TaraLynn- That said, I have joints that have destabilized without "joint damage" and wound up having surgery on the base of my thumb this past summer. I have a number of joints that are unstable due to ligament damage. And for me, these aren't joints that necessarily hurt prior to becoming unstable. I tend to have much more soft tissue damage rather than joint damage.
My rule of thumb is to baby a joint that is painful, and if it doesn't improve over a period of days or weeks, depending upon the nature of the pain, then I will go to the doctor. I do a lot of physical therapy to strengthen up joints that are unstable.
To Hope, the original poster, if acute pain doesn't clear up, and it is something new, it's not a bad idea to get it checked out. If it's a recurrence, your decision may be different.
Stoney....babying a joint would pretty much put me inactive at this current time. I have a fairly high pain tolerance and find that keeping busy actually helps me manage the pain. I feel my worst when I stop all...bed time or any time that I am not keeping my mind busy. Thanks ;-)
Stoney said:
TaraLynn- That said, I have joints that have destabilized without "joint damage" and wound up having surgery on the base of my thumb this past summer. I have a number of joints that are unstable due to ligament damage. And for me, these aren't joints that necessarily hurt prior to becoming unstable. I tend to have much more soft tissue damage rather than joint damage.
My rule of thumb is to baby a joint that is painful, and if it doesn't improve over a period of days or weeks, depending upon the nature of the pain, then I will go to the doctor. I do a lot of physical therapy to strengthen up joints that are unstable.
To Hope, the original poster, if acute pain doesn't clear up, and it is something new, it's not a bad idea to get it checked out. If it's a recurrence, your decision may be different.
Stoney has great advice. If you get therapy for it early...it will help a lot. I hurt both my hand and shoulder a year ago. They sent me for therapy on my shoulder only, it's good so far....but my hand has caused me the worst trouble yet of all my affected parts.
Yup, that's what would happen to me if I do too much. My experience is that I have had to learn my limits. Anything too strenuous will cause me pain. It would start with a tendonitis type issue typically.
I avoid certain things...never carry heavy things after learning the hard way of course. I left my job which included carrying and using heavy tools every day all day... for a pretty much free from lifting job.
Being familiar with screen printing, you would be exposed to many chemicals also. They say the cause of PsA has many factors...some environmental. Plus, it's a strenuous job. Something to consider. Try not to do too much damage...otherwise the PsA will settle into that area and it won't be the same. I have this issue with my hands. I worked with and around hazardous chemicals for about 21 yrs. I have to wonder how much it contributed to my PsA or immune system issues. Either way, it wasn't healthy for me
Thanks for clarifying, Stoney - that's what I was trying to say but my brain isn't working very well with my pain levels and kids jumping on me! LOL
TaraLynn - sorry for the confusion.
Stoney said:
This is what my rheumy told me. . . We don't worry when there is pain and inflammation in a joint that is short term. The worst damage gets done when inflammation settles into a joint and stays there. So yes, persistent joint inflammation can cause damage. Sometimes what feels really bad may be tendon related,in which case it can really hurt, but it's not necessarily doing damage, in the same way that the joint capsule inflammation can do.