Waking up with sore fingers on left hand?

[Paperhatchat]

One day last week I woke up and the index and middle fingers on my left hand painful to bend and joints themselves were tender to the touch.

I can still bend them and the range of motion isn’t effected but they are tender and sore to bend. It does ease off a bit through the day.

I didn’t injure myself and don’t know what is causing this, any ideas?

[Paperhatchat]

Bumping this in case anyone has any insight?

[FippertyGibbett]

What is your job ? Could it be a repetitive strain injury ?

[lifestooshort123]

Early onset arthritis?

[over501]

Those are classic early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis - I would see your go if it happens again and they will probably order blood tests.

[over501]

*GP not go, obviously

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

I start to get sore finger joints when my Vit D is low. Last time it happened my level was 50.2 nmol/l. Below 50 is insufficiency on the U.K. range. So perhaps get a Vit D test too.

[LindaEllen]

Could be your job or a hobby that involves repetitive movement, you might sleep strangely, or it might be the first sign of another condition - there are a couple that start with a bit of stiffness in the morning. If it's a regular occurrence I'd definitely go to the GP and get them to take a look for you :).

[LastInTheQueue]

Speak to your GP.

I’ve had this and it was reactive arthritis, we think as a result of COVID or another illness. Painful joints in hands, blood tests were dodgy but did not indicate rheumatoid arthritis. I was on naproxen for a while and then did a course of steroids, which cleared it up.

[Paperhatchat]

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude Vitamin D deficiency is a possibility as I've tested low before in recent years. I will start back on supplements.

@LindaEllen & @FlippertyGibbet: I don't think its likely to be repetitive strain as its my left hand and I'm right handed and can't think what would cause this but I will be more mindful of what I'm doing.
I guess it might be an awkward sleeping position.

@over501 I really hope it isn't Rheumatoid Arthritis. When you say to go to the gp if it happens again should I wait for this current pain to go away and then go to gp if it comes back?

[Paperhatchat]

@LastInTheQueue I haven't been unwell recently. I have a prescription for naproxen due to migraine and I've taken some today.

I will see how it is tomorrow and call the doctors.

[LastInTheQueue]

@paperhatchat
I hadn’t necessarily been unwell either, or at least not recently. I think I had Covid in early February, but the joint pain symptoms did not kick in until late March.

I thought it was too much time on my mobile, slept funny, had accidentally knocked my fingers, could have been anything in fact. Over the next two months, the swelling and pain spread to my other hand, and eventually my feet.

It could be any of the above things tbh, so just get it checked by your GP.

[AriettyHomily]

All the time. I sleep on my left and apparently clench the duvet...?

Also would look at carpal and size of phone related to your hand - i cant use an iphone 7. You say not RSI but are you holding the phone in your left hand?

[Paperhatchat]

@LastInTheQueue Hmm ok, well I'll give it another day or two and then call the doctors.

@AriettyHomily my phone isn't so big and I have quite big hands but I guess it could be anything. Just noticed I was using those two fingers to open a heavy drawer.

[lurker101]

I had this a few weeks ago - my left hand was swollen and my index and middle finger, especially around the knuckles. I described it to my boyfriend as feeling like “I needed to crack my fingers, but couldn’t”

[lurker101]

Really interesting that people have had this linked to Covid, as we believe we may have had it in February.

[SamsMumsCateracts]

I get this whenever I'm coming down with something. I always know for a few days that I'm going to be ill before any symptoms start because my fingers hurt in the morning.

[EggHead268]

I've had this for the past week or so, been waking up with sore fingers in my left hand, I even got my rings stuck which made them even more sore trying to get them off! Last 2 days my right hand has started feeling stiff and sore! No idea what it is.

[UnfinishedSymphon]

I've had carpal tunnel surgery in both my hands so it's not just related to which hand you use the most. Mine started as numbness in my little finger and then pins & needles and pain in the others, I've also got arthritis in some joints and have the little swellings around them. DP calls them my witch's fingers

[Paperhatchat]

The link with Covid is interesting. I was very ill for 3 weeks in December last year. It was the worst virus I'd ever had and matched all the symptoms of covid but it was too early to be covid.