Hi all,

Probably a common issue for a lot of people but I'm having extreme wrist pain and not sure what to do to help relieve the symptoms.
I was diagnosed 3 years ago, went on MTX for a year but got awful side-effects and then the same with sulfasalazine - however during these times my RA and joint pain was hardly noticeable.
Because of side-effects the consultant has tried me on Hydroxychloroquine (5 months now) which has had no side-effects but my joint pain has returned with a vengeance.
I saw consultant a month ago and told him this, he mentioned the possibility of trying one of the biologics but wanted me to stay on Hydrox until I next see him in Feb.
Since then I've started getting the worst pain I've had in my wrist - waking me up it's so bad. I contacted the rheumy nurse to ask for advice and to see if appointment with consultant could be brought forward. They did another blood test and decided to keep the appointment for Feb!

I'm in a lot of pain now - I'll be hassling the hospital and my doctors tomorrow - but wondered what advice people have. I'm a guitarist for a living so it's having an impact on my ability to work as well which I told the nurse. Can I get a cortisone injection from the doctors? A the moment I'm using painkillers and prednisolone (10 mg) which is having very little effect

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Ashley

So sorry to hear about your wrist pain and not too helpful consultant!

I too have had/have bilateral wrist pain. My new consultant is I understand referring me to Occupational therapy, they will make
some splints for me which I am sure will be better than the one's I bought over the counter. I must say having your wrist strapped
is helpful, but like Julie mentioned you can sometimes get intra-articular steroids if deemed appropriate, which do help if given by a competent practitioner.

Failing that keep rattling on the door of your consultant.

Gogs

Re the waking up with it, have you tried sleeping with your arm on a pillow in front of your chest? Keeping the wrist elevated in this way helps me.

my left wrist is my worst affected joint and i'm left handed, if i turn a tap i can yelp with pain. i did have cortisone injections in both my shoulders when first diagnosed over 3 years ago now as they were what alerted me that something was wrong .. and i have to say they worked instantly and still do to this day, so definately worth asking about.

i also had carpel tunnel which Paul mentions, but that was specifically in my hand ( right one ) where i had tingling in the fingers and especially the ring finger down the side, i did have the procedure to correct it but must say it was a very brutal procedure one i wouldn't want to go through again, but it doesn't sounds to me like it's carpel tunnel related having had it.

if i do sleep with my hand sort of clenched it can take a few minutes to get it going in the morning, so as Paul suggests maybe take care with the way you are sleeping.

but really i would ask about cortisone it worked wonders on my shoulders,

good luck,

Suzanne

Yep that's a hospital job - we should have made that clear - sorry


OK, ref the bed and pillow thing - again I should have been more specific. I meant sleep on your side with the wrist elevated to shoulder level. The point is make sure that the weight is not on any tendons and that they are not extended. You're looking for a nice relaxed posture for your arm. I can't sleep on my back. I just can't get my arm comfortable.[/quote}


Probably because it's a hospital thing but once you get to see a consultant, you can ask for one and there's no reason why they should not do it immediately, my consultants have done so.

Yes - that's one of my cocktail of drugs

I can understand you getting fed up. I also appreciate the temptation to go private because that's exactly what I did in Aug 2012 to get my diagnosis. You may in fact find that your regular NHS Consultant does private work. That would have the benefit of continuity but for a diagnosis such as the one you're after, that's not so much of an issue. The guy who did my De Quervain's tenosynovitis release was an orthopaedic surgeon. Your risk is that your rheumy appointment gets brought forward at no benefit to you because the first thing he does is refer you to the surgeons, resulting in another wait for an appointment.

An appointment is going to cost you around £100. The operation is another thing. I had mine under general anaesthetic. You could try calling BUPA to find out what their scales charge is for a De Quervain's Tenosonyvitis Release procedure is. If it's Carpal tunnel, I believe those are done under local so they would be cheaper. Again BUPA may be able to tell you.

If all that is too expensive then you are gonna have to wait for the NHS.

What I am afraid of is that either because you are waiting for the op or have had the op but are recovering, December may be a bit of a wipe out for you.