Steroid in thumb & finger joint

[whitedog]

Hi

Seizing up at a rate of knots. 😬

RA seemed to be in remission and I just had one stiff MCP joint in my right hand when I was last in clinic in 2022. For the last few months, I've been getting trigger finger in that joint, a lot of pain in the base of my thumb and wrist, same hand, and some stiffness in my left hand but not quite as bad yet.

After a couple of rheumatology phone chats, they've referred me for physio. First appt on 27th, but it's another phone appt first. And they've booked me in for a face to face appt middle of April.

Meantime, they booked me for steroid jabs which I had today, one for the trigger finger and one in the base of my thumb. Trigger finger jab wasn't too bad and didn't hurt afterwards but the other had me gasping! It's still quite painful now.

I just thought it was a bit odd to refer me for these before I'd been examined. Is that normal? Has anyone else had a jab in their thumb? How quickly did the pain ease off and did it help? I'm assuming this is OA, on top of the RA but guess I'll find out more in April when I go in.

Thanks.

[Runrig01]

It does seem strange to book you for the jabs, without assessing first. I would say they’re suspecting it’s more your RA, as steroids aren’t commonly used for OA, as it’s not an inflammatory arthritis. Although there can be flares in OA, which result in inflammation. Did they do X-rays prior to deciding to inject. It’s essential to rest the joint, for 24-48hrs, which I appreciate is difficult. The idea being to keep the steroid mainly within the joint.

[whitedog in reply to Runrig01]

Hi

No X-rays. I've not had my hands examined since 2022.

When I had a tel appt on 1st Dec, the nurse said it was probably OA. She said they may refer me for physio, steroids and ultrasound and see me face to face in around 4 months. But when I rang back more recently, as things were getting worse, a different nurse said it was probably a bit of both. She got me to have a blood test to check for inflammatory markers but I don't know what the results of that were.

Maybe they've just thought jabs would help me deal with the pain for now.

[Wigelia in reply to whitedog]

About 18 months ago I had an X-ray guided steroid injection into the MCP joint of my right hand which was very effective. I don't remember it being particularly painful and I felt that I didn't need the follow up appointment 6 months later.

[whitedog in reply to Wigelia]

Hi

I'm still a bit baffled why they didn't do that for me. Or ultrasound. My trigger finger actually locked down again today, though I managed to release it more easily than I'd been able to over the last few weeks.

The pain from my thumb is easing off but it's still a bit niggly. If I'd known the jab would hurt that much, I wouldn't have had it but, hopefully, I'll feel some benefit soon and maybe the physio will help.