Swollen painful hand

[noslak]

I've had PMR for 2 years. Was started on 40 mg of prednisone. I have slowly gotten down to 13 mg. Recently I tapered to 12 mg but have not felt very well & suddenly my right hand fingers are swollen & very painful. This has never happened before. Is this some kind of flare?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Maybe, some do complain of issues with hands - but it could be a variety of things causing it.. have you don’t anything, however innocuous that might have caused it, and tried any ordinary painkillers, topical gel of cold treatment to reduce swelling.

There are related posts now you have asked the question…

[noslak in reply to DorsetLady]

I've just started trying all those things so we'll see if it helps. I can't close my hand at all. I did vacuum the other day.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to noslak]

Might have strained it then…see how it goes

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Just painful - any other symptoms? Like tingling in the fingers? And what sort of unwell?

[noslak in reply to PMRpro]

No tingling just painful and swollen. I can't close my hand. I've been very tired, slightly dizzy and fuzzy in the head, some body stiffness but that's a given.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to noslak]

Have you sought any medical advice?

[noslak in reply to PMRpro]

Not yet. It just got bad this morning. Trying ice, pain cream, & Tylenol. We’ll see how it goes.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to noslak]

Do you have any signs further up the arm? Has the swelling spread further up the hand/arm?

[noslak in reply to PMRpro]

No, all the fingers are swollen & the middle finger is where most of the pain is.

[7DaysinMay]

I’ve had stiff hands for a few months now . It started in the right hand but very recently it occurs in the left too. Like you Noslak I was diagnosed with PMR quite some time ago so hand stiffness is a relatively new thing.

[PMRnewbie2017]

Do you definitely have PMR?. I've come across patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis present initially with swollen fingers and pain. I really think you should seek a Doctor's opinion?

[noslak in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

Yes I definitely have PMR. It just got bad yesterday so I haven’t had a chance to see my doctor yet.

[Exflex]

Are you taking bisphosphonates by chance. My hands reacted badly to AA.

[noslak in reply to Exflex]

No

[5goFlotilla]

Hi Noslak coincidentally I have just come back from Rheumatology appointment having had X-rays and Ultra sound on fingers of my right hand.

He is thinking Inflammatory Arthrities/possible early onset RA so they have given me 120mg injection of Methylprednisolone to knock it into touch and thinking about starting me on Sulphasalazine . I have a lot to think about as I am currently on 6mg Prednisolone but like you have been more achey and feeling generally off since my fingers started to be a problem

I have been taking Pred . for 18months with a GP diagnoses of PMR . Rheumatologist never convinced I have it but has been proactive in looking for other problems .

As others say perhaps see the Doc. Good luck