help!!

[Mybirthday1975]

morning everyone!!I have something happen to me different with RA more or less every day! Well what’s happened is I woke up in the night and I couldn’t believe my finger!!it was bent downwards and it seemed locked I couldn’t move it it to its normal position and it was a little painful 😣 eventually I managed to somehow lift it back up but it was hard!!never had this before has anyone ever had this and is it to do with RA? Is there anything I can do to stop this happening again?thanks x

[Brian1977]

I've not got ra I was diagnosed with peripheral and axial spondyloarthritis but I can't straighten most of my fingers most of them are bent and painful even on 25mg of methotrexate and a biologic

[teakbank12 in reply to Brian1977]

I was informed recently trigger finger or Dupuytren's disease.I often have a pain in my palm with a thickening of tissue.My whole wrist locked closed during one night when I tried to get up for the toilet.

It took some time to release.

Dave

[Stills in reply to teakbank12]

I have DC so does my brother as did my my Dad . Also known as Vikings disease which we find rather amusing

[Green230461 in reply to Stills]

Bill Nighy suffers from Viking disease

[Stills in reply to Green230461]

Yes and his is very bad, mines restricted to one finger bent in, raised ropes in palms and nodules.

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to Brian1977]

Thanks for replying

[vonniesims]

Sometimes my thumbs and big toe go into spasm (not all together).I just have to wait. I have RA and Psaoritic arthritis and am on Methotrexate and a biologic

[Amnesiac3637]

As teakbank says that does sound like trigger finger but don’t take our word for it and contact your GP or rheumatologist. If it is that it’s relatively easily remedied. Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thanks for replying is trigger finger linked to RA?

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to Mybirthday1975]

If you look up trigger finger on the NHS website it’ll give you information about what and why but it’s always tempting to diagnose things through asking others (or Prof. Google) and not getting the right diagnosis so while it sounds like it, best to go to a doctor and getting it right first time round.

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thanks for replying!and yeah I’ve just looked up trigger finger and it can be to linked to having RA!so when I see my consultant I will mention it 😊

[Stills in reply to Mybirthday1975]

I have read DC may be linked to AI conditions and we all know once you have one others may follow. One of my fingers is permanently contracted but I can manually force it straight

[AgedCrone]

Sounds like a form of trigger finger. Try to see your rheumy & see if he/she will either give you a steroid injection…or send you to a hand surgeon.

I had a similar experiences a few times & a steroid jab about 5 years ago sorted it,

[fangrock]

try and talk to you consultant asap. I have Psaoritic arthritis and this happened to me. One finger on each hand. I was told this is the psa attacking the tissues. I had the stuck fingers for a few weeks that I had to manually manipulate to straighten. Then a few weeks of swelling and pain - now they are permanently locked in that position

[wilbertjellyfish]

Yes this happens. Sometimes it can take a few days to settle. Once I had to go to a chiropractor I know and she used Lazer on the tendon in my palm. The last time I was able to massage the tendon in my palm and the finger and get it straight. Then strap it to the finger beside it with tape ...get it in chemist, can't remember the name it's like sticky paper. I do this initially all day, then at night until the whole thing settles down.

[Thingybob]

This happened to me in the early days, before I was on the right dose of meds. It wasn't trigger finger just part of the RA affecting joints. At the time my symptoms were not controlled well. It didnt last, as I was in the process of increasing mtx . Once I was on the right combo and dose of drugs the different strange symptoms calmed

Speak to your rheumy nurse if you can , maube your meds need tweaking ? Best wishes

[Thingybob]

This happened to me in the early days, before I was on the right dose of meds. It wasn't trigger finger just part of the RA affecting joints. At the time my symptoms were not controlled well. It didnt last, as I was in the process of increasing mtx . Once I was on the right combo and dose of drugs the different strange symptoms calmed

Speak to your rheumy nurse if you can , maube your meds need tweaking ? Best wishes

[Leics]

I get this all the time my thumbs fingers ankles and legs seem to go into spasm and twist and lock. Seems to be mainly at night for my feet (toes and ankles) and fingers during the day. It’s much worse if I’m a little dehydrated. I’ve always considered it to be part and parcel of my RA thankfully it’s not all the time.

[Smiler7]

Could be trigger finger but I always ring my rheumo nurse, your right though something different every day until they get us sorted with right meds. Take care.

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to Smiler7]

Thank you for replying and yeah I think it could be that too!a few people on hear have said also 👍

[Green230461]

Always best to seek professional help sooner than later! That way you can still function- excuse the pun!

[Sheila_G]

Yes I have had that happen many times, sometimes the whole hand. In fact that is what took me to the GP in the first place, before my diagnosis 22 years ago. I find hot (not too hot) water helps to gently open them up.

[Tkat10]

have you had a physio and or occupational therapy referral / support? I joined an exercise programme for my hands, wrists and shoulders using putty, the exercise bands and now weights. All I can say is I have a selection of exercises to do every day and if I manage multiple times that helps. I have an arsenal of exercises to draw upon to support my continuing flexibility. I have as diagnosed over 25 years ago these have kept me mobile and relatively fit.

[madme1]

With me they termed it as over stretching, any of my fingers can be pulled into my palm, stretching the nerves on the inside of my wrist. It is extremely painful and takes me ages to pull the finger back so you gave my sympathy. It seems to occur when my finger and hand have been stuck in one position for so long. Especially reading a book or holding my phone. Trick is to keep hands warm and reposition or stretch fingers and hand every so often. Finger exercises help as well.

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to madme1]

Thank you 😊

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to madme1]

thank you 😊

[whitedog]

I've been experiencing the same - third finger, right hand - and it's happening alongside worsening pain in all my knuckles and both wrists.

But I was told during a phone consultation in early Dec that the pain and stiffness I'm now having is more likely to be OA than RA. It's becoming more difficult to lift the kettle, squeeze eye drop bottles etc.

The report letter says I may be referred for ultrasound on my hands and poss physio. I've also had bloods done for them but not heard what the results are.

But the odd thing is that I was sent some exercise sheets after they last saw me in 2022 with hand strengthening exercises to do with a stress ball etc. But I find if I try to make a fist, that's when the finger will most tend to lock down. And I've seen doctors on You Tube say stress balls are not good for trigger finger issues. If that's what it is.

So - just waiting for a date for the scans and and see what they say.

[PloddingOn1]

I was diagnosed with trigger thumb and was referred to an upper limb surgeon. After a good detailed consultation with him I decided against having a steroid injection into the joint, luckily it resolved on its own after doing physio and it hasn’t happened since. I also have RA. I would mention it at your next appointment with Rheumatology and follow their advice as only a clinician would be able to diagnose.

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to PloddingOn1]

Thank you 😃

[helixhelix]

mention it to your rheumy but likely trigger finger or tendonitis. I find massaging votarol gel into base of finger/palm of hand helps.

[Mybirthday1975]

thank you😀