Need some advice please

My middle finger on my left hand been painful on and off for the last few days. This morning it just curled up and if I try to move it it's so painful and the other fingers have come out in sympathy and are joining the offending finger in the curled up postion. It's surprised me just how painful one finger can be. I now understand others when they tell of squealing when doctors touch inflammed joints.

Being it is Saturday I can't ring anyone up for advice of what to do. I have tried putting it in a bowl of hot water and haven't had any relief. Do I try (going through the pain barrier) to move it or is rest the best thing for it? I don't want to do anything to make matters worse. Husbands told me to go back to bed.!!!!

So here I am typing slowly (I can touch type normally), with left hand useless for most tasks and my right wrist which the consultant last Monday diagnosed tendinitis in (I've been having problems with in for several weeks) is wearing a flattering wrist splint with metal bar in nearly 24/7. I've been told to rest it as much as I can.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Paula x

Hi Paula - I've had this a few times. It feels like I have toothache in my hands. As Lyn says, I was told it was due to inflammation affecting the tendons. I was told that rest was vital and put me on anti-inflammatories. I also agree with Lyn that you shouldn't try to straighten the fingers. Just try to wiggle them gently as far as you can to keep the circulation going. I hope it improves for you.

Julie

Hi Paula,

I've had this before and I agree with the others not to force the finger to move. It's very important though that you move the other fingers on either side as much as you can as these fingers can seize up too. Move the offending finger as far as is comfortable to keep it from becoming completely stiff. If the anti-inflammatories don't work, I would suggest a call to the rheummy and ask for an urgent appointment where they will be able to give you a steroid shot to get it moving again.

Hope it gets better x x

Joanna

Thank you all once again for your help and advice

You know yesterday I went on the forum to show my daughter the Leicester pictures. She asked me why I went on the forum and didn't it make me depressed? I showed her this post and told her that I came on here for some advice because never experiencing the problem with my finger before and with it being a Saturday I couldn't get any help through the normal means. Showed her that within 30 minutes I had two replies giving me advice of what to do. She was very impressed.

Well back to the finger...........

Yes Lyn2 it is trigger finger. Something that I use to think cowboys had from pulling the trigger on their gun. I took Jean up on her kind offer of emailing her and she replied telling me what it was and that she knew just how painful it can be. I asked Mr Google about it and he confirmed it. Apparantly it is common along with tendenitis (right wrist) in people with RA. That's nice to know. I then went onto a forum about it, didn't like one post saying that when they went to get medical help the doctor just yanked the finger back into the right place, I think that was in America, lets hope that our doctors/nurses aren't as barbaric as that!!!! On Saturday morning I accidentally pulled it a little and boy did it hurt. I just can't believe that one finger can hurt that much.

Well..... here I am Monday morning with hardly any improvement at all. The novelty of not being able to do much has worn off and I am now getting flustrated by it all. The right wrist hasn't improved much at all and I have been wearing the now stupid wrist splint since last Monday afternoon. I did take it off at 1am this morning, its not the most comfortable sleeping attire to wear.....regretted that when I got up this morning.

I managed somehow to wash and blow dry my hair yesterday (a task I was going to do last Friday but put off until Saturday, silly me). I have the use in my thumb and forefinger on the offending hand and somehow managed to hold the dryer. Other hand/wrist with the tendernitis in having the task of holding the brush to dry my hair, that was fun, but I did it. I have problems with other everyday tasks, simple things that you never think twice about are now becomming a challenge, even washing and drying my hands.

Tomorrow I will have to seek some medical advice about it. The RA nurses is going to have to be my first port of call. If anyone is going to have to stick a needle in my finger I would prefer someone who is more use to doing it. I would imagine that my GP hasn't had the need to inject people as much as someone in my RA team at hospital. I will keep you informed of what happens.

Sorry this post gone on such a long time but I'm bored...........there is only so much sitting around on my bottom not being able to do much that a person can tolerate.

Hope you have a nice Bank Holiday Monday.

Love Paula xx

Hi Paula

Sorry things are still no better. My main prob when like this is going to the loo - trying to pull pants up is murder and I ALWAYS end up banging the damned thing on something!!

Please let us know how you get on tomorrow and take care.

Much love
Jeanxxxx

Hi Paula,

I think it's simply unacceptable that you are not able to contact anyone on your rheummy team. Personally, I think you need to be seen by either a specialist nurse or the rheummy himself and have the finger sorted out. I'd have another stab at it today and if needs be, leave a stern message on the answer phone.

Hope you get some joy with it soon!

Joanna

oh paula what a non merry go round youve been on not good,sorry hear this id leave messages with rheumy nurse and if no joy try rheumy secretary if call reception at your clinic they can out you through to them.
melly

Paula, how I do understand your pain and frustration/ You will need to be very firm with your#
Rhummy nurse. I have to ring mine tomorrow so hope I have more success.

Good luck get those boxing gloves out

Rose