Bad flare up

[Vonnie10]

Hi any one. got any advice to help me im at my last straw had this pain in my right hand I can't straighten it at all, its in one joint's the hand won't straighten up it's waking me up at night it's horrible.i had a im steriod from my gp one week ago last Thursday so 10 days ago i had steriod shot gp wasn't happy to leave me while clinic got back would have been in bad pain all over the weekend maybe until midweek my gp says it acute flair up spoke with clinic last Monday nurse said can't have no more steriod until one month as passed but it's seem to me steriod is usless and not helping it's been 3 weeks with intense pain. Taking ibuprofen paracetamol and dihrocodiene none it touching me and can only take ibuprofen for short time i have kidney disease so ibuprofen will stop tomorrow.nany advice is really appreciated I've even thought could it have a infection in it it's that bad but would I not have a temp ? Had recent bloods done routine review at doctors last Wednesday, im at my witts end pain as gone on too long now. Using ice it's helps I can actually open my hand but when I stop the ice it's back to being useless again. Just don't know what to do feel like I've been left in pain and too struggle and no one cares . Feeling sorry for myself .

[Oshgosh]

it’s so difficult when you have a chronic condition and things worsen,it always seems to happen at weekends.

[KittyJ]

it’s not clear to me what you can’t move, you say you can’t open your hand but then said it’s one joint? If it’s your wrist have you tried splints, I find they help me alot and have not found im steroids help when it’s just a flare in one joint I usually need it into the joint but that’s just me. Have you tried a tens machine or are you allowed to use voltarol gel, two other things I use but may not be ok for you, you really need to ask your renal consultant what you can take as they are the experts and you can’t be the only one that’s been in this situation. I hope you can get in touch with them tomorrow and get some help.

[Vonnie10 in reply to KittyJ]

Sorry my three middle fingers my middle ones been the worst my thumb and little finger I can move my knuckles are swollen my palm is terrible feel so tight and taught then a pain in my palm runs up.the centre of my palm upto just below my inside wrist if i try to straighten them three middle fingers its so difficult cannot use them pain never let's up. It's the worst when I wake up and uts waking me up the pain. I'm ringing my health's provider tomorrow it's been 3 weeks now

[Neonkittie17]

I’ve had a lot of trouble over the years with my hands, specifically fingers with drift and damaged knuckle joints, but they are still very functional which is good as I am an artist. Lately, I’m waking up in the morning with a pounding, beating hand and I think I’m laying on it/trapping the nerves overnight. Thinking of going back to a night splint if I can find it or look for something more modern online. Wondering if some kind of similar support could help you. Can you ask the rheumy to refer your to physio/OT/both? My night splint was custom made and didn’t take long to do it, just a few days, but you could ask if they think anything like this could help and improve your hand. Or day splints too. They often have general hand splints/supports in the physio supplies at my hospital and either give or sell them to you at a very reasonable price. Or they can recommend which ones would be suitable to get online, etc.

I used a have a lot of wax baths for my hands/wrists/elbows at the physio department. Those were brilliant for calming inflammation and any pain/heat in your joints if you have active RA. They only last for a few days so you need to go regularly or some people have a small wax bath at home. I’m not sure from what you said if your RA is currently active in other areas, other then your GP said you’ve had a flare. Did the rheumy say anything re your recent blood test? Wondering too if you’ve had a recent X-ray of the hand I hope you can ask for some way to assist re seeing a physio and/or OT. They can help a lot on how to manage the joint/pain. The steroid shots in the hand always lasted longer than a few weeks for me but we’re all different and no, they can‘t give you steroid shots too often. 😑.

[Vonnie10]

Hi kit must have been a worry for you with you been a artist but glad and so ahhpy for you your still painting thats nice it's a cruel disease at times feel like im moaning too much suppose lots worst off than me ..I have hand /wrirst splints but they aren't great I've just tried them no good for my for my finger won't support it ill get online and buy some for my my finger it's middle one wouldn't mind so much if it was my left hand and the palm of my hand .it's hideous pain Its waking me up and gets worst with rest can't fully open or stretch my hand out it's a flair up I just hope it's a blip and not my toclizumab failing all my other joints seem OK which is odd.I had bloods done at my surgery on Wednesday that's was my annual review for gp we all know how long GPS take to review and get back to you .. my gp surgery and hospital don't share access clinic write to them with whats going on my clinic never even did xray at the very start of my RD which is just stupid .

My daughters coming over to take my blood she on anight shift and will drop them at our lab these bloods are my rhematolgy bloods I have all the bits and labels here .

My gp gave me a steriod im 10 days ago he said it was acute with my hand was pretty bad. Rang our helpline cns got back allspice she said was I could have another strruid 1 month after I hope it's settle down before this though and bloods are OK.

[wilbertjellyfish]

I'm having a flare and it's misserable. At least your GP is trying... even it's not helping. I made Sunday roast for the family yesterday and had to go to bed before I could eat it because I feel so ill.

Sorry I haven't got any answers but I can fully sympathise. Wrist supports help me with my hands a lot

[Hidden]

I hope it settles soon. I had a similar problem early in my rheumatoid and the only thing that helped was a splint. Rest the joints. Pain relief like anti inflammatories. I even slept with the splint so it hurt less in the night. I was told it was an acute flare. My rheumatologist at the time was a long drive away and the Gp said to rest it. I prefer heat packs but I guess it's more a preference thing.

Take care and all the best 🙂

[SueBaker]

Hi, you only mention your GP? Mine keeps well out of RA issues and I call the RA advice line when I have a flare - they then advise the GP or bring me in. Are you under a rheumatology specialist? They are the ones you need to contact.

[Vonnie10 in reply to SueBaker]

I spoke to my rhematolgy department also my gp wasn't happy leaving me while waiting for a urgent appointment from rhem team as that would have been a weeks wait from them at least with it been on a Thursday when it kicked off we have to leave a message for rhem they take 48 hours to get back to you so would have been over the weekend then arrange a appointment . So gp took pity on me I usually go straight ti the help line .

[Sheila_G]

I would try putting your hand in warm water, same temperature as you would have for a shower. I think ice is too cold and probably doing the opposite to what you want. Ice is usually for bringing swelling down and heat for pain. Good luck.

[StormySeas]

You have my sympathy as I know how agonising that pain can be.

Hope you've managed to make contact with rheumatology and maybe got something for the pain at least. It's hard to cope when you're in pain like this, hope you've managed to get something to tide you over XX

[CallMeSunny]

sorry this is going on for such a long time, Vonnie. Hopefully your phone call today results in a positive outcome where you can have effective pain relief put in place. Plenty of tips here too. I know only too we’ll just how many times you can keep saying to yourself through gritted teeth, “tomorrow will be better”! Fingers crossed your “Tomorrow “ is. X