Osteo or rheumatoid arthritis in fingers

[Gottarelax]

At the same time as being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I started getting sharp pain and swelling in the joints closest to finger tips. I was told this is osteoarthritis (while it is also acknowledged that RA can affect any joint). The pain is getting worse and I expect that if I do contact my nurse, it will be ignored as it was previously. Perhaps it is osteoarthritis but I just wondered if anyone has had RA recognised in these joints? Is there anything that can help if it is osteo?

[julie1908]

Hi,

My Consultant told me many years ago that RA affects the middle joint on fingers and osteoarthritis affects the joints nearest to the nails.

[Gottarelax in reply to julie1908]

Yes that's what mine said...just seems odd that it happened at exactly the same time that I suddenly and quickly became ill with RA. I guess it may be just a knock on of the general inflammation that occurred at the time.

[AgedCrone]

I think to be blunt ….Not a lot..I seem to have been fortunate & held OA at bay until reasonably recently ,,,, …my fingers are quite deformed & first fngers won’t grip anything…,can’t hold a sewing needle at all.

Rheumy agrees NSAIDs could help….I did find heated gloves helped…but I tried the type that needs plugging in & demolished the contents of the coffee table a few times as I walked away still connected....I now rely on a hot water bottle. for comfort

There are surgical procedures available….when I had a carpal tunnel procedure last year, my hand surgeon was very keen to have a go, but unless my hands become so badly deformed I can’t use them…..I would rather not take that path. Hope you find your solution.

[Potatos in reply to AgedCrone]

You can get battery powered heated gloves for skiing.

[AgedCrone in reply to Potatos]

Yeah..& great surgery for broken legs! 🤣Been there & broke the leg years ago… I think l will stick to NSAID’s for now!

[Gottarelax in reply to AgedCrone]

Thanks AC. I had a horrible feeling that would be the case but ever the optimist... I will try to get used to taking paracetamol routinely to see if that reduces it. My stomach doesn't tolerate most NSAIDS. Perhaps the change in weather is responsible for it flaring more in the last few days. I have Reynaud's which doesn't help. Hot water bottles are always a comfort 🙂

[AgedCrone in reply to Gottarelax]

Ask your rheumy nurse what she advises.Years ago I found NSAIDs a BIG NoNo…but found paracetamol didn’t help much these days so tried Ibuprofen & although not perfect Ithink it helps a bit…at least it doesn’t upset my gut like it used to!

[Gottarelax in reply to AgedCrone]

It's been almost a year since I last saw anyone. I made the mistake of seeing them in a warm spell in the summer when I felt the best I had in a few years and was more able than usual...I guess it's time to remind them that I exist.

[AgedCrone in reply to Gottarelax]

You should ask for a medication review..you may need to up your dose or add something.. don’ t just accept it’s “only OA”:& put up with it. I’d ask for an ultra sound scan too…if you don’t ask you don’t get. ..& your rheumy will think you are doing fine.

[hazelcats in reply to Gottarelax]

Sounds familiar Gottarelax. I have both OA and inflammatory arthritis, all worse in all my fingers, thumbs and wrist. Again, all seemed to happen at the same though Raynauds a lot of years, seems to kick in when everything else does.Quite a combination and very painful. I am on naproxen as well as mtx ( steroids atm too!) I find heat does help the fingers, but if the inflammation is high then ice packs help. a strange mix.

[Amnesiac3637]

I have both in both hands and in my feet. Not funny and very painful. Rheumatology consultant said nothing really to be done for osteo. One finger joint is badly damaged by secondary osteoarthritis and they said I could have it fused if I wanted to but other than that a pretty bleak outlook. I find rubbing Ibuprofen gel into my fingers helps with pain from both types of arthritis and making sure my hands are warm and when they’re really painful giving them a rest.

It’s bad news that science hasn’t really come up with any realistic solution to osteo so we just have to grin and bear it. Bit of a bummer though - got enough to put up with! Hope you can keep the pain down.

[Gottarelax in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thanks Amnesiac. I am using the ibuprofen gel and it helps a little perhaps. I think hand warming may help so I'll be looking to see how I can both keep my hands warm and work (type) at the same time.

[AgedCrone in reply to Amnesiac3637]

A hand surgeon I had years ago recommended rubbing your individual fingers hard with thumb & forefinger to get the circulation going & it maybe wishful thinking but I find it helps.

In have only ever found these creams you rub on…from Vick Vapour Rub to Volterol only give me a rash!

When I think OA really hurts…I think back to the pain RA caused pre medication,& thank goodness I’m past that stage!

