Today my right hand, inner wrist, is hurting. I spoke to my OT and she said please keep up with the stretching exercises. So just like fiddlinchick said keep moving them. I play with my daughters playdough lots. It helps manipulaiton. Keep using them!
Methotrexate didn’t start to help me until I had been taking it for over 8 weeks and those first eight weeks were hellish. However I pushed through because my PSA subtype is mutilens and I was otherwise risking being crippled. I am now also taking Simponi and my rheumy doctor hopes that once it takes effect (generally after 3 months) I can ween off the weekly Methotrexate injections.
I have had to learn a great deal of patience from my PsA.
Try asking for the prescription at your PCP (Primary Care Physician). I do not remember how much I paid for it, but my insurance covered most of the cost. My PCP doesn't give me the steroid shot where the pain is, but on my rear, because he says only a specialist knows for certain where to do it. If your doctor is out, make an appointment with some other Rheum to fulfill your needs while he's out.
The bad news is that the disease continues its course and my hands are deformed, swollen, they cramp, tingle, and am having difficulty using them. My ocupational therapist suggested adapting my life to the disability, which is what I am doing. At the beginning of every session, she applied heat for 10 minutes and it seemed to diminish the pain and my hands were flexible enough to exercise them or to use them effectively. She used either hot air, heated towels, or a hot pad to warm the hands. It did help me; I hope it helps you, too. (I put my hands in hot water sometimes)
I do clerical work and was getting swelling and pain at the end of the day. I just got a pair of IMAK Arthritis gloves and wear them st work. I saw a big diference on my fingers. They’re not in pain anymore.
Roe, I forgot to add that my PsA seems aggressive, because while I read that some people have suffered for years, mine deters rapidly. In 4 years I have seen my hands go. In other words, I've been where you're at, I am right there with you. I know and feel the way you feel. For months on I did nothing but cry and whine. I cried the loss of my hands, my fingers, playing guitar, crochet, sewing, etc. Pain? Try not being able to sleep because my hands hurt so much I could not stand it.
You see, our emotions and how we see our illness affect who we are. It affected mine where even the doctors got tired of my cries. My hands still hurt bad, but I try to do what they have told me to do to lessen the pain. I also tell myself many times over, "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful" .(from the movie What About Bob?) Funny, but it helps my mood. When it hurts, I try to make a mental list of what I still can do with my hands.
This support group has helped me a lot too. I have learned from your experiences and info shared. Believe it or not, when I read your comments, it helps my pain. It's like we share it, opposed to me suffering alone.
I use a paraffin bath, IMAK 3/4 finger gloves (these are the MOST effective thing I've found), and when my thumbs were particularly bad I had thumb splints. I have to say, the IMAK gloves are not that expensive, no mess, and super supportive. I still baby my hands, but the gloves make the difference between curling in a ball around my painful hands, or being able to at least type or hold a tv remote.
I'll try them. Thanks!
I had the same problem several years ago and did change doctors. I have been glad I did. You can always go back if it does not work out.
My health insurance told me that the first appointment with a Dr. is the time when they interview you as a patient, and you interview them as your Dr. They said that if you feel uncomfortable, there are many options as there are Drs. And you are right. I have gone back to Drs. I had switched before.
The Dr. that once used that line, I told him that he may be the Dr. but it was MY body and I decided over it. I also told him that was the last appointment he would see me. Medicine 101--listen to the patient. Remember that you are receiving services for which you are paying. If they do not treat me well, I refuse to give them my money, just as any other service.
Roe said:
Gelita, let me know if they work ok? I cant buy them right now.
I called my rhumey the other day and really complained about my hand as another finger is getting huge and the nerves seem to be being affected as it has stabbing pains in it when I tried to straighten it. Anyway, I asked for the prednisone shot that someone recommended...(thanks!), and she declined to give me that, but did prescribe prednisone tablets which are working great! Most of the swelling is down and my hand feels so much better. She did say she didnt think I am getting worse from the mtx, she always tells me things in a "I'm the doctor so I know everything" sort of tone...I really dont like her but shes supposed to be really good so I havent changed.
Does anyone think I should look for a rhumey I can actually talk to or stay with the one I hate but who is supposed to be really good?
Regarding the steroid dose pack vs. a shot. . . . I am typically not a good candidate for getting a cortisone shot when I am flaring, as it is too many joints. Hitting the inflammation systemically seems to be a better choice at that point.
I completely agree with the others though. . . If your doctor is not responsive to what you are saying, you have options. If you try speaking to the doctor about your question, and see how responsive he/she is though before writing the doctor off. Personally, I'm being a bit lazy right now. . . Not real happy with my rheumy, but not feeling energized enough to do anything about it. Overall my care has been acceptable, but she isn't listening all that well.
I gave MTX a full six month trial, at which point I told her flat out that I was done. She switched me to leflunomide. But we've had a few incidences in the last few visits, where she basically pooh-poohed me. So when I told her my wrists were hurting, she basically told me it wasn't my wrists. Huh? Well, the x-rays support that it is my thumb AND wrist that are hurting. And the bruising I was experiencing? She told me the NSAIDS can make you bruise easily. Except nothing in my blood work or other bleeding issues would support that. I'll see her next month and bring this all up, again, with more pointedness, and see what she says.
