Stiff, slightly swollen hands. Cant grip - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Stiff, slightly swollen hands. Cant grip

Vaggers profile image
25 Replies

A few weeks ago I had a slight flare with sore shoulders and legs and painful hands. I was taking three quarters mg of Pred and your advice was to take maybe 3 to 4 mgs which I did. (3 mgs) this worked straight away except for my hands, which are the same. I cant grip and washing and drying them is so painful. Does this mean my hands are not PMR? And, if so, any advice? Thankyou for your support.

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Vaggers profile image
Vaggers
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25 Replies
123-go profile image
123-go

May be due to arthritis and would need a blood test to diagnose. Do you have any swellings, knobbly bumps on your finger joints?Until we have painful hands we don't realise how much we need them for numerous daily tasks. This must be distressing for you and you should seek advice from your GP or rheumatologist. Any new symptoms should be reported, Vaggers.

As painful as it is you should try to keep your fingers moving with gentle movements.

Vaggers profile image
Vaggers in reply to123-go

Thankyou 123, i have no knobbly bumps on my joints just a slight swelling of my hands. I will definitely call my GP.

123-go profile image
123-go in reply toVaggers

Wise decision. 👍

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to123-go

I didn’t know that arthritis could be diagnosed through a blood test apart from RA??

123-go profile image
123-go in reply topiglette

Should have said RA. Ultrasound scans are useful, too.

MrsNails profile image
MrsNails

Hi Vaggers

123-go has pretty much said what l would, Pred masks a lot of old symptoms, l call them ‘War Wounds’ & as l drop they reappear however, we are all older now than when we started on this PMR Journey so naturally it’s possible we’ve developed other issues.

Definitely see your Doctor, incidentally my Consultant always examine my hands when l see him.

Let us know how you get on.

MrsN

Vaggers profile image
Vaggers in reply toMrsNails

Thankyou Mrs N. I will let you know how I get on

piglette profile image
piglette

Does a painkiller help your hands? If so you can possibly assume it is not caused by the PMR.

Vaggers profile image
Vaggers in reply topiglette

I take paracetamol and occasional ibuprofen which i think does help and I dont actually feel that my hands are PMR

piglette profile image
piglette in reply toVaggers

I have hand problem too. I noticed today I could not open a bottle which I am sure I could have done in days gone by.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Possibly not - but it COULD be something called RS3PE syndrome which can be part of PMR and also responds to a moderate dose of pred. But I doubt 3mgs is enough.

OTOH - pred masks plain old wear and tear arthritis too. One lady with PMR got to try wax baths at the physio department and found them so helpful she got her own.

in reply toPMRpro

My hands hurt like hell all day everyday and have done for 40 years - what is a wax bath? Note I have a diagnosis of stills but in the last ten years i have developed (PMR) like symptoms in my neck, shoulders and arms hence I follow this forum. GP does not believe in AI diseases so I self medicate with pain relief only. Wax baths sound so soothing?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to

assh.org/handcare/condition...

healthlinkbc.ca/health-topi...

verywellhealth.com/top-para...

I'm not endorsing any particular one - the links are to show you what they are and how to use them.

Hmmm - my GP would have to be pretty exceptional otherwise if they denied a/i disease ...

in reply toPMRpro

Thanks, I’ll check them out and understand you’re not endorsing them (😜mad world we live in).GP just said pull yourself together....I said ‘so you are challenging the diagnosis of an eminent specialist from a leading hospital ‘ he said a lots changed since your diagnosis. Let’s do some tests then I replied ...... end of appointment with GP!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to

Any GP who told me to pull myself together would be my ex-GP I think unless we were good friends!

in reply toPMRpro

I just don’t go anymore and if it’s an emergency call 111 and get seen that way. Luckily I’ve only had two emergencies in 10 years but both were last year…..

LCHRISTOP10 profile image
LCHRISTOP10 in reply toPMRpro

Is RS3PE always accompanied by edema of hands?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toLCHRISTOP10

I think it is one of the diagnostic criteria yes.

Vaggers profile image
Vaggers

Thankyou for this, I wish my rheumatologist hadnt discharged me last August. So many things i could ask him. However, I am seeing my physio soon for my dodgy knee so I will ask her advice re wax baths and my hands in general.

Liby57 profile image
Liby57

I had exactly the same issue. My hands would swell and I couldn’t grip anything. In my case it was a as I reduced to lower dosage. I had to increase dosage for a while and then start coming down again. It happens very ad hoc now and only seems to last a day at most or sometimes only half a day until the Pred kicks in. My Rheumy said it was most probably a flare. I have had tests and saw him on Tues. He examined my hands and nails. My blood tests confirmed I don’t have Rheumatoid arthritis. I do have some slight wear and tear but no more than would be expected for my age.

Vaggers profile image
Vaggers in reply toLiby57

Interesting thankyou.

Hollybee21 profile image
Hollybee21 in reply toVaggers

I have had similar problems. Had a flare in May/June and slowly lowering my dose of Pred, but my left hand is giving me problems. My knuckle above my forefinger and middle finger is so swollen and can’t bend the forefinger at all. If I touch anything with it the pain shoots up my hand and throbs all night when trying to sleep. Was beginning to think I had broken my finger. Am seeing my Rheumatologist on 20th September so was going to check with him. Will let you know how it goes.

Vaggers profile image
Vaggers in reply toHollybee21

Will be very interested to know how you get on.

Pongo13 profile image
Pongo13

I’m down to one a day - I’ve had hand issues returning so good to read answers here as I am off to look at wax baths now! That’s what I love about this site - you’re never alone x

Vaggers profile image
Vaggers in reply toPongo13

See you in the Wax Baths Shop !!!!

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