Hi. I'm new here and this is my first post. In 2012 I finally got a referral to an orthopedic specialist after repeatedly asking the doctor's for help with my hands. I had all the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, so was given splints for both hands. At the same time, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hands and the specialist signed me off stating that you cannot have both conditions. I wear thumb and wrist splints with bandages underneath keeping my knuckles covered as both my knuckles and fingers hurt also. I get really sharp, painful shooting pains going up my thumbs and basically every inch of my hands hurt.
My wrists have been getting a lot worse lately too, so along with not being able to grip things, my wrists have become so bad that I have to use Both hands just to brush my teeth.
I am on painkillers, but after more than five years on Diclofenic, my stomach is apparently too damaged for me to be able to take anti-inflammatory medications. So they do absolutely nothing for the pain. Holding my phone and texting is painful also, so it can take quite a while to write anything as I have to take breaks.
Sorry about the length of this post, I hadn't intended on it being so long. Basically, I was wondering if anyone could possibly give me some advice on how I could help myself and calm my concerns that there is nothing else wrong.
Thank you.
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Affrael
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Hi. I'm sorry you are in so much pain. Firstly, make a double appointment with your GP and take someone with you to support you. Explain to your GP how badly you are feeling with this pain and you want help now. Ask for an ultrasound scan of both hands, wrists and lower arms. Either your GP can request this or tell your GP to refer you urgently to see a Consultant Orthopedist. I have had to have carpal tunnel release on both hands, twice on my right. I also had trigger thumb which also had to be released. I have had overwhelming, excruciating pain in my wrist and forearm and following ultrasound, it found I have de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. I had this operated on and wow, the difference is life changing. I am wheelchair bound and was using one foot and other hand to get anywhere. Now I can do it with no pain. Seriously, make that appointment with your GP. Good luck and let me know if I can help. Kate
Hello, sounds like you have arthritis in your hands but it could be any number of things so you do need a specialist report. Sadly your stomach problem is created by side effect of tablets these days they give proton pump tablets to prevent stomach problems. Sometimes pain can be due to faulty internal organs too hence the need for correct diagnosis. I have two types of arthritis , two lung conditions , high blood pressure according to who takes the reading , broken bone residue pain , and a passed mental health record from over 30 years ago. So I would say Tosh to you can only have one illness being seen by the specialist or GP or the rubbish of a doctor saying there is nothing wrong your results are normal. Try to insist on more investigation to establish a correct diagnosis or if in England Try hospital PALS service.
I had those same pains. My doctor did thumb surgery on both of my hands - for the arthritis in my thumbs at the lowest joint, nearest the wrist. He took out the trapezius bone and replaced it with a portion of a tendon in my lower arm, rolling it up like a cinnamon bun to fill the place of the removed bone. I became a new woman.
But, soon after I healed from that, the pain in my right hand became unbearable. He diagnosed DeQuervain's Syndrome. The tendon running along the thumb side gets pinched going through the sheath and the more inflamed, the worse it is. He did another surgery to release the sheath (much like carpal tunnel but not nerves being released) to allow the tendon to move smoothly.
Since then, I've had almost no pain at all in my hands. I have full strength and don't have to deal with the weakness and misery of the past. As a side note, prior to those surgeries, I had the arthritis in my fingers on my right hand removed (big bumps on the knuckle closest to my fingernails on 3 fingers) and had pins put in those joints. I can no longer bend those fingers, and picking small things up can be a chore, but that pain is gone, too.
Thank you so much for replies. I am not very good with doctors, but the last one I saw actually listened to me about pain possibly back related. I have already been diagnosed with cervical spondylosis and osteoarthritis in my lower back among my very long list of issues. Because of her I've had x-rays on my hips and an MRI. I'll be getting the results next week.
If I can get another appointment with this doctor, I shall take my mom with me as she is much more forceful than I am. She is more or less my carer anyway, because of my autism.
I shall take a look at the cream, thank you. I have to be careful as I am allergic to perfume.
Get a new doctor and go see a rheumatologist. I had ortho doc tell me I don’t have PSA (psoriatic arthritis) because my pains weren’t classic PSA (classic) love these type of diagnosis. Long story short my Rheumy is a PSA specialist diagnosed me with it and “Classic” signs doesn’t follow everyone and you can have OA and another form of Arthritis...So he is full of himself when he said you couldn’t have 2 issues.
The doctor I had at that time has left under murky circumstances. The last doctor I saw seemed pretty good as she actually listened to me. I have an appointment on Wednesday with her for all my test results, but I shall have to make another appointment to discuss my hands given the time constraints these days.
My hands also are extremely painful, deformed, and have red calcium deposits (or something)projecting from painful knuckles. Thumb really swollen. The problem I have is that, even though there is a hand specialist, I work with my hands and do not want to have any surgery because it would mean time off. But I am definitely going to look up Kathy's diagnosis. My wrists are also very lumpy with arthritis. Dang. Not a single place that doesn't have some problem, but I know others are also experiencing this.
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