Finger pain

[Titchyj]

Hi,

I am waiting for Rheumy appointment and was wondering if any one has pain in fingers and hands whilst cutting and filing nails? I am suffering with my hands,fingers and wrists and find them very painful doing everything.

Thanks

Titchyj

[Hidden]

I think many of us will have suffered from something similar to this with RA - but hopefully if you get diagnosed reasonably soon and put on a disease modifying drug soon you will find that the pain disappears completely as the drugs are very effective although they do usually take quite a few months to work. Tilda x

[Titchyj in reply to Hidden]

Hi Tilda,

Thanks for your comments, I take a lot of other meds and am not sure what drugs will be compatible with them. Here's hoping my appointment will be soon and can try some and find out which are suitable for me.

Titchyj

[Hidden]

Which other meds and what for if you don't mind me asking? Others hre may well take these drugs too and could tell you what they are allowed and what the complications might be. I'm lucky - the only other condition I have is hypothyroidism and a lot of people here take Levothyroxine too. Tilda

[Titchyj]

Hi Tilda,

Here goes, it's a long list.

Pregabalin - Fibromyalgia, losartan - high blood pressure, steroids - sarcoidosis of the lungs,

Simvastatin - high cholesterol, omeprazol - GERD, metformin - diabetes, metocoplramide - reflux, paracetamol - only pain med. I can take, asthma inhalers, vitamin D and calcium chewable tablets - because of the steroids. Just had a course of Naproxen for pains in joints.

Think that's about.

Titchyj

[Hidden]

Well hopefully if and when you are started on a disease modifying drug you will slowly but surely be able to cut out some of these - the steroids and NSAIDs and possibly the Fibro drugs such as preglabin too. I have heard that for some sufferers there Fibro symptoms lessen or even disappear RA drugs have started to work (suggesting perhaps that the pains were caused by RA to begin with?). Good luck anyway. Tilda x

[Titchyj in reply to Hidden]

Thank you TildaT, hope your right can't wait for the Rheumy appointment to get things sorted.

Titchyj

[Hidden]

If you have swollen joints or soft tissue then I recommend you photograph these and take them with you because what rheumatologists usually look for is visible inflammation. Good luck. Tilda x

[cris1728]

Hi Titchy

I have had great problems with fingers and wrists with pain and swelling, went to 1st rheumy appt Monday and given steroid injection which has had a great effect on my abilities and am able to do much more than I could. I think you will find that a lot of people on here have very similar problems with hands. When is your appointment, are your fingers and hands swollen

cris

[Titchyj]

Hi Cris,

Thanks for your reply, haven't got my appointment yet, my fingers are swollen I have had to take all my rings off. It took me nearly half an hour to peel a couple of potatoes yesterday, also pain in wrists, elbows and shoulders. This is different from Fibro, I have had Fibro for more than 10 years and have not had pains like these before.

Also feet are painful and ankles, hips, neck, and top to bottom of spine.

Titchyj

[cris1728 in reply to Titchyj]

Hi Titchyj

You sound just like me and the pain I was having, as Tilda said it is a good idea to take photos of your hands as they are now so they can see what they look when you go to appt. I didnt do this and the swelling in my hands had gone down a lot when I went on Monday although there was still some swelling. I had a very good experience at the rheumy clinic but as I am sure you have seen others do not and it is good to go with all the evidence. I know what you mean about the potatoes, I wrote about the same thing in a blog recently and the other things I had difficulty with, I got some good responses from others in like situations and can see the humour in these difficulties as can others. "who says things are easier nowadays" if you want to read it. anyway keep your spirits up and I hope its not long till your appt and you feel some relief soon

gentle hugs cris xx

[Hidden]

When I want to file my finger nails, I take two co-dramol painkillers, wait 1/2 hour and then complete the task, it enables me to last longer in the task! I also do this when I am going to visit the Podiatrist.

[Titchyj in reply to Hidden]

Hi Georje, thanks for your tip,unfortunately I am unable to tolerate strong pain meds. Only paracetamol, I take 8 a day, but they don't do a lot.

[shirlthegirl]

Hi Titchtj as cris has said there are alot of people on this site with the same problems, you aren't alone.....I also have pains in most of my joints now apart from my right foot(,but i'm sure in time it will catch up with the rest), Its sounds like the RA has spread quite quickly like mine and many others on this site,And i know how frighting it can be, even thou alot of my joints aren,t swollen, they are very painfull and sore, I was diagnosed by my doc early september, and have a appointment next week( the 14th) Was you diagnosed by your doctor, then refer for a appointment with the rehumy? Xxx

[Titchyj]

Hi Shirlthrgirl, Thanks for your reply. My doctor hasn't diagnosed anything yet, had one lot of bloods back in May that came back clear, she didn't want to put me through any more and prescribed Naproxen for 28 days and a referral to a Rheumy, which I am still waiting for.

Good luck with your appointment next week, I hope they can help you.

[shirlthegirl in reply to Titchyj]

Thankyou hope you get your appointment soon.

Take care Xx

[Luthien66]

Hi Titchtj, yes like everyone else here my finger joints went first, followed by my feet and now my wrists and shoulders are joining in.

Hope you get your diagnosis asap....and don't let them fob you off.....first they told me it was osteo before admitting actually it is RA.

Good Luck & remember you're not alone. xx

[Titchyj in reply to Luthien66]

Hi Luthien, Thanks for your comments, will let you all know results once I've seen the Rheumy. Sorry you are all suffering too, but nice to have other people who know what you are going through to talk to.

[Tinwoman2]

Hi Tichtyj, I don't have pain per se in my hands when I do my nails, but I don't have any strength in my hands anymore, so I have to really press hard & that can cause discomfort in my hands & wrists.

My nails grow so fast & are strong so I do my fingernails once a week & my toenails whenever I think of it-every 3 weeks or so. I find it hard to type with long nails since my fingers-the tips all point down, so I keep my nails really short. It cuts down on the clicking of the keyboard keys some too.

Christine

[Titchyj in reply to Tinwoman2]

Hi Tinwoman2, Thanks for your thoughts on this matter, my nails are very btittle, so need filing a lot which make the pain in my hands worse. I now have n iPad and use s pointer to type, hen I use the lap top my pain just gets unbearable.

[GreenFlower in reply to Titchyj]

I'm using Dragon dictation software most of the time now to save wear and tear on my fingers. I feel a bit daft talking to the computer but I have to admit that it works very well. I just wrote this reply using it :-).

[Titchyj in reply to GreenFlower]

Hi GreenFlower, thanks for your reply, sounds a good idea not sure about talking to my computer though.!,