Anyone else experienced tendons slipping off their knuckles?

It sounds like you're describing what happens when you get a swan neck deformity. I have this on the ring finger on my right hand and wear an oval 8 ring splint to prevent the joint from over extending. I didn't think it was doing any good at first so stopped wearing it but the finger began to ache more and the dip on the end became more pronounced. I wear it all the time now except when I'm going on a night out...which sadly isn't very often. I think you should ask to see an OT to discuss splinting. You're rheumy nurse can arrange this for you. You're right in that it won't change the diagnosis but it should help you be more comfortable. Good luck

Paula x

Thank you so much for the reply. Just looked up the swan neck you described and I'm not sure it's that - unless this is how it starts?!

It's the knuckle nearest my hand and the tendon slips over it - not sure if you're allowed to put links on here but I was able to find a clip of someone else's hand doing the same thing.

Yes Nikk I get this type of tendonitis - this is how my hands were when my RA was diagnosed. Both my consultant and my physio told me it is and was one of the main criteria used to diagnose my RA. You can get RA in soft tissue and tendons just as much as in joints. In my case my tendon does exactly what you describe (slips over the knuckle nearest to my hand) and my physio gave me exercises to do to stop this happening.

My knuckle under my right finger is always a little tight and swollen now - especially in the mornings but my grip and ability to write and work with my hands is pretty much back to normal now. If you try bending your fingers above the affected knuckles so they are at 45 degree angle to your hand, keeping finger pointing straight and then bend them in towards your palm it sort of hooks over the tendon and prevents it constricting and allows your fingers to bend more easily.

For about a year I found it really hard to find wrist splints that avoided my painful and swollen knuckles but my OT customised some for me and I use them when my wrists are bad - which isn't very often now that the drugs are doing their work. I remember asking my rheumy consultant after he had diagnosed me and put me on MTX - whether I'd ever be able to grip or write or bend my affected fingers fully again and he said yes he thought I would and for the most part he was right. Hope this helps? - Tilda

Ask for a referral to an occupational therapist about your hands - they can really be a huge help in both showing you how to use your hands so they don't hurt so much, and also giving you aids that make life easier - even things like cutlery and pens with much easier hand grips.

hi, i sometimes suffer with this problem, when it slips it can be a "sicky" feeling for a moment or two, then it throbs. my consultant reckons that it could be due to nodules forming on the joints, so when you go to grab something your tendon seems to "slips" off your joint. it happens more often at this time of the year, due to the cold weather and our joints swelling. i hope this helps you, dee x

Hi Nikk, I had this happen on my left hand over the middle & index fingers. It was swollen for years, and then when it finally went down, my Dr said that the tendon had stretched so it 'slid' over those joints. When I had the fake knuckles put in, they didn't shorten the tendon, so my new joints have gone off on their own towards my thumb. At least they don't hurt, mostly.

Christine

So is my doctor stupid because I went to him today and said my tendon is slipping so he put a splint on my finger for a week. He isn't referring me to any other doctor, he isn't sending me to physio or anything. I spent a while asking around and stuff and they all told me they had an op or physio...

Hello, I'm 13 and haven't gotten this checked out but I have the same thing as you but it does not ache and I can grab things just as well as my right hand. It does not make myself queasy but it does weird my friends out. Should I be worried?

I have the exact same thing, my index finger on my left hand (right handed myself)

the tendon that stretches over the knuckle and down the shaft of the top has visibly come out of place, i can see it when i clench a fist, (small bump just under knuckle on right side) it slightly hurts, like a ache, bruised kinda pain, very tender aswell.

I've also got the start of a ganglion cyst on my left ulnar to wrist and i have carpal tunnel on my left wrist.

This all started when i was doing weights, only 30kg, my left hand to fore arm have been having problem after problem but only with tendons.

I'm going Doc's tomorrow to fix it, checked online and it's hassle i really don't want

I have this problem too. I am right handed, and the tendons on my middle finger are slipping off. I find it uncomfortable but amazing. I still dont know how though, but I suggest you get a doctor to check it, and if the problem consists, you may need surgery. I will you luck on your journey to fix this. I'm not gonna care.

-Gabby

I snapped my finger. The fun way that you snap your finger to make a noise. When I did, the tendon ruptured that stabilizes the main tendon that runs down my hand to my middle finger. It now slips over the knuckle. The occupational therapist made me an inadequate splint. I can tell that even with the splint , the tendon keeps moving to the right. They said that by wearing this, it should heal itself and reattach. However I can tell that as long as the tendon is slipping, it will not reattach itself. I modified the splint to keep the tendon from sliding over. . I have to wait 6 weeks to see if it heals. I'm doubtful, but time will tell. It seems to me that the tendon should be reconnected to bond.