Weird hand issues, what''s arthritis like?

[firebirdgold]

Ok, I''m getting pretty tired of my hand issues, at this rate I''ll be using my nose to type! My left hand has been giving me problems. The knuckle of my forefinger is painful and swollen and a little discolored (reddish). The level of pain and swelling seems quite variable day by day. Yesterday it was very swollen and painful and today it''s still swollen but not as painful. Because of the pain I often have trouble making it straighten or bend, and the strength is just not there.
It''s been going on for about a month. And is not any better consistently.
Before that the first knuckle in my left ring finger was swollen and sore. I thought I jammed it since I also damaged that nail. That took almost a year to heal... in fact it finally stopped being sore shortly before this new problem. (It''s still a bit larger than it used to be.)

So What''s arthritis like? Can you have it in just one spot? I''m between health insurance so I''m reluctant to go to a doctor. Plus they''re never very helpful with hand issues.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Yes arthritis can come and go (flare-up) and you can have it in only one joint. Please see your doctor when you can as this sounds like a pretty bad flare-up and arthritis can cause permanent damage to your joints. It could also be gout which is a concentration of nitric acid in the joints. Check webmd.com for both.

 

[dianne]

Hi Indie, I hope this post finds you feeling much better. I have had rheumatoid arthritis for almost 20 years. Due to the damage caused by this disease, I have had an ankle fusion, a wrist fusion, and a wrist replacment. It will absolutely destroy your joints and the pain can be unbearable. I got to the point I had an awful time just getting dressed. I had my wrist surgeries just 5 months apart so I was one-handed, one or the other, for the best part of a year. You may want to talk to a rheumatologist. I will have to say that since I began using Enbrel, injections that I give myself, I no longer even feel like I have this disease. It has been a miracle drug for me. Insurance, however, is the only way I could possibly have access to this drug. The cost is $20,000 a year...yes, that many zeros. Medicine is crazy, huh?

I will agree with Hudson_Hawk that it could be gout. I was tested repeatedly for gout, and lupus, and lyme disease....it was crazy. Twenty years ago the tests were not as sopisticated and I was on my 10th doctor before I was diagnosed....all the while with no pain medicine because they could not figure what was wrong with me. It started in my left ankle...the one that ended up surgically fused, and slowly began affecting many joints. My blood never showed the Rh factor that was commonly known with this disease. The absence of the Rh factor, at that time, was rare but, in my case, the doctors let that be the ruling factor of diagnosis. If I didn''t have a hot, red, swollen ankle I really think the doctors would have considered my a little crazy....some of them began making me feel that way in spite of the evidence of a problem.

Please take care of yourself and, if you can find a way, please have this checked out. The internet is very helpful but it is always a good idea to take the internet information to a doctor for confirmation of accuracy. It may be something easy to fix, ya never know....and I''ll send happy thoughts your way that you only need a vitamin supplement.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I agree you should get it checked out ASAP. My DH has arthritis (which he developed right after college) It is the worst in his thumbs (they get very swollen). After many, many different medications he is finally on an infusion that works well for him. Like Dianne''s it is extremely expensive but luckily he only has to pay a $30 co-pay. I would wait until you have health insurance so it isn''t a pre exisiting if they find something. Will you have it soon?

 

[Kaleigh]

Yes another plea to have this checked out asap. My daughter thanks to early intervention, is doing well with her JRA. She was diagnonsed at 18 months. Skip forward many years she is doing well, but has had recent flare ups. She is 19 now. She just got blood tests, waiting for the results to see what new medicine will be best for her. She is a golfer and a tennis player so she wants to be back on track soon. It's such a painful disease so I feel for you.

The options that are available now, are sooooo much better than when my daughter was first diagnosed.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Lisa, DH is on remicade (sp?) and has very good results on it. I know infusions are a big step though.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 5/17/2007 1:38:07 AM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Lisa, DH is on remicade (sp?) and has very good results on it. I know infusions are a big step though.

Thanks, Remicade has been on my mind as well. If it does the trick, then so be it. Waiting for the test results. I have to say she has been a stellar patient through all of this. But because of all the needles well she now just wants to run!!!

 

[dianne]

I was on Remicade for probably around 2 years, worked fantastic, but developed an allerigic reaction so was changed to Enbrel. Works just as good, one shot a week, no more spending time at the doctor office for the infusion. For me, this was a 3 hour visit. I am what the medical field calls a "hard stick". Very hard to find veins. Sometimes, the IV Team would be called to help. Shots have been much easier for me. Good luck to all that have to deal with this disease. It can be so painful and bodily destructive.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Lisa, it has been so wonderful for him. I believe they give it to him through an IV so he only gets pricked once. I think he gets 5 viles (again, I could be wrong) He is at the officee for a few hours but strangely really enjoys it there. He likes to talk to the nurse and other patients, he is very social (they are on a 5-6 week cycle, i think?!? so they get to know each other). He gets really tired for the rest of the day but besides that he has no bad side effects.

Diane, I am glad you found a new treatment. How funny you are from Charlotte. You might go to the same doctor!

 

[dianne]

Date: 5/17/2007 7:12:59 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Lisa, it has been so wonderful for him. I believe they give it to him through an IV so he only gets pricked once. I think he gets 5 viles (again, I could be wrong) He is at the officee for a few hours but strangely really enjoys it there. He likes to talk to the nurse and other patients, he is very social (they are on a 5-6 week cycle, i think?!? so they get to know each other). He gets really tired for the rest of the day but besides that he has no bad side effects.

Diane, I am glad you found a new treatment. How funny you are from Charlotte. You might go to the same doctor!

Thank you, Tacori, and I am glad the Remicade is working for your DH. It really worked great for me....until the allergic reaction. Besides the fact it was hard for them to find a vein, I enjoyed the visits, too. I had my own room with a recliner, TV and could bring tapes if I wanted. Was interrupted every 30 minutes to take blood pressure... no big deal. Nurses were fantastic. I had to go every 2 months so your DH must be on a different treatment plan. I hope he is doing well. The cost of the Remicade was $30,000 a year so I''m sure the insurance company is glad I have reduced their cost to only $20,000....geez... Co-pay is now $75 for 3 months....well worth it. My doctor is in Concord. He has been great for me! I know...really funny we are both in the Charlotte area...and neat, too!

Indie, how long until you will have health insurance?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

dianne, I just asked him. He gets 5 viles every 6 weeks. One lady gets 10 everytime! I am very grateful he has insurance.

 

[dianne]

Indie--how are you doing?