Shit. This is arthritis, isn’t it?

[DefinitelyNotAHastyNameChange]

Every woman in my family has suffered from terrible arthritis in their hands. My mum, her sister and my grandma were all unable to write or do up buttons before they hit their 60’s. Both my mum and her sister died in their early/ mid 60’s (unrelated) but my grandma lived until her late 80’s and her hands were so deformed that her fingers had basically all fused together.

I’m 36 and for the last few months whenever I wake up in the morning I can’t fully straighten my middle and ring finger on my right hand for a good couple of hours. Then even once I am able to straighten them they’re painful if I rub them. Now I can’t even get the rings I normally wear on those finger to fit. They don’t look swollen but they obviously are.

What do I do? I never really spoke to my mum about it before she died. Do I go to the GP now even though it’s not particularly serious? I’m terrified that I’m going to be unable to basic tasks just like my mum and aunt. Is there anything I can take, any supplements or anything? Is there anything else it could be? I don’t think it’s related to the heat as it’s been a good few months. It’s certainly felt worse since it’s been so hot though.

If you can get an appointment, go to your GP.

I agree you should talk to a GP. I first got arthritis symptoms in my hands and feet in my early 30's. if that is what it is the GP can recommend exercises that can help mitigate the symptoms and slow down the development. It might be scary but hiding from it won't help. Try not to worry yourself.

Sounds a bit like rheumatoid but could be something else or nothing, get some joint supplements ans speak to your GP given the family history

Definitely go to your GP. Treatment options now are better than in the past, I know it’s hard but try not to think that you will definitely experience the same thing as your mum and grandma. Good luck 🧡

Go to your gp, and also look at stuff like cod liver oil and cider vinegar.
Fingers crossed for you

Definitely see your GP. I have a condition whose diagnosis relies on ruling out RA, as they are unrelated. However, whenever I go to my rheumatologist, they always put me through the moves to see if RA has crept in anyway.

The earlier diagnosis, the better.

My dear late mum had arthritis in her little finger, like a splinter of glass she said, at about 60. It never went away, or anywhere else, so she was fortunate.

I had similar recently (also have family history of RA and OA), and my GP had bloods done to rule out RA and also referred me to a physio service who ruled out OA due to my age - it’s rare in younger people - and diagnosed repetitive strain (which I am prone to as well) and gave me an exercise programme. Touch wood it has been working and I’m getting less hand pain.

Even if you did have arthritis there are a lot of treatment options that weren’t available even a few years ago, so people rarely end up with twisted hands anymore. Definitely see your GP to put your mind at rest, especially with the family history. But the likelihood is that it’s probably musculoskeletal and a few tests can reassure you.

As pp say, go now. Early treatment for RA is very effective and best done earlier the better. Whether it is arthritis or not, whatever is going on it there and given it is there it is best to be sure what is going on. All the best.

There’s lots they can do to protect your joints so don’t wait.

RA runs in my family too and I started to get symptoms of it in my hands last year - painful joints, "witchy" looking fingers and a weird loosening of the tendons in my little finger. I also have RSI / carpal tunnel.

Since I started taking high dose vitamin C (I take 1000mg per day) most of my symptoms have gone away and the inflammation has massively reduced. I also try to eat an anti-inflammatory diet and take fish oil and curcumin supplements, which are all supposed to help. So far so good, but we'll see how it goes longer term.

Go to your GP. Blood tests will show rheumatoid arthritis. You can address it with dietary changes and supplements, it doesn't have to get really bad. You are still young enough to head it off. Boost your immune system as much as possible and please avoid steroids. I know Prednisolone is commonly prescribed but at your stage, if it is RA, I wouldn't take them.

Good luck.

Definitely don't ignore this. The doctor will investigate for RA and if that is what it is the sooner you get treatment the better. If you let it go the disease destroys your joints and cartilages etc. and that is why the deformities occur.

DH has quite severe OA in his hands as did his Mum. He has the big bumps on his finger joints (Heberdens's nodes). His sister also has it badly. Keeping on top of it and doing the right exercises can help.

There are much better treatments for RA now. I have an infusion of a biologic once a month for another auto immune disease and I often sit next to a beautiful young woman with RA who does triathlons. She says she is symptom free.

You want your joints to last a long time.

With respect to the poster who talks about natural solutions, in the gentlest possible way, those of use with sever and incurable autoimmune diseases have usually tried every possible natural cure. No amount of apple cider vinegar will cure my ulcerative colitis. I would eat sawdust if it worked.

A newer biologic has me in remission and eating the things I love, like
kale and spinach which were a complete no go.

There is really nothing more upsetting to someone with very distressing symptoms to be told it is your bad diet. No it isn't.

Get proactive NOW, op. Not only are there treatments available from your gp, but your diet and getting exercise are crucially important. There are also certain supplements that are very effective, like omega 3 and cats claw. I have RA and have worked hard at taking control of it. You can, too.

