Good Morning. I had a synovectomy w/ carpal tunnel release a few years ago and there was a blood clot in the palm of my hand that has turned into a nice mass of scar tissue. Doc won't operate because it's in the "golden triangle" they call it. The thing is, the pressure it puts on the inflamed tissue is nuts. Is there anything that can be injected to break down the tissue? Has anyone ever delt with this kind of thing? I am newly diagnosed, so I haven't met the RA Docs yet. The doctor who did my hand surgery left our HMO and his replacement treats me like I'm an idiot. I want to put my hand in a blender so I'll get someone to work on it. The doc did say the secondary anti-inflamitory drugs out there are amazing, but I have to wait for my first app. with R.Doc. I have Relafen but won't take it because of the 5 warning labels on the bottle. The one time I did, I had the runs for days! Yikes, I'm freakin' out. Just when I think I have my head around the idea I have RA, my heart starts racing and my mind goes a million miles an hour. I'm sad, I'm bummed out, I'm pissed off. I'm a candlemaker, I do ceramics, pottery, I garden, I have too much going on. My kids are grown, it's my turn. I know , pitty party for Monk. Right now I'm in the middle of painting my kitchen cabinets and my left hand is pretty much out of the picture, I can't even use it to brace myself to get up and down. These boards are great and I've found so many great links already and read some posts from some amazing strong people out there. Is there a regular chat nite everyone goes to?
Monk; Make sure to enlarge your font size. I had to copy and paste your post into a word document and enlarge it before I could read it.
You've come to the right place as I think you already know. There are so many like you, feeling the exact same way. I've had this for 11 years, so I've pretty much gotten past alot of those feelings...but I'll have to admit they do slip back in my head now and then without warning.
First thing I want to tell you is that don't let some of these warning labels on these medications stop you from using them. Relafin is pretty mild; but I expect your RD will be a lot more helpful than that. I imagine he'll be a lot more helpful than your GP has been up till now. I took a good bit of Motrin before I started treatment; and I found it to be pretty helpful...but only for a little while at a time.
You hang in there...and keep coming back and asking question. Everyone here can be so helpful.
Keep your chin up.
Welcome Monk... take the drugs... i have enough warning labels to wall paper my bathroom!!!! but i can move and live a relatively normal life!!! Try the relafen... i took it for a while it wasnt strong enough for me, but it may be enough for you for now.
I think its Lovie that says its quality of life, not quantity.(Correct me if im wrong Lovie) I would rather live 20 more years of a decent feeling life than 50 more years felling like a pile of doo-doo!
When you get into the drug world of RA, you will find many more warnings.. but remember, if one person out of millions who took the drug had a reaction, they have to put a warning on it. Try the drug before you put off trying it.. This goes for everyone!
Have a better day!!!!!
That's exactly what I say Unicorn. I'm 34 like you. I'm too young to sit around and become a statue...and that's exactly what I become when I don't take my medication.
Like Unicorn said...I'd rather live another 20 years with a relatively "normal" life than 50 in a chair in pain just watching the world pass me by!!
I'll remind you that this is not the opinion of everyone....but decided it's the best one for me.
Thanks for the encouragement. Oh Lovie, I've done the motrin, naproxin, celebrex over the past 7-8 years for chronic back and hip pain and for my hand as well. They had stopped being effective. I had one doc take me off celebrex that another doc had put me on. He said there had been too many deaths related to it. That was back in 2001 I think. The MD's have been skirting around the RA diagnosis for a few years now. Then this week, my ortho. MD looked at my latest tests and said the results say no, but the numbers show it's so close that the next test down the line will be positive. So he turned to me and said those dreded words "you have RA". I swear I could see his lips moving but I couldn't hear a thing. At least now there is a reason why I've been TIRED for 15 years and why my hip is trashed along with my hand. I found those pages you directed me to Lovie, thank you so much. Really. Thanks everyone. I am hell bent on finding something that will eat scar tissue, so any info anyone can throw my way concerning that would be great. Peace.
The motrin was just a shot in the dark...thought I'd throw it out there. None of that stuff helps me now either. I take MTX and Humira now with good results. It's certainly not for everyone, but it's been a good combination for me.
Once you get in to see the RD you're going to start getting more of the help you need. I don't have much expereince with scar tissue; but I would think it's more than just that and hopefully once they get the RA under control that's going to help you. My hands were by far my worse problem when I was first diagnosised (How do you spell that anyway? I seem to keep having trouble with that word!) but now it's probable my least; although nothings perfect. I would say greatly improved and that makes me happy.
Sounds like your hand problem is pretty serious though. I'll hope for the best for you on that front.
Welcome to the group. I couldn't read your first post, but I gather that you have a problem with scar tissue from hand surgery. I think you're best hope for help is a Plastic Surgeon. They are the experts when it comes to scar prevention and treatment of existing scar tissue. My husband had a serious hand and finger injury that was repaired by a Plastic Surgeon who paid close attention to the prevention of scar tissue. He had my husband rubbing a salve on his scars and he has an excellent result considering the severity of the wound. Hope this is helpful.
Barb
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