Hand and Finger Rheumatoid Arthritis | Arthritis Information

 

Good info to know

-------------------------------------------------------

What are the symptoms of hand and finger RA?

The wrist joints and the finger joints closest to the hand are common targets of hand RA. With hand and finger RA, you may feel the following:

• Hand pain, finger pain, swelling, and stiffness.
• Hand joints and finger joints that are warm and tender to the touch.
• The same joints affected symmetrically (both wrists, fingers on both hands).
• Finger joints that "creak" when moved; this is called crepitus.
• Deformities in finger joints, particularly the middle joint.
• Carpal tunnel symptoms such as numbness and tingling of the hands.
• More inflammation, pain, and stiffness that affect other symmetrical joints such as both sides of the jaw, both sides of the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.
• Flu-like feeling.
• Fatigue that is not easily resolved.
• Fever.
• Pain and stiffness that last for more than an hour upon arising.

To read the rest of the article:

http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/hand-and-finger-raperson with hand and finger arthritis should see a hand therapist.  Most wait until deformaties already appear which is too late as many hand problems can be prevented or at least delayed with proper therapies and splinting.  Buckeye:  I have the hand/wrist problems and did go to a hand therapist--I thought the therapy was useless.  I hope others have had a better experience.  I found the same thing happened with the biologics, my hands are so much better.  I've been off meds for several months due to another medical condition and I notice that my hands/fingers are flaring.  The rest of my body is ok....strange and it's areas of my hands that I weren't inflammed prior to biologics.  I may get a referral to a hand specialist, just to be on the safe side.  My jewelry design and art is more difficult now due to weakness in the fingers.  If anyone has a solution to the weakness let me know.  LindyHi Snow, I've been using moist heat on my hands and it does help.  We leave in Oct. for Mexico and Central America and will be gone for 6 months, then to Florida to see my son and then back home.  We didn't get out of the snow and cold this winter but hopefully this coming winter.  Too many issues so we didn't take off and I'm glad we didn't.  I'll pm you.  I'm working part time with the volunteer organization and that's kept me close to home.  How's your DH?  Lindy 
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com