So, my hands have been painful for a while now, my GP didn't seem to think they were bad and I was just told use hot/cold therapy ibuprofen gel.I have a very pronounced swollen index top joint the rest are just painful as the time and I'm really struggling with working as I'm IT based, I have a vertical mouse but not much else.
My worry is I can't make a fist properly and I struggle holding small items and picking things up like coins, can anyone help with advice?
I am 61, if I can stop this getting worse it would be great, I need to work.
Also this weekend I've been decorating and my right wrist was so swollen after.
I'm not talking any medication, I also have Hashimoto (Thyroid issues) as autoimmune probably connected.
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Diamond61
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Hiya Diamond61, welcome to the NRAS forum. Like you I can no longer make a fist or indeed grip things, but I have diagnosed RD & OA. The hand joints affected by OA tend to be the DIP joints, the ones nearest the nail, others are more likely RD.
I'm a similar age to you & although I was diagnosed with secondary OA at 48 you are unfortunately of an age where OA is more common. That being said I don't know if you're aware but RD’s generally affect the smaller joints of our hands &/or feet first. It's not unusual to be diagnosed with another autoimmune disease if you already have one so I’d be asking your GP to test you for Rheumatoid, initially it's a simple blood test. You may find being more informed to be better prepared ahead of asking, especially if you think you'll have some resistance related to your previous hand-related appointment, so maybe this will be of some help nras.org.uk/resource/gettin...
Swelling and pain in my hands was the first sign of my RA. Then it spread to most other parts of my body although not much pain in feet. Like you I could not make fists and my grip was very poor. My hands are usually the first to flare up even now.
Swollen hot and sore finger joints that came on suddenly was the start of RA for me. I went from normal function to unable to make anything near a fist over a few days, and lots of pain. As a working musician I had to phone the surgery.Fortunately a great nurse practitioner took one look, doped me up, and got me to rheumatology as urgent within the month. The rheumatologist ultrasounded my hand and there was active inflammation all over the place.
Anyway, prednisone as a stopgap and methotrexate got me stable and functioning, and playing again within a couple of months. My hands are weak though, and I do drop things.
In retrospect there had been signs prior to this, but when it blew, it blew majorly.
BTW I'm sero negative so I was referred on high inflammation blood markers..rheumatoid factor was normal.
Not sure if you’ve already been diagnosed with RA or merely suspect it.
Either way, I think you should go back to your GP.
There are tests and then a treatment protocol that should be followed if you’re diagnosed with RA. If you do have it the good thing is that early intervention has the best results.
I ignored mine for some time so I recommend you go back to your GP with all the symptoms you list above.
Hi thank you so for your replies.I'm thinking that I may be wrong and don't have RA, I am assuming it's this because of the autoimmune Hashimoto disease I have.
I'm not really clear because I had an ESR test which was negative and also rheumatoid factor was 20 which was low. Although parameter level was 0-15.
Looking back at my medical notes it was noted that it was OA and there was no heat and squeeze test ok so I'm confused really.
I just worry that if I'm like this at 61 and can't grip what can I do in the future?
Whether it's osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Disease you should be doing something to prevent further stiffness in the joints. Have a look at the exercise videos on the NRAS website :nras.org.uk/resource/exerci...
It does sound more like over-use arthritis and you might find this article about protecting your hand joints helpful :hss.edu/conditions_assistiv...
As you use a computer, have a look for adaptations to help with that too. I use a keyboard designed for people with hand arthritis as I do a lot of writing and it's helped a lot. And avoiding using the mouse is helpful if you find that increases the pain in the index finger (as is common).
My hands are a constant battle for me, one there are permanently damaged joints due to RD, and two I have OA in them. I was sent for an x-ray not long after I was diagnosed with RD so it could be ascertained what was wrong and what could be done . So as others have said directly ask the GP for a blood test to check for RD & maybe an x-ray too?
Hi I think your doing too much with your hands and not resting them between times. My hands were the cause of my diagnosis with RA they used to balloon to twice their size and I couldn't do anything not even brush my hair. You need to find out whats better for you heat or cold see if hot packs work or if ice packs take the swelling down. Think maybe you should get RA or osteoarthritis bloods checked. I also like to do self massage with Indian frankincense essential oils helps me diluted in almond oil or something else I find that very soothing.
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