Hand Medical Specialist?

[YoYo2020]

Over the past year or so I've been waking up with incredibly stiff and sometimes quite painful finger joints pain. My hand looks like a claw frozen in position first thing and I can't stretch my fingers out or hold my phone or a bottle of water.

It takes about 5 minutes to feel back to normal and my fingers working again, but is there any special professional like a Podiatrist or Chiropractor (who you'd go to see if you had a problem with your feet) but for your hands?

My best guess is its maybe early inset arthritis (I'm 37) and I've been to my GP but it was just suggested to take painkillers for the pain and no referral to anyone was offered, so I'm willing to pay to see someone privately as I want to know how to manage it and not let it get any worse, but I'm not sure who or what to search for.

I think a physiotherapist could help. Some areas offer a self- referral to physio services. Are you on any medication? If so check the side- effects. I have similar problems but not quite as severe, and I have just read this week that the drug I am taking (sertraline) can cause muscle stiffness and spasms.

I hope you get it sorted.

I think you need a rheumatologist referral. Gp can do bloods for rheumatoid arthritis etc. ask for a different gp !!!

Bumping for you

I think I'd see a good private physio first as they may be able to find an issue like tendonitis or a nerve compression that needs managing through physio. Then there are hand specialist doctors, look for one that only does hands as some will describe themselves as hand specialists but are actually more general orthopaedic surgeons

Just checking you're not breastfeeding (and assuming you're not pregnant as you might have mentioned it)? I had this during pregnancy and post-partum and it was down to hormones. Also can happen during menopause due to hormones. Mine went away completely a few months after giving birth (and when my periods came back).
Similar to you - I was waking up with my hands frozen in claws! Sometimes I'd have to manually uncurl each finger!

Not saying it is that, but just wanted to throw another potential cause into the mix!

Thank you, and yes, Physio is a good suggestion, I will look for someone local.

I'm not on any medication though

Yes I'll see if i can see another GP at my surgery and ask for this to be done. Thank you

Good to know, thank you. I'll definitely be searching for a physio who specialises in hand treatments

Wow, yes I am currently breastfeeding (my son is 7 months). I never thought to assume it could be connected to that.

I plan to continue breastfeeding until the end of this year once he's turned 1, so it'll be interesting to see if it improves once we do stop.

My periods have already returned though, but I will definitely monitor it in line with the breastfeeding and find a good hand physio in the meantime.

Ah interesting! I had another friend who had it too in the first few months and while breastfeeding. I fed up until 13 months and it had definitely subsided a little while before then, but can't pin point exactly when now. Just one day it stopped! I guess it takes a long time for your hormones to stabilise after birth. I did find some info about it somewhere and it's related to the drop in your oestrogen levels if I remember rightly!
I was tested for rheumatoid arthritis originally but they said nothing came up hence why they suggested it was hormonal.

Thank you. I'm hoping it will just phase out once we do stop breastfeeding.
Hormones work in such funny ways, and I'm glad it wasn't a long term thing for you.