THUMBS of FIRE!

[billinSurbiton]

Among my weird symptoms, one that I am PARTICULARLY fond of (not!) is the effect I've titled "Thumbs of Fire" (cue Vangelis running music... )

Both thumbs will suddenly erupt with an acute "electric" white-hot pain; sometimes, this is the thumbs only, other times it will travel up the arms, always on the inside, i.e. the thumb side of the arm. This is the strongest pain symptom I get (close 2nd is the stiff/locked/useless painful legs...)

Does anyone else get this? It sounds to me to be more along the lines of peripheral neuropathy, but I'm particularly clueless.

Thanks...

[SheffieldJane]

De Quervain’s syndrome seems to fit the symptom and can be triggered by inflammatory conditions or repetitive strain injuries. Apparently there are exercises a physio can give you that help when it’s not in an acute phase. Do you have the more typical PMR Symptoms as well? Like bilateral pains in the shoulders and arms?

I get shooting pains in my fingers sometimes, when I’m putting lotion on and similar activities. I kind of put it down to Arthritis. Unfortunately we are not immune to other conditions but in my experience Pred at the higher doses, helped all the pains.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Are you sure it isn't carpal tunnel syndrome pinching the nerve running to the thumbs, index and middle finger? Common alongside PMR. I got awful shooting pains in various fingers - tendonitis and synovitis, also common with PMR.

SJ's suggestion of de Quervain's syndrome fits what I had - with PMR.

[Chihuahua1]

I have been getting these types of pains in both my hands/arms and my feet/legs. My GP decided to send me to Rheumatology and after a few presses on this muscle and prodding of that muscle he diagnosed Fibromyalgia and sent me back to the GP. Not helpful in the least, but to top it all I was sent for an MRI on my lower spine because I suddenly found I could not stand up, let alone walk. It has eventually come back as a compressed cord at L3-L4 and a narrowing of the canal at L2-L3. I have to see the musculoskeletal clinic tomorrow. And I still suffer with PMR flares, although at the moment I'm happy to say the PMR is in remission.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Chihuahua1]

Has your GP done a blood test for ESR and CRP? For 80% of people that is the difference that can't be argued with: PMR raises them, fibro does not. Of course the 100% clincher is response to pred: if it responds to pred it ISN'T fibromyalgia. Both of course are due to the fact that fibro is not inflammatory, PMR is.

But prodding of muscles is meaningless - they are tender in both fibro and PMR and the so-called trigger points in fibro overlap with those in myofascial pain syndrome which is closely allied with PMR.

Fibro is often a lazy person's diagnosis...