I was diagnosed with RA over two years ago and struggled with getting the right meds...I was on Methotrexate and Remicaid and was doing really good for about 6 months. The Remicaid was like a miracle drug to me. Well, then my Dr. had to take me off the methotrexate since my liver enzymes were getting high. I am still on the remicaid but it is not working like it did before. I just saw my Dr and he has changed me from getting my Remicaid every 6 weeks instead of every 8 weeks and put me back on Plaquenil. My problem right now is for the last month the back of my hands are extremely painful. It wakes me up in the middle of the night and I just want to cry! I use the paraffin wax and it helps a little. I have had a cold since last week and it kills me to blow my nose...now, that sucks! Does anyone else have this symptom? My Rheumy says my hands aren't swelled and it's not my finger joints.....He makes me think it's all in my head when I know for a fact I want to cut them off when they are at their worst! Any suggestions...Thanks!
Lisa Jean,
I am so sorry about the pain. I know that my hands do that too, and it is most likely the tendons that control your fingers. It is very frustrating especially when you need to use them to blow your nose etc. I have braces, but they don't really help with the hands. I have slept with ice on them to start out with and then when I wake up I put more ice on them. Biofreeze can help with it too. I am so sorry. I also know that some people wear gloves...I cannot usually wiggle them on at this point and especially if the tendons are inflamed.
Take care and talk to your doctor...they may have some other trick. By the way...don't let your doctor look at you like you are making things up. I also chart a lot of my symptoms, so I can prove that things are progressive and they wax and wane.
Shelly,
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I will try the ice tonight and again in the morning. What kind of gloves are you talking about? I am willing to try just about anything. I have been using something similiar to biofreeze that I bought at GNC and it helps a little.
I definitely will ask my Dr if it could be the tendons in my hand then hopefully he will have some suggestions as well!
Thanks again!
Lisa
I have had severe pain running from my right wrist to the tip of my middle finger that was bad enough to take me to the ER when I first had RA. It was indeed tendonitis and the most effective treatment was to put my hand in a Carpal Tunnel Splint. It immobilizes your hand and gives the tendon time to heal. You don't wear it 24/7 though - just when you're sleeping. I forget the exact reason but if you don't take it off for some hours a day, the tendon has other problems. I also had the same thing happen when I went to England for a wedding. I used those bags they advertise on TV that you roll up really tight to press the air of and then seal them up. Don't ever use these - these set the same tendonitis off again 2 days after I packed and I didn't have the splint with me. We drove around the Warrington area in England looking for one but they didn't know what we were talking about.Hi,
My RA predominantly affects the tendons in my hands. This is called tenosynovitis and is the result of the tendon not gliding properly inside of it's sheath due to inflammation. It is extremely painful to flex the involved tendon up or down. Mine usually occur on the dorsal (top) aspect of my hands where the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th finger tendons meet, although I've experienced tenosynovitis in single tendons as well. There is also a ganglion cyst to rule out. These cysts are not necessarily palpable and are sometimes missed upon examination, especially if they are deep in between tendons approaching the wrist.
I've tried the ice, the parafin, the hand splints, etc. but the best solution for me has been to head straight to the hand doc and have the area injected with a small dose of steroid preparation. Quick, easy, med site specific for the most part and almost instant relief which, in my case, lasts for months.
K.
Katalina,
That sounds exactly like what I have! I called my Dr. on Monday morning because I could not sleep at all all Sunday night..I was in tears again...I would get to sleep maybe an hour and then it would wake me up again. The pain is not always unbearable but it always hurts and it goes in spurts that I want to chop it off! My Dr. called me back and raised my prednisone from 5 mg a day to 15 a day for a week and then dwindle it down each week until I get back to the 5mg. Do you think that will help at all or should I call him back and ask for a shot? I am going to Mexico this Thursday and I really don't want to hurt the whole time!
Thanks!
Lisa