Hand/knuckle pain

[RainSong]

Alright, as many of you know I started having pain pretty much continually back around June or so. It's much improved now, but I'm still very limited in what I can manage.

The pain I had in my hands has developed more, however. I cannot type for long, nor can I write for long- though the time varies depending on writing utensil, etc. Vaccuming the living room causes my hand to go numb and hurt, brushing my teeth or hair can do the same. When my knuckles are really having an episode, brushing/washing my hair, brushing my teeth, opening anything that requires twisitng or squeezing, ... and on and on... is very painful. I end up adjusting how I do things just to cause the least amount of pain.

I'm clueless! I can't recall ever abusing my hands, and my right (dominant) hand is worse, but the left acts up too. I don't have any of the signs of carpel tunnel, really, according to anyone I talk to. Sometimes the pain starts in my lower arm, and sort of invades my wrist and then my knuckles- other times my knuckles just start hurting. It's taken about three days before they get normal again.

Arthritis? The test for rhumetoid (sp) arthritis showed nothing. In fact, all my labs came back pretty well normal!

I'm going to be setting up an appointment to see a new Dr. here after Friday sometime.

Oddly, working at Scott Creek shoveling and such didn't bother my hands so much. It bothered my calves and upper arms the most LOL though my hands are out of wack regardless- I've got alot less strength/grip in my right hand then I used to, and I've lost some "depth" of feeling, too.

I killed my hand vaccuming today... hopefully it doesn't flare up.

 

[AppyLover2]

Sorry to say so, but it sounds like one of those " 'itis boys" to me.

 

[RainSong]

At this point, I'm really just hoping the next/new Dr. can tell me what's wrong with me, instead of just handing me pills and saying "You're a mother" ...

How the heck am I supposed to get by when half the time... signing my name is painful? I'm gonna tell the next Dr that, too!

:

 

[Shari]

I get hand, arm, shoulder pain badly if I am on the computer too much. If I don't type for a few days or even use the mouse the pain goes away. Is why sometimes you don't see me posting much.

Not sure if this could be what is going on with you too???

Good luck.

 

[RainSong]

I've had that problem in the past, but it's been... well over a year since then. Oddly, typing causes pain.... but mousing doesn't.

Computer use seems pretty negligable as causing the pain, though I do wonder if my years of LOADs of typing may have something to do with it.

I did injure my shoulder in 2001, and until recently it hadn't flared up as badly as it had originally. When I first started having the pain everywhere, my shoulder was BAD again... there's been some question among my husband and I as to if I have a pinched nerve or possible nerve damage from the original injury.

I'm not sure that would cause pain in the knuckles though- possibly it's all related though? I did do PT for the shoulder (which did nothing), and had several work insurance-paid Dr's visits... nothing since then, though.

 

[Pepipony]

Before seeing the new Dr, write down every symptom you have, from headaches to the hand thing. Write everything down. Then go back and add what may cause that symptom and what may help. Discuss that entire list with your Dr. May be that nothing has a common cause, but maybe they do.

Carpul tunnel usually makes the thumb to middle finger go numb. Sounds like if you have pain up the arm that maybe a nerve in your neck is involved.

I am NOT a Dr nor Nurse, just have dealt with stuff like that for a while now. Best of luck!

 

[RainSong]

Pepi- Yeah, my hubby had carpel tunnel surgery on one hand. The closest I get to finger pain is this odd pain that occasionally goes up the outside of my hand into my pinky.

Most of the pain is literally in the lower arm- about wrist to mid arm, and in the knuckles- not the fingers, but the knuckles where the fingers meet the hand. Sore, stiff hands/fingers, as well.

Yeah, I've got to write it all out. Both hips, both shoulders, hands... there was some question as to fibro or Lupus, but the last Dr didn't test for Lupus- just diabetes (since I had gestational diabetes), thyroid, and rhumetoid arthritis- along with general screening like cholestoral.

Blast! I've tried not to typo, but if I have, please pardon it- my hands aren't hurting much, but they aren't "right" either, and I keep hitting multiple keys, or not hitting hard enough!

The one blessing is that I am not in continual pain, now, as I was- though it doesn't take much to bring it back! Still, even with that in mind, I push myself- and working at Scott Creek last week helped some, even though I was sore

 

[RallyZ]

You could ask your doctor to have you tested for Celiac's.

It is a sensitivity or allergy to wheat.

One of the symptoms can be joint pain, it can be very difficult to diagnose as there are many different symptoms that may or may not be present.

My doctor tested me for every kind of arthritis under the sun, along with anything else she could think of.

I was having bad joint pain in my hands and shoulders and could hardly get myself dressed in the morning, buttons, bra etc. was almost impossible, opening a jar ... forget it!!!!

3 days of going wheat free and I was feeling as fit as a fiddle.

 

[Sandy S.]

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY TESTED ME ALSO FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. NEGATIVE THOUGH. WHAT I HAVE IS A BAD CASE OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN MY HANDS AND ACTUALLY WHOLE BODY. I AM EVEN GETTING CALCIUM BUILD UP IN MY KNUCKLES AND FINGERS LIKE THE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS LOOKS LIKE. DOC SAYS NOTHING I CAN DO TO STOP IT JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT AND WHEN THE ARTHRITIS STRENGTH TYLENOL (TAKING AS MANY AS ALLOWED NOW) STOPS WORKING OR COSTS MORE THAN WHAT OUR RX DEDUCTIBLE WOULD BE THEN CALL AND WILL PRESCRIBE I THINK NAPROXIN.

