Stiff fingers?

[Gladys911]

Brief recap: diagnosed with GCA September 2023, tapered for 12 months but inflammatory markers in September 2024 meant I went back to 40 pred. At the start I occasionally got a weird stiffening in my fingers and this has been happening again. It doesn't hurt but it does feel strange - I have been assuming it is the pred but haven't seen any comments about it. I don't think it's a problem but wonder if it indicates nerve damage?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What is it like?

I get odd stiffening in my fingers - almost like trigger finger but sometimes the whole hand. Most peculiar - but hand tendinitis was always a part of my PMR, long before pred which seemed to help it.

[Gladys911 in reply to PMRpro]

I suddenly realise one of my fingers (not the same one each time) is stiff and straight - at an angle. It really doesn't hurt and I can massage it to get it to bend again. Sometimes a few times a day and then nothing for a few days.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gladys911]

Does sound similar to trigger finger - that is tendons not running smoothly through the tendon sheath that surrounds them.

orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/disea....

[Gladys911 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the link - it does look like it. I note that steroid injections are suggested... I'm not in any discomfort so I don't think I need to do anything but thought it might be connected with pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gladys911]

It could be a sign there is a bit of inflammation around but I suspect it is a function of aging as well!!! I think HeronNS had a massage technique she used very successfully to escape surgery - which isn't always great. My husband had full-on trigger finger, couldn't get his hand into his wallet pocket, but the surgery didn't really make much difference at all.

[Gladys911 in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks. Definitely ageing! I will look up the massage - it's not bad enough to warrant surgery.

[HeronNS in reply to Gladys911]

This is from years ago, long before PMR. At behest of doctor who said if physio didn't work something would have to be "snipped" 😨 I went to a physiotherapist, who seemed very young and said she would have to do some research. I went back soon for a second appointment and she located in my hand, in the palm actually, a place where the tendon (or whatever it is) was "catching" and said I should gently massage that area, making sure that I knew exactly where the spot was and how to move the tissues. This worked like a dream, and although for a short time it would occasionally slip back into catching I can honestly say that I've not had a recurrence since then.

You may be able to find the affected place yourself by holding your hand with the other hand and moving your thumb across the palm, sort of searching for something which seems like a rubber band, which will shift and sort of snap as you gently massage it back and forth. I guess that encourages it back into its rightful place. That's the best way I can describe what I remember. Of course there's nothing like that in my palm today!

[Gladys911 in reply to HeronNS]

Brilliant - many thanks!

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Wow, you have a great memory!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Like an elephant's I always say ...