Hand Pain.

[Bizzie]

Do others find that, even when RA is quiet, a knock to the fingers or hand joints causes the most excruciating pain? In my late 60s I’ve obviously knocked my hands around but since having RA the smallest knock to my hands is almost unbearable!

[TheBoys]

definitely. Any knock at all and it’s off!

[KittyJ]

definitely, I’ve got lots of joint damage so the slightest knock really hurts.

[Gottarelax]

Strangely, I don't really have noticeable hand involvement and my x-rays came back good but I do find that if I knock my hands they are much more painful than before. Yesterday my hands just clashed lightly as I was turning the steering wheel and they ached for hours after.

[Bizzie]

I know. It’s awful and I’m overwhelmed with the pain for a few minutes ☹️.

[Green230461]

Brings tears to the eyes and swear words to the lips!

[yoganurse in reply to Green230461]

absolutely ~ I have the same response!!!

[Bizzie]

So true!! 😂

[Boxerlady]

Yes, I get this although my RA is relatively quiet ATM and no joint damage that I'm aware of. I'm actually really glad that you asked this as I was thinking that a) I was imagining it b) it must be me being over-sensitive/over-dramatic or c) there was something awful going on in joints which I was unaware of so knowing that others experience this is actually rather reassuring. 🙄😂

[Feelingpoorly]

My hands and fingers sing loudly with even the slightest knock, I’m sure people think I’m being over dramatic so I’m pleased to hear I’m not the only one ♥️

[Bizzie]

Thank you both. I have actually cried with the pain so it is helpful to know I’m not just being a wimp!

[Chrt in reply to Bizzie]

Hi Bizzie yes, not only a knock to them but even just turning them can cause them to kick off too, my feet too. Reassuring to know it happens to others.

[Tkat10]

always a sign my arthritis is on a flare for me, I become more clumsy at a time when a knock to a hand joint can be excruciating. You need to see it as a symptom of a flare and speak to your rheumatologist is your medication working? I think I would liken it to a brain fog that RA patients can get. If it is not something that has increased then it is just another complication from the RA ☹️

[Bizzie in reply to Tkat10]

Actually Tkat I think it’s likely the meds aren’t working well enough as I have other pain too. Due to severe nausea taking a full dose, my rheumy told me to maintain the half dose I can tolerate. I guess that means it’s only half working! The trouble is I tend to adjust my life according to my pain levels. I’ve tried so many different meds that either don’t work or cause a reaction, I don’t know that there’s much more they than can do. It’s a miserable existence tbh.

[Bails67]

yes, but I also have severe OA in hands too .A OT maybe able to help with splints.

[Hidden in reply to Bails67]

splints are a life saver, I’ve been using them for over 40 years and without them would not be able to complet3 many household tasks like hoovering and ironing.

[Bails67 in reply to Hidden]

I still struggle With driving though. My hubby won’t have anything on the steering wheel. I can only do short journeys when my hands are bad. 😩

[Bizzie in reply to Bails67]

At the moment I’m using wrist splints which immobilise my thumbs and helps with the permanent pain. They tell me it’s OA but do you get that in the same opposite joints at the same time?

[Bails67 in reply to Bizzie]

it depends on how much use they get. I normally alter a between hands, when one is bad I try and use the other, When both are bad I have no choice but to rest. Although the pain in my fingers is bad even if I have splints on. I think the key ( as my OT keeps saying) is pace yourself !

[JulesCurrie]

I sometimes get excruciating pain at night. I wake to find my hands cold and numb particularly my fingers. Mainly my right arm Very strange feeling, it surges sort of in waves of agonising burning type of pain. Certainly not just pins and needles The only way I can relief is by swinging my arm hanging it down low out of bed or by walking around swinging my arms. I get slight relief for a while and lie down and it starts again. Pain killers don’t really help. Have mentioned to RA specialist they just listen and nod saying everybody is different. I have always thought I have a high pain threshold but I can say it is really unbearable . Does anybody get this feeling?

