Swollen hands

I have recently been diagnosed with systemic sclerosis. I have had Raynaud's for many years. I find that my hands are almost always swollen. Is this something other people suffer from?

[Mylreaclairelee]

Oh y

[Mylreaclairelee in reply to Mylreaclairelee]

Oh yes my right hand especially

And the skin on the back of my hand is really tight so can't form a fist.. very uncomfortable. Had to do away with all rings in the end as I had to keep getting them resized. Forefinger is really bent over now also and aches.middle fingernail has black lines down it. Ugly.

It has got so much worse in the last few months. Not looking forward to summer and the swollen tight legs.

[Hidden in reply to Mylreaclairelee]

Thank you Mylreaclairelee. I'm sorry to hear of all your symptoms 😢. Do you also have random itching, coming and going as it pleases?

[Mylreaclairelee in reply to Hidden]

No no itchiness thank goodness

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I do and the swollen hands. Im afraid we are all a bit of an enigma. 🤔

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Tikka. I am so glad I have found this forum. It's great to hear from fellow suffers 😉

[ilovedancing]

When I was first diagnosed 5 years ago my fingers were awoken but they are now almost back to normal, so dont give up hope. It is a very strange condition. had all my rings altered now they are too big. A good excuse to get some more!

[Mylreaclairelee in reply to ilovedancing]

Wow I like the sound of that. Mine are like sausages. That is the impossible dream surely. But hey something to look forward too x

[Mirv]

Hi, yes it's something I have as well. Worse in the morning and gets a bit better during the day. There are times when it's a struggle to make a fist. My right index finger is the worst but that is probably due to the digital ulcer that never seems to go away. Also have calcinosis white lumps appearing on my fingers which are all related to the scleroderma of which raynauds is part. Had my wedding ring resized but in the morning it is quite tight but slipping off later in day. Have largely stopped wearing rings as too tight then too loose! Necklaces are now my main adornment! Hope this helps.

[Fluffy2]

Hello i've gad swollen hands abd fingers but found compression gloves worn over night and in the day when needed really helped to control the swelling. They also feel really comfy when you get ysed to them. They were supplied by my rheumotology physio/OT teams. I've also got some exercises to do to help increase the range of movement and stength in my fingers. My symptoms are less intense than they were but I'm left with fingers that can't make a fist....yet!

Your rheumotologist can refer you.

Hope this helps x

[Hidden]

Thanks for your advice. 😉

[Iluvgardening]

I have alot of pain in my hands and finger joints, it is painful even when greeting others and shaking hands. I too have had raynauds for several years. I also have itching but not on my hands ,the sides of my face,it is very annoying and I have rash on my arms that itches on and off. I have psoriatic arthritis, not RA, it effects the skin and joints and other organs as well as RA. Praying for relief for all of us.

[Hidden in reply to Iluvgardening]

Thanks for your reply. I love gardening too! 😉 The itching is not on my hands either but arms and particularly the tops of my legs but it is very transient seems to be worse when I am stressed and also after meals 😢

[Iluvgardening in reply to Hidden]

Yes, it's so strange, I have been trying to figure what is causing the itching especially on my face, my rheumatologist wants me to have an biopsy to see what shows up. I need to pay more attention to see if it happens after I eat or when I am stressed out😞Thanks for sharing

[Hidden in reply to Iluvgardening]

I get the feeling that it might be the diltaziem I am on for my Raynaud's. I was told that I could stop it when the weather gets warmer but think I will stop it sooner rather than later. I think that coffee is making my fingers swell so weaning myself off coffee too. 😢

[Hidden in reply to Iluvgardening]

Sounds a good idea to get a biopsy and then you will be able to plan how to deal with the problem in the future.

[Sanmateogirl107]

HAND PT, ASK YOUR DOCTOR. I CAN'T FEEL MY HANDS TOTALLY NUMB. BIOFREEZE, WARM GLOVES, TOLD MOVE TO WARMER CLIMATE. EDUCATE YOUR SELF. DO THIS NOW BEFORE THE DAMAGE SETS IN. GET ANOTHER OPINION ALSO. HOPE THIS HELPS. JULIE

[Hidden]

Sanmateogirl107 thanks for your advice. Just been to my second consultation with my rheumatologist and she was totally interested in my symptoms. I am due to have an echocardiogram and lung function tests in the next month and hope I will have some feedback although my next appointment with the consultant is in a year's time 😢

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Just read my post and I should have written totally uninterested not totally interested 😢

[tanya1981]

Yes unfortunately- a very annoying symptom as my fingers look like sausages

Do you have a picture of yours?

[Hidden in reply to tanya1981]

Hi Tanya1981

Not sure how to upload picture 😢

My fingers are swollen but not as bad as many sufferers. I have been on Diltaziem for the last two months for my Raynaud's and my consultant said I will probably not need to take it in the summer when it is warmer. I decided last week to stop it now and my hands are less swollen this week and the itchiness in my skin is reduced so I am guessing some of my symptoms are due to the tablets. I still have very swollen hands in the morning. Have you been diagnosed long?

[Angcav]

Hi I have just made an app with doc for the exact same thing. My right hand is worse than the left. Swollen so much a ring I've worn for 35 years is now on a chain round my neck. So you get pain in your upper arms?