What eases arthritis pain in fingers?

[AmblingAlong]

I have arthritis in 3 fingers and today the pain is really bad in one of them even when I'm not doing anything and if I knock it slightly I suffer for ages until it stops throbbing. It must be hell to have it in all your joints.

My GP gave me some strong ibuprofen that I've been taking today but they also knock me out and make me feel groggy. What helps to ease arthritis pain? Should I try warmth (hands are cold all the time too) or ask for different pain killers? Has any one found anything that helps?

Loismustdie I missed your last post
I have the same as you
It's awful isn't it
The not knowing what it is is driving me insane

currently - sitting on the offending hand :(

Lois - my referral for non inflammatory arthritis confirmed the hypermobility syndrome I suspected I had.

Flexitol for cracking skin, btw. It's wonderful. (I'm allergic to bodyshop hemp). I use germolene with local anaesthetic in on any cracks.

Just come through one hell of a loose elastic and downright bloaty period and have been in so much pain (and brain fog). Still falling over, randomly. It's the worst I've been since i was diagnosed. Serves me right for slacking off all the tablets when I had a good phase at Christmas.

Pisses - that's fine. You can take up to 4 doses of co-codamol a day, the same as paracetamol, but I don't recommend too much codeine unless you like not being able to poo for days. Alternate the co-codamol with plain paracetamol if the pain is too much but the codeine is having adverse effects on your regularity.

It's driving me batty. I tested negative for RA factor and twice negative for inflammatory markers. They did suggest after the first negative that I may be having symptoms due to stress. I can honestly say if I was stressed I would admit it.

Just going to go back after I run out of naproxen because I've a short break off it due to reflux and my hands are really stiff again and my grip is poor as well.
I'm not sure what else to do .

It's just the most frustrating thing in the world lois isn't it. All I did yesterday was buy ingredients and make a cake and by the evening I was nearly in tears trying to wrap presents for my boy. I HATE feeling useless. The gloves I linked to up thread are great for grip and they make everything feel a bit nicer and warm.

Badmumof3

If you are taking NSAIDs on a regular basis get a prescription for 'enteric coated' ones. These prevent them acting on the stomach lining and causing an ulcer or perforation.

OP

Learn sign language. I'm being completely serious, it is the best physiotherapy around.

Also get a pain killer as well as an antiinflamatory.

I already have pain killers too. It's not so much the pain it's the loss of movement. Meh I'm really fed up tbh.

hi sorry to hear of your pain.
have you had a blood test to rule out ra in other areas. It might be worth asking your GP to refer you to a Rhuematologist if the i b profen doesn't work, make sure that you are not on i b profen too long as I think they cause stomach ulcers.
Massage is good for ra. maybe treat yourself to a manicure they include hand and arm massages.

I have prescription painkillers which are not always effective, and have found a better-then-usual gel based on Patagonian Holly (Biofreeze, ordered from chemist). Although it's nearly £10 for a roll-on applicator, GP was happy I was not risking over-dose with extra ibuprofen/aspirin in usual gels. It also seemed to stop bleeding when used on trapped finger, really good stuff.

Thanks for the tip about stomach lining LostinWalws. I was prescribed something but I have to take it an hour before food first thing in the morning, which i find a struggle when I'm trying to get 3 kids to school on time. I will look at them again and be better to myself..

I agree with the tip about hemp cream. It's the best. I get eczema on my hands and hp is great for the dry stage. Even my husband uses it

I've got arthritis all over. What helps? Cocodamol when really bad, industrial quantities of diclofenac gel (voltarol), and 1,000mg/day Naproxen. Heat pads.

My teen was diagnosed with arthritis when she was 7. She doesn't test positive for any rheumatoid factor etc. she has psoriatic arthritis which hits the small joints. Fingers and toes. If you have psoriasis this is likely what you have. It's a very common type. Oh and you can have hidden psoriasis.

My teen also has enthesitis related arthritis which affects all the tendon ends. (Enthesitic points ). So she can have arthritis on ribs collar bone etc..

This can be pin pointed with the HLAb27 gene. But to be fair a lot of people do test positive for this gene without the arthritis.

Katie uses anti tnf medication via drip, daily paracetamol and a 24 hour NSAID. Hers is piroxicam. Or it's generic name brexidol.

The best ways to treat it. And I know it smacks in the face but you must keep the joint affected moving. We use flexible putty, motor skills to keep the fingers flexing. We also use heat and cold alternating.

Advice is go to a rheumatologist and ask for anti tnf medication to help the flow of the arthritis. If you are young enough you should get it. Sometimes it's via drip, Toccaluzimab, infliximab etc. or via weekly injection. Enbrel

Don't be fobbed off. . Katie has hers head to toe. And needs a jaw replacement. We were fobbed off. It took two years for we diagnosis.

Thought I'd update now that I've been to the rheumatologist. They took blood samples and then the doctor went through a questionaire thing and felt all my joints. She told me I have arthrosis not arthritis. I was told if I don't hear anythng that the blood samples are all OK and that was 2 weeks ago.

I was told to stop eating meat (I'm a vegetarian anyway!) and the best thing to ease my fingers is to put my hands in warmed up aquarium gravel. Haven't got round to trying that but I usually warm up my cherry stone cusion and squeeze it with the sore hand. Seems to help.

I also managed to find some plant-based omega3 supplements so have started taking those.