Hand problems, pain and other issues.

[fancypants]

I keep looking for threads on finger, hand & wrist pain, this is the closest I can get.

My right is all getting worse. I'm not sure what to be doing about it. When I was a teen I was treated for RSI. It was really bad. After a couple of years it improved though. But now things are bad again. My fingers & hands are so stiff & sore. My wrist & right to the elbow hurt which also limits mobility. Typing is pretty hard. Who do I talk to & what can I do to help this?
modnote: moved to a more appropriate topic; for reference, on the advanced search page the query 'hand pain' in 'topic titles only' gives only two results, both relevant

[Toots]

Hey everyone!

I was recently diagnoised with HMS and since then it has been a steady downward spiral! Mainly the problems are my right hand and I think some of it has to do with my job. At the moment, The canteen I work in as a baker is very understaffed.. so, I've had a very rough last couple of weeks. Thankfully, The majority of the time I've been able to cope by taking 2 co-codamol and 2 ibuprofen every 4 hours but that just barely takes the edge off. But today was incredibly busy.. and I was doing two jobs at once.. so, I didn't get much time to take any medication or stop for a break. My hand was so bad.. I was having trouble just scooping mash potato during lunch! Anyway! All this abuse has led to my hand refusing to uncurl! I have a permenant claw!! If I try.. the agony.. I can't even begin to describe it! And my wrist looks swollen. :/

Basically, I'm inbetween GPs at the moment and can't even try to see anyone until sometime next week.. just waiting to be signed on at the new surgery. Hopefully they're better! So, anyway.. I'm not sure what to do! My last doctor refused to give me any strong painkillers, so I'm really struggling at the moment.. I can't even go a night without waking up 4-5 times in agony. I'm just wondering what I should do?? Tomorrow promises to be just as busy and I feel like crying! I love my job.. but it's getting way too difficult. My co-workers are being great and taking on some jobs for me but because we're short staffed.. I usually make up for those jobs doing something else! I'm really just wondering if there's anything I can do in the mean time? I feel so lost.

I appreciate any help.. not that I'm even sure there's anything anyone can suggest. I was told I could try squeezing a tennis ball last time I seen the rheumatologist but I can't really manage it most days.. they're just too hard or in todays case.. to big to get my claw around!! lol.

[Blaadyblah]

Hey Toots. I get that when I've been gripping things too tightly. I do it without realising and have to constantly monitor my hands to make sure my grip is loose in order to avoid it. At some points it has been so bad I've been unable to use my hands at all, it sounds like you have pushed yours rather further than they can comfortably go.

Can you rest them, gently stretch them out in warm water maybe? You're going to need to be gentle on them though I think... I have some microwave wheat gloves I use when my hands are very bad like that, I used to wrap them in a towel which had been on the radiator. There are anti-inflammatory gels you can by over the counter (ask your pharmacist) which you might find aid recovery. I sometimes need to wear night splints to prevent mine from curling into balls at night - this makes an enormous difference..

As a preventative measure I try very hard to keep my hands moving. Provided I don't stress them that seems to keep all but the worst of the claw hands at bay. This time of year is the worst for it though - sorry you're having such a rough time.

[madmum]

Had wrist scan result today, I have a partly torn ligament,a piece of bone loose,arthritis of the thumb joint and a cyst on the bone. No cure just arranging to make a leather support for wrist and thumb for ongoing use. At least I know what it is now.

[sheppeyescapee]

I've been told that my hand pain when I am writing is because of my posture and how I write plus the fact that I grip my pen too tightly. I've been given some edema gloves to help with my proprioception in my hands so I'm hoping that it will help with my writing too. The technician at Stanmore was rather appalled at my posture when I write. I'm left handed and that's the only way I can write without smudging everything along the page and on my hands! Luckily I don't do a whole lot of writing at the moment so it is only an occasional problem

[trekster]

When i take my carpel tunnel night splints off my right hand feels strange and the furthest right fingers take a while to get going.
Does this sound familiar? They sort of get stuck as though they are subluxing.

Even through thick gloves my thumb becomes painful when pushing my wheelchair. Any ideas what can help with this?

[madmum]

Have you tried the wrist support with thumb spike? There are various designs available. Check amazon.

[trekster]

OK cheers will try the one that another member posted details about the other day.

[Neogetz]

Hi everyone,

I have massive pain issues with my fingers and wrists, some days so bad I can barely lift a drink let alone spend time writing or crafting, or working.

When my right wrist goes bad I have a splint to put on it, and I take a lot of codeine to handle the pain. My fingers all I can do is pull them when they're refusing to work properly and hope they click and let me get on.

I can't take ibuprofen and have found the gel does nothing to help.

Do you think something like neoprene gloves would help to support my fingers/wrists to reduce the frequency of the problems.

I'd love to be able to knit for more than 15 mins at a time, like I used to. I miss my hobbies. Crochet is easier for me but still painful.

Some days it's so bad I can't grip anything due to pain, and I often have to ask for help opening bottles and jars.

Any advice?

[trekster]

Sheppey hows it going with your edema gloves? Do your fingers dislocate or lock less with them?

[Jess]

Neogetz: yup gloves can help but i find warming a wheatie bag and putting it under my wrist when I crochet helps reduce some of my pain.
(can't knit for toffee so couldnt help with that idea)

[FunkyPhysicist]

Hi guys, I urgently need some advice!

Has anyone else ever subluxed/dislocated the MCP joint (bottom one that attaches to your palm) of their little finger? It has been out for nearly 24 hours now. I have rested, iced, tried to manipulate it, iced it some more etc... If I push the bone up I can move my finger much better but it just falls back down when I let go and I have limited movement and SEVERE pain when I move it and minor pain when resting my hand not helped as my wrist is also subluxing repeatedly. It driving me nuts as it is also my dominant hand so cant really do much the distract myself! Does anyone have any idea what I should do?

[Superstottie]

Might be worth a trip to the docs if it won't stay in place as it could be that you have damaged something! In the meantime try strapping it up and to the finger next to it to see if that helps with the pain. Hope it gets better soon! x x

[madmum]

I have done that joint two or three times,luckily it went back. I would go to casualty in case you have damaged the joint.

[FunkyPhysicist]

Thanks guys,

I phoned the doc who said "I'll just send you to A&E" so off we popped..Luckily the Xray was clear so I guess I did get it back in in the afternoon but I must have damaged some tendons/muscles/ligaments badly as it is still hurting! Oh the first time is always the most painful hey! another joint bites the dust....