Ive been getting pain in my middle ring finger- I put it down to the position I hold my phone in, but now wondering about RA.

I wasn't thinking of a cure, more like controlling symptoms and maintaining good general health. Being pro active about your own health, and I don't mean fanatical, is beneficial to well being.

Op, hot humid weather such as we are having at the moment exacerbates rheumatological conditions. I've heard patients say exactly that. The ideal is warmth with a gentle breeze but in the UK, weather is so changeable.

Mistyskies, RA causes swelling and heat in the affected area as well as general malaise. It's quite distinctive. You may well be having pain because of the way you hold your phone, all sorts of things cause strain and pain so please don't be downhearted. My nephew at times has been barely able to move because of back, shoulder and neck pain and stiffness but doesn't have arthritis, his is caused by postural problems due to his intense work. He goes to a chiropractor which he swears by, and sometimes an osteopath, but it comes back and always will unless he slows down and changes career. He's been prescribed NSAIDs but they mess with his digestive system so he doesn't take them unless absolutely necessary and then short term.

Good luck to all.

Rheumatoid arthritis shows up in blood tests in 40% of cases only.

It didn't show in my case (started with symptoms in hands in early 30s). It took 8 years for me to get a diagnosis - but by then my knees were swelling up like balloons and I couldn't walk very far (age 40).

I'm now on methotrexate and it's bloody fantastic. I literally give thanks for that drug every day. I had tried every other supplement/health thing before that. Glucosamine did work for a bit - but nothing like methotrexate.

leafygarden: It didn't show in my case (started with symptoms in hands in early 30s). It took 8 years for me to get a diagnosis - but by then my knees were swelling up like balloons and I couldn't walk very far (age 40).
....
That must have been horrible and frightening, makes me wince to think of it. I'm glad you've found an effective treatment, what a relief that must have been.

From HSS USA:
For rheumatoid arthritis, the RF test has a sensitivity of 69 percent, according to a study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. This means that 69 percent of people with RA will be positive for rheumatoid factor.

I had this after DD was born OP. Had a (very painful, but quick) steroid injection in my finger and it totally cured it. Definitely go and get it checked out.

I have had RA for nearly 30 years and my hands are affected. They don't look particularly nice (although I'm 60 so have 'old lady' hands anyway) but I'm generally pain free and they function just as well as 'normal' ones. Like @leafygarden42 I have been on methotrexate for years and it's amazing. I do yoga and pilates and my hands and wrists have definitely benefited from gentle weight-bearing exercise. Find out what you are dealing with so you can look at the options available.

Go to your GP. Blood tests will show rheumatoid arthritis. You can address it with dietary changes and supplements, it doesn't have to get really bad. You are still young enough to head it off. Boost your immune system as much as possible and please avoid steroids. I know Prednisolone is commonly prescribed but at your stage, if it is RA, I wouldn't take them.

Apart from from go to your GP please ignore EVERYTHING in this post. If it is RA then it is an autoimmune disease. You CANNOT 'boost your immunity' if your immunity is low yes it can be increased to normal, an immune system that has started attacking your body does not need boosting, eve if it was possible.

Get to your GP and get a referral both to Rheumatology and to a physio.

I have psoriatic arthropothy, diagnosed at 26. There is a lot that can be done.

When I had fingers as you describe I was told to put a wad of cotton wool in my palm so that the fingers can't get into the cramped position.
Whilst I was doing this I had 'resting splints' made, these are solid plastic molded to my hand's in a resting position, when my hands are bad I wear them for 1 hour a day.

If you are offered a steroid jab take it, I'm lucky in that 2 of the GPs at my local surgery do them and I don't need to go to the hospital.

I was on methotrexate for years but I never got rid of the side effects so I opted to give up and I use pain killers and anti inflammatory meds.

I do have all the tools to help do buttons but I tend to buy clothes I van put over my head.

There are a lot of different treatments and assuming it is RA then you need to make a plan with the professionals that suits you and our lifestyle.

Helix capsules work for me

Defiant best to see your gp and ask for a referral to a rheumatologist. Dh has RA and whilst diet and exercise help to a point, being on the right medication is what keeps him pain free and able to live normally. He has tried several different meds over the years until he found the best one for him, one of the new biologics, and is now so much better.

Also google gin and arthritis as that has made a huge difference to his pain levels! Not that I am recommending gin as your only treatment but the sultanas soaked in gin regime has given him pain free days and the ability to run around play with our dc which he couldn’t before….

Get yourself to a GP and a rheumatologist. Medications are vastly improved now, and early treatment will have more effect.

One of the things that can help with symptoms/pain are the hot wax treatments that you can get from beauticians. You can buy your own kit and use it at home, it gives pain relief that actually lasts awhile. But this will NOT stop or cure, just helps with symptoms. (Friend is a rheumatologist and recommends it to her patients a lot).