What happened to my fingers

[CathyO]

Hi all. Don't usually post. But got something weird. Is this Sjogren's related? Last few weeks my fingers and thumbs have been a bit sore. This morning I woke up and they were super sore, and swollen a bit. Middle finger and thumbs were a bit more sore. Is this related to Sjogren's? I checked my medicines. Wondering if it could be the Gabapentin, stopped that today and added in an anti inflammatory. No change yet. Going on the laptop makes it worse. THank you. Appreciate the advice and support. I tell my husband and he's like "Huh."

[soycoffee]

Hi all. Don't usually post. But got something weird. Is this Sjogren's related? Last few weeks my fingers and thumbs have been a bit sore. This morning I woke up and they were super sore, and swollen a bit. Middle finger and thumbs were a bit more sore. Is this related to Sjogren's? I checked my medicines. Wondering if it could be the Gabapentin, stopped that today and added in an anti inflammatory. No change yet. Going on the laptop makes it worse. THank you. Appreciate the advice and support. I tell my husband and he's like "Huh."

I don't have a clue about your swollen fingers and thumbs; others may chime in.

I do want to warn you about gabapentin. You don't say how much you are taking, or how long. Please read the literature that came with it when you filled your Rx. Gabapentin is a wonderful drug that should not be stopped suddenly, or without thought. Because gabapenting (Neurontin) is in the family of anti-seizure medications, stopping or drastically reducing the dose can precipitate unwanted neurological effects.

Good luck with your finger!
Soycoffee

[mshistory]

Before starting Plaquenil, my fingers were swollen and stiff and a bit painful every morning. It took about an hour for the swelling to go down and for me to regain full function of them. Joint swelling can happen with SjS as well as RA, but with SjS it doesn't usually cause destruction of the joints. If they're staying swollen all the time though and the swelling isn't going down at all throughout the day, I'd call your doctor and ask him or her about it.

[anita]

Let me echo what soycoffee said...DO NOT just stop Gabapentin!!!  This drug should never be stopped abruptly.  It must be tapered.  Please call you doctor.

[gurs]

I have this alot..most of the time...think its a bit of arthritis and raynauds.

Gurs

[CathyO]

Yikes! Thank you, I didn't realize the side effects of stopping abruptly! Just took my dosage. Not sure what's causing the swelling but will call and make an appointment. Thanks!

[jazzlover]

Ingesting extra amounts of salt lately?

[gold55]

Hi CathyO,
Prior to SJS diagnosis I woke up one morning with my big toe joints red and in pain plus a "fullness and stiffness" in my right hand fingers and two of my left hand.  They ran all the immunology tests and found me positive for SJS.  My doctor and my xrays show osteo in my big toe joints and possibly the beginning of osteo in my fingers.  I don't have all the symptoms of SJS so they are not sure if this is a mild case or the beginning of SJS and therefore are not relating the hand and foot problems to SJS.....calling it osteo at this time.  The weird likeness that I find is that most of all the SJS people on this site have osteo too.....don't know if it came first or the SJS??  So, it seems to me that whether it's osteo or it becomes RA......I feel it's gotta have something to do with the SJS....especially when it rears its ugly head at a young age......or even late 40's, early 50's.  Just my opinion....haven't seen anyone on this site with SJS and no arthritis but I could be wrong.  Hope you get better.  Mine got better with time and rest