I am on Leflunomide and I love it. Prednisone does come with all the bruising.
Hi Roe.
The Voltaren gel (the weaker version) is available off the shelf in Canada, not sure where you are located. It isn't as strong as the prescription stuff I get from my doctor, but its worth a try if you can get your hands on some. Sorry you are having such a hard time. I can totally relate as my hands are in the same shape (as well as my spine, SI, achilles tendons, and neck). I have now had my second shot of Humira, and no positive effects yet, but I am hopeful. I can tell you that MTX did nothing for me after 5 months and 3 months of Sulfasalazine did nothing for me either, my hands got worse on both. My Rheumy sounds alot like yours, mine doesn't really listen either. I finally hit the last straw when mine disappeared for a month without notice or putting anything on the voicemail! So when the office finally opened, I faxed a letter in as well as called and "layed down the law" so to speak, about how things were not working, and basically said I now need to be on a biologic. (I have coverage for it, so this made it a bit easier as they are very expensive). It has yet to help though, but she was very nice and sweeet and helpful when I went in after that...sometimes you just have to take control with certain people. Good luck. I hope you can find some relief. I know how bad it is and how painful and how you can lose some dexterity....I am there.
You could use Tiger Balm, also if you can't find the voltoren. I haven't used voltoren so I am not sure how strong it is. But I have used Tiger Balm before. Also they make Lidocane Patches for localized pain. You might talk to your dr. about getting a script for it. When all else fails I can pull one of those out and put it on for some fast relief. Also have you tried Theraputic Massage? I'm not talking about the nice pampering type of massage but the deep oh my god painful type? I am a fiddle teacher by proffession and there is times that getting a pain and injury massage is the only thing that will help my hands function again. They hurt like hell but I am good to go for a good 3 weeks of playing again, It takes care of the tingling, soreness, numbness and pain. Alot of hand pain is due to neck and shoulder problems. It is really wierd how it is all connected, but when my therapist does the neck and shoulders it makes my hands better. Good luck
Done Lidocane Patches, but cannot use on hands/fingers. Also, it takes some time to work, not instant relief.
fiddlinchick said:
You could use Tiger Balm, also if you can't find the voltoren. I haven't used voltoren so I am not sure how strong it is. But I have used Tiger Balm before. Also they make Lidocane Patches for localized pain. You might talk to your dr. about getting a script for it. When all else fails I can pull one of those out and put it on for some fast relief. Also have you tried Theraputic Massage? I'm not talking about the nice pampering type of massage but the deep oh my god painful type? I am a fiddle teacher by proffession and there is times that getting a pain and injury massage is the only thing that will help my hands function again. They hurt like hell but I am good to go for a good 3 weeks of playing again, It takes care of the tingling, soreness, numbness and pain. Alot of hand pain is due to neck and shoulder problems. It is really wierd how it is all connected, but when my therapist does the neck and shoulders it makes my hands better. Good luck
Can you use the lidocaine patches on wrists? I may have to ask about this for my hand. And now that you mention massage, it may just be time to go get another totally bruising massage.
Tiger Balm. . . I've used this for my back, shoulders, and other "big" joints. When I've tried it on my fingers/hands I find that I get no relief whatsoever. Same with my feet. Do you find it works on the hands? Oh, and then there's the danger factor of using it on your hands and touching various body parts with Tiger Balm. OOWW!!
Hi I have always had pain and swelling in my right hand more than my left so I know how hard it makes life when you can't even turn the taps on and off let alone try to pick up a whole glass of water. The problem with any medications that we are given is that they take a few months to start to work. I find that if I don't use my hand it stiffens up so I use it but more for things that are fairly easy to do and I use my left hand for turning taps on and off and other things that really hurt my right hand. Its surprising how quickly you learn to do things with your left hand when your right one hurts badly. I hope it settles down for you soon. Tracey
I learned a few tricks from my OT to help with my hands. I will pass them along.. For picking up a glass of water, put some rubber bands around the glass, three to four straight down the glass, and that helps with the grip. For faucets, get a roll of the shelf liner that is rubberized and cut a square of it and use that for the faucets, door knobs, etc. For the bar soap, put it in a pantyhose leg, and loop it over your neck. This way you can always have the bar close by. For the typing, use a pen and peck away. These are just a few of them I have learned.
A tip from my occupational therapist, grab everything with two hands, using the palm, too. For a pen, get those foam hair rollers (they have them at Sally's), take the plastic part out, and slide your pen in. The foam will help you grab. They are great to place over your eating utensils, too. They wash easily.
I wear arthritis gloves, I believe IMEX makes them not quite sure of the spelling. I also do paraffin wax treatments, heat treatments, run them under warm water, and rub them. I totally agree with the pretty nails/hands thing. I can't do my own nails so I try to keep them filled and done up pretty. Makes me feel a little better about myself as silly as it may sound. And especially when my hands are flared really bad I look at them and think about how pretty my nails are or how much I like the color. I do methotrexate 6 tabs a week. I was doing 8 a week but it made my liver enzymes climb so they backed it off. I praise the Lord i've not had the side effects of chemo but I prayed and prayed and prayed that I wouldn't. I wish you luck hon. We're all here for you.
Actually if you do a search on whatever search engine you use for arthritis assistive devices, they make a long handle "helper" for that area especially for arthritics! HOpe this helps!