Painful, painful hands

[ktfabian]

I'm back, again!

I'm having a terrible time with painful, swollen, stiff hands. The diagnosis of the moment, based on EMG done just before Christmas, is carpal tunnel syndrome.  There's a whole lot more to it than that, though. I had surgery to replace a bad joint in my thumb and to fix carpal tunnel (which was NEVER like this!) on the right hand in Feb. of 2012. I was doing really well until I took Levaquin for a sinus infection in June. The next thing I new, my right hand was swollen to twice its normal size and I could barely move either hand.

It's fluxuated between being painful and almost normal since, until about 2 weeks ago, when the pain became unbearable. I believe I'm now in a fibro flare as well. I have pain in my shoulders, elbows and hands. I wake up in the morning feeling like someone was pounding nails in my shoulders, elbows, each finger, hips and base of my spine and I go through the day in pain on a 5-8 out of 10. My family doctor referred me to a surgeon, but carpal tunnel surgery alone isn't going to fix this. I'm going for a Rituxan infusion in the morning, which I've been getting for about 6 years, and have an appointment with my pain doctor Wednesday. I see the surgeon a week from today.

I have arthritis in my hands, which I've been told is made worse by Selective IgM deficiency, possibly caused by the Rituxan, but it's made such a difference in the level of Sjogren's problems I have, both my Rheumatologist (Dr. Vivino) and my immunologist, feel it's worth continuing.

I'm in really bad pain and the function in my hands is severely compromised. Has anyone experience this? And, if so, what worked for you to ease the pain and improve function?

Thanks,
Tracy

[MaryBee7]

Hi Kt -- have you ever used Relafen for pain?  I've been using it for about 6 months now and it is an immense help.  It is a NSAID.  What kind of arthritis in your hands? 

Blessings --

[susanep]

My hands do hurt a lot, and my knees, right now my shoulders, and this morning my chest, but I think it's fibro.

I do know that levaquin can cause tears in our muscles and ligaments.

I take mobic when I think my inflammation is worse, and also take my gabapentin which helps.

I have had carpal tunnel pain at times, and then wear a hand brace, and usually have to go easy at whatever action it is causing the extra pressure.

susanep

[Daisy1234]

Are you able to try a hot wax hand bath, also called a paraffin hand bath for your hand pain?  You can probably google hot wax hand bath and find more information about that type of therapy if you haven't heard of it before and see if you wish to pursue this option.

I get them at my physiotherapy appointments and they are extremely soothing for my arthritic hands and feet, especially since I have advanced peripheral neuropathy in both as well.  I also have a custom made brace for both of my hands which helps as well.

For strictly the arthritic component, I hope your rheumy has you on some type of NSAID if you can tolerate that.

Hope you can find some relief soon,

Daisy

[Joe S.]

Dark cherry extract can help with Arthritis pain. Bosweilla and PQQ can reverse RA damage. (I went from needing immediate replacement to mild RA in less than a year.) Opening shoulders (stretching them back) can remove carpal tunnel symptoms.