HATE LIVING WITH IT BUT BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE. OSTEOARTHRITIS WAS IN MY RIGHT KNEE SO BAD I HAD NO CARTLIDGE WAS BONE ON BONE AND GRINDING IT DOWN, TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT ON THAT KNEE DONE JUNE 26TH, NOW BESIDES MY HANDS IT IS NOW ATTACKING MY LEFT HIP AND LEFT SHOULDER. GUESS I WILL BE THE BIONIC WOMAN BEFORE IT IS OVERWITH.

CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO SEE IF YOU HAVE OSTEOARTHRITIS.

 

[minimama]

Ok, I have one for you. Have him check you for Rheumatic Fever. The symptoms you are showing point to that as well.

This is brought on by a strep infection, usually strep throat, but, you do not even have to know you have the strep infection. If it goes untreated, you can get Rheumatic Fever.

 

[Al B]

I will be anxious to hear what your Dr says as I have the exact same pain in my wrists and hands. My pointer finger on my right hand is almost useless since I can barely bend it. My Dr says Osteoarthritis. I take my Advil and keep at it.

 

[wildoak]

I blamed much of mine on the computer - right "mouse" hand is the worst, severe osteoarthritis in my thumb. I had it injected 6 months ago, helped so so but it's wearing off and I'm not sure it's worth repeating. I was convinced at one point it was carpal tunnel but they say not.

Sorry you are in pain, I know it's aggravating to lose your strength to do even small things.

It's a long shot, but have you seen a chiropractor? If nothing else tests out, it might be worth a try.

Al, do you have trouble driving? Sure bothers my hand esp in the cold. Aleve and Icy Hot cream about the only remedy I have.

Jan

 

[mountain_waif]

....

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Rissa I have come straight to the end here so forgive me if someone else has said this already, folks!!

I don't think the problem is in your hands- I have arthritis in all my joints of all my fingers of all my hands (I do actually only have two!!) and yes it hurts but most of the time they just will not work, and I drop things or cannot pick them up and thank GOD for spellcheck or you would all see just what my typing is really like!!

I think you have trapped nerves up in your neck- have you ever had a neck injury??

 

[RainSong]

Rissa I have come straight to the end here so forgive me if someone else has said this already, folks!!

I don't think the problem is in your hands- I have arthritis in all my joints of all my fingers of all my hands (I do actually only have two!!) and yes it hurts but most of the time they just will not work, and I drop things or cannot pick them up and thank GOD for spellcheck or you would all see just what my typing is really like!!

I think you have trapped nerves up in your neck- have you ever had a neck injury??

In 2001 I injured the trapezius (sp) muscle in my right shoulder. The PT did nothing but cause more pain and more strain, and the Dr. eventually said I was fine and could work again- despite the fact I was still in alot of pain. It took more then a year for my shoulder to return to normal, and now and again it still flares up. Until I was hit with the continual pain mid year, though, it had been fine for quite awhile! Once the pain hit though, it was very similiar pain amounts to when I first injured my shoulder.

I've wondered if it was a pinched nerve more then once, but the injury was VERY one-sided, and now I have pain off and on in both shoulders (which is new) and the beginnings of the pain (pinky pain that shoots up the outside of the hand into the pinky) in my left hand, as well as some sensation loss in the left...

I'm also having some big-time issues typing now. Not pain, but hitting the keys properly! More often then not I end up hitting two keys or missing the one I want comepletely with my right index finger. I need a keyboard with bigger keys, like my old very abused one!

 

[justjinx]

Maybe the nerve problem is in your back? I had bursitis and tendonitis in my right shoulder and elbow for a long time, went to PT, took cortisone shots (which helped it for a short time). went to the chiro (who worked on my back--thorasic area) and it went away for good and i have not had the same problem since. Not saying this is the problem but it is amazing where a problem can be in such a different place than the pain. jennifer :saludando:

 

[RainSong]

Maybe the nerve problem is in your back? I had bursitis and tendonitis in my right shoulder and elbow for a long time, went to PT, took cortisone shots (which helped it for a short time). went to the chiro (who worked on my back--thorasic area) and it went away for good and i have not had the same problem since. Not saying this is the problem but it is amazing where a problem can be in such a different place than the pain. jennifer :saludando:

LOL ... ok, you said it

How is severe sciatica for indicating a nerve issue in the back??

I have an appointment with a new Doctor Dec 12th- we took Nathan to the same group, a Peditrician as opposed to Family Practice- and she hadn't EVER heard of some of what the other guy had said, and couldn't find a few of the problems he found... needless to say, we will not be returning to the original Dr. ... As if we would after he blamed my pain on "being a mother"!

: Now that's a line I'm not likely to ever forget!!

Here's hoping the 12th offers some help. I need to call the old Dr. and request copies of my lab resultsa nd all, or else have them done all over again... No thanks, I had enough needles stuck in me while I was pregnant!