, basins of cold water with ice bunged in, ice packs, etc.