Wrist pain and MRI

[Saesae]

Bit of back story, haven't seen Consultant in the flesh since before covid, have had a couple of appointments with nurse at my request.Reporting severe pain in joints and concerns meds were not working.

Moved off methotrexate onto leflunomide as a result of this and liver enzymes, taken alongside sulphasaliazine.

Still no great results, so after much badgering they agreed to move me to a Biologic, however it has taken months to get this started due to inoculation requirements, and disagreements between primary health care and hospital as to who is responsible, very frustrating.

Started adalimumab, and so far great results other than my persistently painful, weak wrist.

Organised a private mri scan, with the following results

Large effusion with synovitis is seen in the wrist joint and the carpal joints. The synovial hypertrophy is quite prominent in the inferior radio ulnar joint and piso-triquetral joint . Intense bone marrow oedema is seen in the lunate, triquetrum, distal radius and ulna. Erosions are seen along the radial margin of the scaphoid bone. Mild synovitis is seen in the second extensor compartment tendons. A tiny perforation in the central part of the triangular fibrocartilage.

I am feeling really delfalted, could this progression of the disease have been prevented with better oversight and response from the consultant and RA team.

I have contacted them with my results, but as with everything with the nhs at the moment, I can only leave a message with a call centre who will forward my message.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Has anyone any experience of what can be done to improve the functionality of my wrist, or reduce the pain and treat the damage that has been done??

Worried and frustrated

[Fruitandnutcase]

What about finding yourself a good physiotherapist who has experience with hands and wrists and hopefully they could give you exercises and advice that will help.

[KittyJ]

unfortunately damage isn’t reversible, if it’s really bad you can have a joint replacement but it doesn’t sound like you’re at that stage. It does take quite a while to get biologics and I’m sorry you feel you’ve got more damage due to the wait but these tests have to be done 😔. Do you have wrist splints and compression Gloves ? I find they really help me so they are worth trying. You can self refer to a physio if you feel they could help, as already suggested, with exercises etc. Let us know how you get on because lots of us have wrist damage and you might be able to help others if you try other suggestions 😊

[mads1]

Saesae i could have written your post - going on to 2nd biologic tomorrow first one was the one that you are on and it worked great for about 8 years. I am on 10 -15mg of steroids to keep the pain at bay but one hand and wrist are dreadful and like you am worried about damage done.

[Doryza]

Hi! I have the same suffering, but I had inflamed synovium at my knee. I had an operation, at the moment I no longer have pain, but my knee is still swollen, I have been taking lefnomide for 4 years, I have not seen any effect, only the infiltrations worked for me, with cortisone. I had adalimumab for six months with no effect. Now I am on olumiant and still leflunomide but also Medrol ; my condition is improved, my hands and shoulders are better, I wish you good health!

[meadow-mogs]

Similar to you. I am now on filgotanib, early days as yet.Both my wrist have osteoarthritis so I understand the pain. I saw an Occupational Therapist and was supplied with splints. They are heplful and worth trying.

[gardens4]

Hi Saesae,

I have a post about awful pain in my wrist on my JAK medication and after the suggestions on here, keeping my wrist warm and a good wrist support not too tight has helped. I had a foot operation and it seemed to kick my meds out of sorts.

Take Care 🌼