Any thoughts on this one would be very much appreciated. I have RA with the usual problems but the worst pain is in left hand and elbow. The fingers are beginning to twist and the hand is almost useless. Some time back it showed the classic symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which seemed to be confirmed by a Nerve Conduction Test. My theumy, however, thinks its the RA causing swelling of something in the tunnel which in turn presses on the nerves to the hand. The severe elbow pain he says could be 'referred pain.' While the RA meds are helping everywhere else the hand and elbow only respond to pain killers.
Will be seeing a hand/wrist surgeon in about three weeks time but meanwhile am wondering. Ta.
I am not entirely sure this is right, but I think RA can cause a type of carpal tunnel. Carpal Tunnel is when the nerves get compressed by swelling in the wrist. So I suppose if you have swelling in your wrist you could have Carpal Tunnel. That is my understanding anyway.
Niki
That sounds right. Ta,Hi Dessy, I had the same symptoms in my right hand, eventually I had steroid injections which helped a little especially in the elbow but not much in the hand. I live in Queensland and was sent to a top hand surgeon at the Mater hospital and also at Brisbane Private. He was very good. He perfomed a wrist synovectomy, did a lot of cleaning up and also had to do the carpal tunnel release because of swelling trapping the nerves and he said there was synovium entwined all around it. My hand is almost 100% better since he did that in December. I could hardly use my wrist at all but now have full use. If you need the Drs name I can let you know. Best of luck, try a steroid injection for now to help you get through until the op. Have you had an MRI done? My nerve testing did not show any problem with the carpal tunnel nerve but when the doc got in there it was a different story! Regards Janie. Thanks, Janie, that sounds very positive. I live on the Central Coast so will probably end up using local drs and hospital. My daughter lives in Brisbane, it's a very nice place. Cheers - Dessy.Severe pain along the top of my right hand was one of my earliest and severe symptoms. It was basically caused by RA inflammation at the wrist that was causing pressure and inflammation of the nerves. The tip of my middle finger was numb for about 3-4 months but after the RA swelling went down with treatment for the RA it all started to resolve.
Only recurrence was on a vacation trip two years later . I had used those 'vacuum' space saving plastic packing bags that you have to roll up very tight. After overusing my hands to roll a bunch of those up the same pain in my right hand came back with avengeance for 3-4 days.
I developed carpel tunnel (CT) due to my RA. My hands and wrists were so swollen that CT developed. Had surgery on my right hand which fixed it. However, once my meds kicked in and the swelling went down, the CT in the left hand went away. So far me anyway, it was definitely caused by the RA. Good luck to you!
Susan
Same here.... after diagnosed with RA, I had carpel tunnel in left hand for several months. The Dr. said it was due to the RA. Slept with a brace on my hand, but the prednisone kicked in and it has gone away. Still have major swelling of my left pointer finger, but the numbness of the CT is gone. Maybe you should wait a while before you have the surgery. Good luck...I too have CT from RA... on days when my swelling is bad or I'm generally inflamed the CT is worse. If the swelling goes down, the T is better.
my dr says they will treat the RA, and the CT hould resolve.