[Garnacha in reply to JulesCurrie]

Hi yes I get very similar, in october, I started to get awful pins & needles & numbness in my fingers, rang the helpline who referred me to hand therapy, saw them a month ago & said its carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger & my ulnar nerve is affected, gave hand splints which although uncomfortable for the first few nights seemed to have helped.

Had a shoulder op 3 weeks ago & haven't worn them since as it'd be too much for me at the moment with the shoulder pain, but, Ive also had similar to you, like an aching throbbing feeling, try putting them in a different position which helps for a split second then back again, I can't hang my arm down out of bed because of my shoulder.

I'm hoping that once I start wearing the splints again it'll improve, but every night I plan on wearing them my shoulder is too painful 😫

[Rachel43]

my hands & feet constantly. Was my thumb the other night. Felt like I’d hit it with a hammer as it throbbed all night. In reality I’d knocked it on a bedside table

[Chris_O]

Hi. My experience with RA pain is somewhat different. I don’t feel more than average pain when hitting my hand on something, but then again I think that I have a high pain threshold. What does hurt though is after using my hands to work ( gardening, woodworking etc ) they ache a lot, but next day it’s gone.

Chris_0

[flowerlover]

The symptoms described by JulesCurrie are exactly mine in the early stages of RA. It got worse & worse. One of our Practice GPs referred me for carpel tunnel surgery when it got so bad I couldn't sleep at all.Luckily my rheumatologist decided that we should get on top of the RA before going down the surgery route. Methotrexate & hydroxy combined were not touching the problem. He requested ultra sounds on both hands & wrists and they showed obvious inflammation pressing on the nerves to the hands. I was started on a biologic (Adalimumab) and have never looked back. I took steroids to relieve the pain whilst the biologic got into my system. Please don't put up with what is nerve pain.

Until your hands hurt you don't realise how much you use them do you?

[Esmereld]

yes. I do. I have no reason or remedy. Just “OUCH”!.

[Hidden]

It can be quite ludicrous. The other week I thought I was going to pass out 😭..

[pollcat68]

So true. A small knock but so much pain. 😞

[Tourk]

I can't remember that with my hands, used to hurt for ages afterwards. Because I couldn't move them properly I was always knocking them.Since I've been taking creatine monohydrate and drinking more water, I've not only had a reduction in pain but can move my fingers again and over the year the nodules one my joints have reduced in size.

Creatine is well worth looking into, of course if in dought talk to a competent doctor. And follow the instructions.

Hope this helps

[Spin1959]

I’m exactly the same and the sad thing is that sometimes my grandson held my hand to cross roads and I would be in agony after.

[Evie3]

yes!! And my feet 😭

[janmary]

Me too !

[Sheila_G]

Absolutely. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

[Hidden]

note my diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as rheumatoid Disease and yes the slightest knock is agonising but fades quickly whereas a wrong turn or twist lasts days.

[Mmrr]

Yes, any wee knock or bump to my hands /wrist or toes / feet /ankles is excruciatingly painful, even when my RA is less troublesome.

[Oshgosh]

I have the same problem.the smallest knock hurts.

[LinaM]

yep! Also, my 7 month old grandson squeezing my finger is enough to make me cry out in pain ! Horrendous!

[Green230461]

We really are a sad bunch! Take care🌻

[orange33]

yes not only hands but wrists as well.

[whitedog]

Yes and definitely feel the cold much more than I used to.

I've been putting a microwavable Snugglesafe disc , with fleece cover on, in my bed. They're meant to be for pets but I discovered an old one in a cupboard so tried it for myself. It stays warm all night if I heat it for 6 or 7 minutes. Much better than a hot water bottle!

[Bizzie]

I’m struggling with the cold this winter too. I might give a Snugglesafe a try!

[MerielPB]

Yes, definitely