Get rubbing…& toes if you can bend that far..l can’t!

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to AgedCrone]

Will do - rubbing now! Have to give toes a miss though as like you, can’t bend……..😄

[AgedCrone in reply to Amnesiac3637]

I know it sounds a bit Heath Robinson..but I do find rubbing one finger between another finger & thumb…does take away that terrible stinging pain of OA. It doesn’t last of course…but it,s a nice break! Maybe I am just good at imagining no pain?

[Haz58]

I have RA and osteoarthritis. Mine is flaring today as I've been off Benepali for nearly 3 weeks because of an infection and antibiotics plus it's gone colder and damper. 🙄Anyway my rheumy told me to slap voltarol joint gel on my painful knuckles and put splints or compression gloves on. Ice if joints are hot and heat if cold.

So that's my plan for today. Fingers crossed...well that's if I can cross my fingers 😩

I can't take ibuprofen or naproxen either because of my tummy.

[cyberbarn]

There is a lot of research going into osteoarthritis. There are some researchers that think that OA is the other end of the spectrum to RA. That is, both are inflammatory, just result in different symptoms. There are other groups that feel it is also an inflammatory condition and that some of the drugs that help the traditional inflammatory conditions may help OA too.

One group has found a genetic link for the pain from OA, with those with one allele feeling pain from OA but those with a different one don't feel pain from OA. This particularly annoys me because GPs will see some that aren't bothered by the pain of OA and others who are, and will assume that those that are bothered by the pain have psychological problems, not that it is a genetic problem that isn't the patient's fault.

There has also been research into things like hot wax (doesn't work) and compression gloves (it is the warmth not the compression that works). I can't use compression gloves, it makes my hands even more painful!

But these things never seem to make it down to the coal face where the patients are.

[Happy5]

I got joint damage in my hands, fingers when developing RA.

I was also sent for x-rays of my hands by the RA dept which also showed I had OA in my hands. After I was sent to physio dept for advice on aids to help me with weakened hands, also was measured for hand/wrist splints, and shown exercises for my hands.

So try pursuing through RA dept these follow ups? Agree all painful but it's the weakness irritates me. I used heated gel pads when my hands too painful.

[Tonkie]

I have both in my hands and feet. I find that my knuckles swell more than my top joints. My mum has severe OA and her top joints are very deformed now. I think I developed OA so early (25) due to the knock on effect from having a tissue disease especially in my feet. My toes are deformed there now with OA due to having such severe tendon problems since my teens. I think they can both affect one another. I know in my case it has affected the way I walk and use my hands.

[Gottarelax in reply to Tonkie]

My mother’s hands are also deformed by OA. I always assumed it was because she is always crafting,

[Artfanatic]

Hi Gotta relax I have a lump on my little finger on the last joint by the fingernail & Doc says it can't be RA as it doesn't affect last finger joints so must be Osteoarthritis. I have Osteoarthritis in my hips & knees & only treatment for that is painkillers, ice or heat pads & surgery I'm afraid! I have a new knee now due to that. Good luck!🤗

[Cal66]

HiIs the swelling in your fingers hard swollen itchy lumps? If so then yes it is OA, as both my sister & I have them and was diagnosed with OA. We both have RA and I also have lupus as well. Originally I had swelling and pain , I was totally unable to use them and couldn't feed myself, or scratch my nose as I had started with a lupus flare.

[Gottarelax in reply to Cal66]

I dont get itching, more very sharp, sting like pain

[mld78]

I’ve read all the comments.

Isn’t it amazing that we’re all complaining of swollen joints nearest our nails, but get told it’s OA and not RA. I’d love to research whether this is actually 100% always the case. My knuckles are so sore, only happened since I had to stop Methotrexate!

[Gottarelax in reply to mld78]

This also makes me wonder. I guess the pattern of damage must look different but it seems strange that RA can affect all joints except those.

[lovetogarden]

I’ve been told the same thing about pain and swelling in the top joints. I’ve been having a lot of pain in one finger for a few months now and it’s changed shape in that time. Sometimes the topical pain gels help. But what I’ve found helps most is a hot wax dip.

Bought a small “paraffin bath” decades ago for help with carpal tunnel symptoms. Hauled it out of storage last week and I’m so glad I still had it! It’s really helped. That hand has been getting excessive use lately with a lot of writing, knitting, and gardening. The hot wax effect really alleviates the pain for me.

[Gottarelax in reply to lovetogarden]

Ooh that’s a good idea… I had a wax manicure once and it did feel nice.