Please tell me about the aching joint pain in your hands during a flare. When a flare starts in my hand I actually cannot use it. It is happening right now in my left hand and it is so debilitating. It looks swollen, I cannot put presure on my fingers and it almost takes on a deformed look. Most of all because of the excrutiating pain it is hard to do anything! Like dressing, cooking or anything that needs two hands. Even though the other hand aches as well, it is not as bad. I know everyone's body reacts differently. But, is this what you experience?
ONLY HAD IT IN ONE HARD LIKE THAT ONE TIME IN THE BEGINNING. PAIN, SWELLING, FEVER IN IT AND RED!!! SO SORRY YOU'RE HAVING SO MUCH PAIN. WHAT MEDS ARE YOU ON?? SOUNDS LIKE YOUR DUE FOR A MEDROL PACK SUSAN...IT WOULD HELP REALLY QUICKLY. HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER REAL SOON!Thanks Karen...Does this mean you don't have flares any longer? I sure hope not! As for me, I just came off the prednisone and am still taking Mxt. Last week the doctor told me the illness was still active and he wanted to add Enbrel. I have been procrastinating because of the possible weight gain. I know this sounds silly to some but I have gained so much weight through the years with prednisone. And I thought maybe I would get lucky and not need the Enbrel. To tell the truth my explanation is what I get in my feet as well. My walking was better with Mxt and prednisone but I couldn't wait to get off of the prednisone. I guess it is time to rethink this. Thanks for your good wishes. And I hope you are doing well.
Many, many years later and several treatments later I rarely if ever have problems in my hands at all. I now take MXT & Humira and it takes care of those problems. I really think the bones in the hands and the feet are often the first to give people trouble...their also the easiest to treat as well? Maybe; I don't know.
I sure hope you get some relief soon. Always remember they can give you a shot of cortisone if you need it. Their painful; but bring great relief quickly. I'm a huge fan!!
Good Luck;
Lovie
Thank you all for your help. I called the rheumatologist and he is out of town. He will be back on thursday morning and they gave me the first appointment of the day. I couldn't thank them enough! So I will hang in there until then. We were considering putting me on Embrel with the Mxt that I am already taking. Now that I am stiff and I have severe hand pain I think I wiil start the Embrel as soon as possible! Thanx Marian for giving me the good news concerning weight gain. I will keep a positive attitude. Hope your meds are helping you all! When I flare and my hands are horrible, I usually put ice on them then heat. Makes me feel better, takes the edge off some of the pain. You have to find which is good for you, I find both give a different type of sooth. Try it! :) Good Luck, Hope you feel better. Thank you all so much for writing back. I am so sorry you have gone through this too. It is awful. I only have one more day. my doctor will be in, and I have the first appt. I hope I can hang in there. It has moved into my elbow too. And I was up most of the night. If I dare move my arm even slightly it is excrutiating. But I am keeping the faith and I surely hope he can help me. Thanks again for caring. Hope you ALL have a good day!
Peace
I had horrible pain & numbness in my hands for years but last year I had both hands cut for Carpal Tunnel SYndrome which took care of the numbness & pain....now they just cramp up when i'm painting alot.???????????????????????
Lulu
ooooh, i feel your pain! i've had wrist pain so badly i