Swollen hand

[peggy1920]

swollen painful hand ( just the one thank goodness) any connection with steroid reduction? Any thoughts?

Doctor eliminated carpel tunnel, being sent for blood test for rheumatoid arthritis but I have noticed it is worse when I have just reduced by 1mg my dose of prednisolone which I take for PMR. It seemed to start when I reduced from 5 to 4 then settled down a bit, I have just gone from 4 to 3 and it has flared up again. It wakes me up at night with pain across palm and in fingers. Combination of pain and swelling has reduced grip strength and mobility, starting to affect wrist.

I am seeing rheumatologist next month but I wondered if anyone had any comments?

Many thanks!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Certainly sounds more than a coincidence if it’s happened twice when you’ve reduced…. But if it resolves itself then it’s more likely steroid withdrawal…so may reduce by only 0.5mg [plain white tablets can be cut] a time a use a slower tapering plan - see here for examples -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

But why has doctor eliminated carpel tunnel?

Can I please request you don’t use your name as title of post - something more meaningful might have brought up related posts.

[peggy1920 in reply to DorsetLady]

When I saw the doctor three weeks ago ( first time round) the swelling was across palm and fingers and wrist was fine.

Point about name duly noted, unintentional.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to peggy1920]

Name -thought it might be - the forum does that sometimes.

CTS -very close friend of PMR - so wouldn’t rule it out completely-others who have similar will be along shortly.

[cmToddy]

Hi there. I am struggling with my wrists and hands too. Am on 1 mg of Pred and hurting like crazy, but only hands. The Rheumatologist will start me on MTX when I am completely off steroids. At this point I have RA and CTS although not fully confirmed. The hands loosen after taking Pred in the morning. I too wonder if I have PMR there. In the dark at the moment. Other than confirm similar I am unable to offer a solution. Living on Ibuprofen at the moment. X

[peggy1920 in reply to cmToddy]

Thanks for sharing.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cmToddy]

I really cannot understand why the rheumy didn't start you on the MTX before stopping the pred - it would infinitely preferable to you using ibuprofen to function. They aren't mutually exclusive - many PMR and RA patients take both.

Do be careful with the ibuprofen - lots of it longer term isn't good for heart or kidneys.

[cmToddy in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your comments. Rheumatologist said they can be taken together. I am told Pred will distort my test results which I am expecting to be at the end of April, when the Pred is supposed to be finished.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

How did the GP eliminate CTS as an option?

[peggy1920 in reply to PMRpro]

Examined hand carefully, checked which bits hurt and when, tried different positions etc

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to peggy1920]

No tingly or numb fingers then?

The blood test won't confirm or eliminate RA either but the fact it is just one hand seems less likely to suggest RA. How strange

[peggy1920 in reply to PMRpro]

Useful to know about the blood test. Strange indeed 🤷‍♀️ thank you for your response .

[Timelost in reply to peggy1920]

I had the same problem before I started on Pred then again when I got down to 4mg. Only in my left hand and pains in my legs returned. I’m now on 5mg and staying on it to lead a fairly normal life.

[peggy1920 in reply to Timelost]

Thanks so much for that!

[Pixix]

I have suspected CTS in one hand. The index finger & middle finger have bad nerve pain at times, but are tingly all the time, & partially numb at times. Quite different, I think, from yours. Any swelling Ihave in that hand is older & due to osteoarthritis, which I have in both hands, particularly thumbs! When I reduce the OA feels worse, as it quite likes pred! However pred is not prescribed as a treatment for OA!