Finger joints

[HeronNS]

Sorry, I seem to be posting a lot lately. Yesterday I noticed second joint of little finger very painful as though I'd injured it but not aware of having done so. Today still painful and swollen, other fingers on hand also aching a bit. I've had osteoarthritis in hands for decades, but cannot recall a flareup ever coming on as suddenly and viciously as this before, in fact OA seemed to be pretty much in abeyance for years, just occasional episodes of extra stiffness. Could this be the start of something new and even more unpleasant? Could the crippling pain in one of my foot joints be related? I ask here because I know others with PMR have been dealing with pain in hands and feet.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Heron, I just wonder if you might be developing a Heberden's Node on your finger joint. I have these on some finger and thumb joints and, in fact, one has suddenly appeared on the first joint of my little finger about a week ago and has been very painful. The pain does seem to improve eventually but, unfortunately, the nodes remain. On the other hand, if all your fingers are aching, then perhaps you have strained them somehow without realising at the time - have you carried a heavy shopping bag recently? With your foot joint also being affected, it could be that you are going through either a slight flare in PMR or an episode with osteoarthritis - that can have a habit of erupting from time to time. Try increasing your intake of oily fish - it might just help with the pain. Otherwise, perhaps a slight increase in steroids might be the answer.

[HeronNS in reply to Celtic]

There is a major problem with oily fish. Recently the genetically modified salmon has been released onto our market with NO LABELLING (and actually no publicity, glad I stopped buying farmed salmon ages ago). All the wild caught salmon appears to be from the Pacific and is a product of China. So salmon is even more a bad choice. Only alternative seems to be smoked mackerel, which I could have more often and will try to do so. Thanks for reminder.

[jinasc]

Try Flexiseq - Arc research developed it. I use it for my knee and then discovered, as others have, that as you put it on with your hands and have to wait ten minutes before you wash your hands, (yes you sit and wait till it sinks into your knee) that all my finger joints were no longer painful and worked better. One lady was able to resume knitting, which she had not been able to do for ten years.

Flexiseq is a bio-logical cream.............no drug involved................I call it WD40 for humans.

Should say it is not cheap but well worth it.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

I had forgotten about flexiseq. I tried it a couple of years ago and it did help and I passed it on to sister who used it for her knees successfully. I had forgotten because it was quite expensive for me. If it comes on special offer I would buy it again.

[Baileyw06 in reply to jinasc]

Where do you buy the cream?

[Hidden in reply to Baileyw06]

i got it from lloyds but prob on amazon

[jinasc in reply to Baileyw06]

You can buy direct from ARC (Arthritis Research). This means they use the profit for continuing research.............

arthritisresearchuk.org/sho...

£13.99 cheaper than local chemists.

[Baileyw06 in reply to jinasc]

Thanks

[Suzanne457]

Hi Heron....certainly no need to apologize for ANYTHING.....we are ALL in this together and we dearly need each other ! Now, I will give you another suggestion concerning finger problems. Hebners Nodes are common and sometimes painful....I have had them for years on many of my fingers. I also have several very crooked fingers on my right hand. Go on line and look up Hebners Nodes info to see if it fits what you are experiencing. My other thought of what could be going on with you is the possibility that you have a ganglion . You can look that up as well. I have had them in my fingers , toes also. In fact since I have had PMR I have had them occur a lot. I have one forming on my big toe right now. My Big Toe started hurting a few days ago and in a few days I saw the beginnings of the ganglion developing there on the lower joint ( a large & spongy lump) . The ganglion / ganglia are not serious that I am aware of in themselves but usually need some medical attention ....at least a dr. DX. Hope this was helpful..let us know how you are doing.

Best Wishes...Suzanne

[Hidden]

hi heronS

I have had OA in hands for a few years and it can come in at the drop of a hat and disappear just as mysteriously. I have put it down to weather and usage for different tasks. Having said that, PMR definitely impacted on thumb and hands so it could be part of that. I used to put hands in bowl of warm water. And I have just taped joint with micropore until it settles a bit. Usually taken painkiller and/or antiflammatory. If they work you have some kind of anwser in relation to PMR. Hope they settle and you don't knock them!

[Megams]

~Hi Heron - please never apologize, we all care and share with our differing new and not so new ailments on this journey.

My lower thumb joints on both hands, (especially my dominant hand), now protrudes, is extremely painful by days end & as Poopadoop suggests placing hands in warm water is very comforting. I sometimes apply a topical capsicum based cream bought from Chemist here in NZ, all natural but very effective.

My feet/ankles also have certain amount of O/A now and any slight flares I've experienced in my 2 years 8 months of diagnosed PMR will indeed trigger pain & swelling in these areas especially big toe. I no longer wear a narrow shoe as able to all my life - now need room for my feet to be comfortable.

As suggested by Celtic more oily fish - I have increased my intake of fish capsules as cannot always obtain fresh oily fish.

Good luck

[HeronNS]

Those who suggested the Heberden's nodes, I've had these on several of my fingers for about thirty years - that's how OA first diagnosed! Never have I had such a sudden and painful onset which I why I asked. But I think that must be what it is. Should settle soon. Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. Might try the "wd40 for humans"! Otherwise I don't take painkillers for OA - they interfere with cartilage regeneration.

[HeronNS in reply to HeronNS]

Just looked up flexiseq. Think it not for me - bioengineered synthetic particles imitating synovial fluid. Hmmmm.....

[jinasc in reply to HeronNS]

arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

I read this long before |I tried it, well over 4 years ago. I encountered no adverse side effects, that does not mean that no-one encounters side effects.

If I had any side effects, I would have used the Yellow Card Scheme.

[HeronNS in reply to jinasc]

It's just me. Very opposed to bioengineering.

[jinasc in reply to HeronNS]

We all have something we don't like............that is normal.

[Hidden]

I did get a capsaicin cream on prescription one time and was fantastic on thigh muscles and thumbs. But told me no.longer available on prescription.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It's the same as capsicum cream.mentioned above.

arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

[HeronNS in reply to Hidden]

Now that it seems I'm probably not about to become crippled with LORA I think I will revert to former treatments I've used, namely warmth and a type of massage of the joints I learned from a yoga program which does something with the synovial fluid. And playing the piano more often.

[9lives]

Hi sorry to hear about your painful fingers.

In yoga we do an exercise to help loosen up the joints in the hands, It helps to relieve stiffness .

You have to clench your hands into a fist and then open the fist , with the fingers outstretched and spread apart,

You have to do this very quickly and several times say around 10-15 times .

It really helps to loosen up things and get the blood flowing.

In India the apparently ladies, who do sewing and needle craft, do this exercise All the time to keep arthritis at bay, and keep their hands supple, so I am told.

Do hope things improve for you.x

[HeronNS in reply to 9lives]

I think that is called the Flower? You're right, I should do that more than once shouldn't I?! I will try the suggestion and perform this exercise more often. Thanks. Actually I have been careful to maintain motion, last thing I want is for the joints to freeze up.

[Hidden in reply to HeronNS]

...and several cycles of touching thumb to tips of fingers as quick as possible. I might not reach all some days but keeps them.going a bit

[9lives in reply to HeronNS]

Yes I think you are right, the flower.

Yes as many times a day is good xx

[HeronNS in reply to 9lives]

The other two exercises which I do, but probably not enough, are a) one by one pressing each finger into the palm, and b) massaging each finger joint with a rotating motion. This latter one somehow seems to instantly relieve the mild stiffness and moderate pain I have, the kind you just live with.

[Patience47 in reply to HeronNS]

HeronNS, that's what I do, and it really does help; for me anyway. ☺ Edward