Suggestions please

[Rachel43]

Any suggestions on how to deal with the pain/swelling appreciated. Have tried compression gloves but no relief. Feels like my thumb might explode 🤦🏻‍♀️

[medway-lady]

Are you sure thats RA and not an infection ? if its hot and swollen I'd suggest ringing 111 for advice.

[Rachel43 in reply to medway-lady]

No injury or cut. That thumb has been out of shape for a few years. Just seems to have got worse. My rheumatologist has seen it & to be honest I’ve asked doctors to be referred for another option because he just keeps fobbing me off. X

[medway-lady in reply to Rachel43]

You don't need a cut or injury to get an infection. If you'd said other joints like knuckles too, then I'd have thought RA perhaps but it looks to me like infection. See your GP and he may prescribe antibiotids.

[Rachel43 in reply to medway-lady]

Will check with doctor. My rheumatologist didn’t seem concerned. I had my bloods done Thursday so maybe that will show if it’s an infection.

[Stills]

agree with Medway-lady, it looks infected, have you had a cut or injury that could have caused it?

[Rachel43 in reply to Stills]

No injury or cut. That thumb has been out of shape for a few years. Just seems to have got worse. My rheumatologist has seen it & to be honest I’ve asked doctors to be referred for another option because he just keeps fobbing me off. X

[Stills in reply to Rachel43]

I hope you get a quick second opinion. Let us know.

[OneBlueLady in reply to Rachel43]

Request volterol from surgery, I have the same problem in my to big toe, volterol helps with pain

[wilbertjellyfish]

My initial thought was infection too but I'm assuming you have had it looked at recently if you've had your bloods done. I have thumb supports ( they were reduced to a penny once in the chemist) they do help if my thumb is an issue.. thankfully not that often. I'd still advise pushing for an x-ray or further investigation.

Can you look up a+E waiting times, you could get lucky on a Sunday and it be quiet or do you have a minor ailments facility that could x-ray it?

[ACPA41]

Could it be gout???

[Seabird1]

Hello Rachel43,A splint to rest it might help. I don't think some doctors understand totally how painful something like a finger can be. An xray to look at the joint perhaps. When I had a painful wrist and fingers early on I had a splint made for sleeping. It did help.

I still have it and am amazed how bad I must have been. Good luck.

[trexhater]

I would ask GP to do an xray

[StormySeas]

Can’t provide any help sorry but I do hope you manage to get it sorted. It must be agony - I know how painful anything like that is on your hands ☹️☹️☹️☹️

[Belle76]

have you tried cold compress or submerge into cold water.

[Rachel43 in reply to Belle76]

Yes. I tried that yesterday. Thanks for suggestion though

[Luludean]

I hope the many replies you have had help you Rachel.

I have a question , I know of NRAS and Versus Arthritis but what is KPA? L

[cyberbarn]

If you want it seen on the weekend rather than waiting for your GP surgery to open on Monday then it is best to ring NHS 111. They will direct you to the right place to go.

[KlP28]

Hi Rachel,

Sorry to hear you’re in pain & I hope you get some relief soon. I’m with one of the other replyer’s. I had gout in my big toe. It does look similar. Have you been diagnosed with RA? Are any of your other joints in your body sore too?

Take care x

[Rachel43]

hi. I’ve been diagnosed with RA for 21 years. Also have fibromyalgia & sjogrens. Never had gout. The pain kept me awake last night. Contacting gp tomorrow

[Happy5]

I have RA and OA in my hands, also I get lumps like this on my index finger plus one on side of my thumb. When I'm in a flare all my finger joints swell, when I'm not in a flare the lumps are still there but not painful. Are you prescribed pain relief or suggested to use over the counter pain relief?

As others have said se of splint support during activity may help. Do you have access to an advice line to your RA dept? When I'm concerned I call them and an RA nurse gets back to me asap.

Sorry you struggling know it hard.

[Rachel43 in reply to Happy5]

Hi. I’m prescribed co-codamol but that’s not having any impact on the pain.

The advice line at my local hospital isn’t that great. Only available 3 days a week & can take days for a response 😒

[Happy5 in reply to Rachel43]

Feel for you, especially if Co-codamol not effective. Suggest you persist with contacting your RA advice line if possible speak with the specialist nurse, they have more insight into issues. Also contact your GP, yeh I know easier said than done, do you have access to econsult system for your GP?

Know it's hard persisting trying to get help when feeling rough, but only way to get help unfortunately.

[Hisue]

Rheumatoid nodules?

[Green230461]

I had that and it was an infection under my nail - goodness knows how it got there! Doc gave me penicillin for it. See your gp again 👍

[WilfDog]

I'd check with your GP, definitely. Infection in the joint can be very painful, red and swollen. I think someone else mentioned to put it in a splint of some sort or some support. This may give some extra relief if you have anything.

Good luck xx

[junik53]

When my joints are really bad I massage pain relief gel into them and my whole hand , it helps

[Chrissycl]

I use lavender oil diluted in almond oil or any other carrier oil , 2 drops to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. It works really well for me. One of lavender oil benifits is it's anti inflammatory property

[Rachel43]

Hi all. My blood test showed increased inflammatory markers so I’m now on steroids. Hopefully some relief soon

[Rupert2001 in reply to Rachel43]

I noticed some others suggested gout and it does look similar to that. Another possibility might be Pseudogout which can look similar and is very painful. I was diagnosed RA in 1977 and last year when had bilateral knee effusions the fluid the rheumatologist showed some pyrophosphate crystals which can occur in pseudogout. Apparently RA and pseudogout can coexist and sometimes are mistaken for one another.

Hope you get it sorted out soon, anyway!