Fingers and knuckles painful and swollen.

[Ryeland]

Good evening friends on this brilliant forum, which has been so supportive and helpful since I arrived in PMR land some four months ago, and indeed both the GP and the Rheumy signposted me in this direction. Thank you to everyone.

I have tapered Pred from 15mg in April to my current level of 9mg at the beginning of this month which I feel is only just holding things at bay. I may consider going back to 10mg but will give it another week or two. However, over the last few weeks, I have increasingly found my finger joints and knuckles on the back of both hands painful, stiff and swollen in the morning. This is slow to clear over the day. I did pick up somewhere, (not on this forum) that this can happen with PMR. ...but I don't remember any ideas as to what to do about it. Is this just 'collateral damage' from the PMR and has anyone else found this a problem and indeed found a solution?

Thank you.

(BTW I'm doing serious granny duty in the next couple of weeks and rather dreading it, so I was encouraged to read the postings from other grannies over the last day or so.)

[SheffieldJane]

Has Rheumatoid Arthritis ever been mooted? It can present in a very similar way to PMR. My rings are tight and I am puffy all over but that ‘s the heat. Someone will be along with the PMR connection. This wasn’t one of my symptoms.

[123-go]

First of all, it's good news to hear that medics are in favour of HU. Someone on the forum said her GP raised her eyebrows when she mentioned the forum and muttered something disparaging about 'Mumsnet'. If only she knew how valuable this forum is!

Yes, I had excrutating pain with swollen fingers and knuckles early on but at higher doses of Pred than 9mg. I'd wake with fingers curled and I used to uncurl them fairly forcibly one by one. Whether or not that was the way to go is anyone's guess but not too much later that symptom vanished. (How I wish that I'd kept a diary in those days!)

Your feeling that 9mg is only just holding things at bay is suggesting that you are below the dose you need. I would advise going up to the last dose where you felt comfortable and stay there for several weeks to see how things go. Good luck!

[LozzaSandstrom]

It very much affects my fingers and feet - I dropped yesterday and by last night I had very sore hands so yes I would say it could be that. I also have arthritis so I tended to put it down to that before I was diagnosed so with me its hard to say for sure which it is but Pred took it away so guessing its the PMR - good luck and think about going up a mg I am in a similar position also diagnosed 4 months ago

[Marek1]

Hi , Yes Ive had very similar symptoms . I`m on 11 mg now , having reduced from 15 and among the multitude of peculiarities ive had with PMR I now wake up with more pain in my hands and knuckles and fingers then anywhere else . after ive taken my pred in the morning and moved around a bit , it does seem to settle. hope that helps

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you told your doctor? As SJ says - that suggests to me that MAYBE your PMR presentation is not "just" PMR but possibly LORA (late onset RA) and it does need to be checked out.

PMR shouldn't cause any joint damage but it can present as something called RS3PE syndrome which leads to swollen hands and forearms and similar in feet and legs. It may well be the PMR and there are plenty of us who have had similar problems. Often it is carpal tunnel syndrome - maybe worth a google?

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I have one very swollen finger on my right hand, ring finger and had it for ages now. Some days very painful depending what I'm doing, and painful, but not swollen knuckles on right hand.....this could all be to do with osteoarthritis.

[pegpowell]

I had very painful and swollen fingers during the first months of PMR. Sounds like you have reduced too low. Are you using your hands overly. Any extra activity can set off PMR in the beginning. I had to stop wearing my rings for a few months.