Stiff fingers at night/in the morning - is this just normal?

[jinglebellmel]

Recently when I wake in the night and in the morning I find that my fingers feel stiff, sore to move and kind of puffy. Its not really bad, I can move them and it wears off once I'm up and about and using them.

Does anyone else get this? I've got some other issues at the moment and not sure whether to add this to the list or if its just something everyone gets and I've only just started noticing!

This sounds like carpal tunnel. You can get it after pregnancy due to build up of fluid, or from repetitive movement like typing on a keyboard. It tends to build over night and then feels bad in morning, and subsides as you move around. Talk to your doctor about what to do in terms of wearing wrist supports at night

Ah okay thanks, I didn't realise carpel tunnel caused stiff joints, I'll have a look into it.

Could be arthritis also.

I had carpal tunnel at end of last pregnancy and had this horrendous stiffness in fingers and feet for a few months after he was born. Slowly faded away though

I agree that it sounds like carpal tunnel. I had this when I was pregnant and worse wrist/hand splints at night which worked wonders. They basically keep the blood flowing well at night so you dont get the stiffness. I would see your gp.

What other health issues do you have? I have this, though it can last all day. It turns out I have a vitamin D deficiency. I also have horrific fatigue, get winded going up the stairs, joint pain and stiffness, just generally feel ill most days. I was completely healthy until about 6 months ago. I’m now on high dose vitamin D therapy.

Are you on any medication at all? I had this (athralgia) when taking mirtazapine.

Thanks for all the replies :)

Other health issues which have all started since December - headaches, muscle twitching, swollen glands, random pains moving around body and stiffness in my fingers (and to a lesser extent toes).

I’m on levothyroxine for an under active thyroid which is under control. Vit d, b12, iron levels etc have been tested and are all within the normal range

Seems the general consensus is carpel tunnel, which I hadn’t considered as is doesn’t feel like what I’ve read/heard of it. But obviously lots of you who’ve had it think it fits so worth considering. I can live with it as it is now to be honest so will probably just leave it if it’s likely carpel tunnel.

I have this too OP, and it's been diagnosed as osteoarthritis. I had an ultrasound scan. I'd googled it and convinced myself it was rheumatoid arthritis, as it seemed to appear overnight and in both hands at the same time.

Some nights it's worse than others. I think when I sleep very deeply (not often!) that I don't move as much, so my fingers feel worse.

They actually feel swollen (even though they're not) and I have to flex them a few times to get rid of the stiffness. Like you, I also feel it in my toes at times.

Mine started when I was in my late 40s (about 5 years ago) and haven't got any worse. The GP advised using a stress ball a few times a day to keep the muscles strong, which in turn will help to support the joints.

Not sure if any of this is useful, or even what you have, but thought you might like to hear that you're not the only one!

Inflammatory arthritis?

I don't want to alarm you but this is how my rheumatoid arthritis started. Please consider seeing your GP. Even if it is just carpal tunnel, there are splints available which help with the pain so don't think for one moment that you just have to put up with this

It does sound very much like how my sister’s arthritis started, I agree with those who have said to go to GP, there’s clearly a few different things it could be so really worth getting it checked out.

Thank you all. I had considered rheumatoid arthritis but just seems quite mild so I wasn’t sure if it’s just how everyone’s fingers are in the morning! I’m 34 so I hope not osteoarthritis, but I’ll look into that too.

Try wrist splints to sleep in at night.
They should make a huge difference if it's carpal tunnel.
Having said that, you still need to see your GP either way.

Thanks. I am due to see the gp again about the swollen glands in a couple of weeks so will mention it then. when you say wrist splints- can I just buy these in boots or a chemist?

Go and see your GP sooner. Rheumatoid arthritis needs ruled out urgently and time is potential joint destruction. Get an appt in the next 2-3 days.

elspethmcgillicuddy Ahh really?! Does it progress quite quickly then? I’ve been so worried about the swollen glands the stiff joints didn’t seem like a priority.

Might not be but not worth the risk. If there is a high degree of suspicion it is RA you will see a specialist within 2 weeks in my area.

Tbh swollen glands too makes it a bit less likely- might be parvovirus it something similar but I would want you to have a decent history and examination within a day or two to see if needs further tests etc

elspethmcgillicuddy Okay thanks, I’ll see if I can bring the appointment forward.

Sorry not to come back sooner.
I found mine on amazon. They take a bit of fiddling about to get the Velcro right (start at the hand end, then with your way back up), but do help.
These are similar to what I bought.

Defo some flags for RA here. See your GP, ask for bloods and a referral. This is how mine showed itself too.

mineofuselessinformation Fab, thank you!

Swollen glands could point to it being reactive arthritis. Sometimes this can be temporary as a response to a virus and would cause stiffness in morning/evening. The fact you have said the stiffness wears off stood out to me, as my rheumatologist is always asking whether stiffness lasts over or under 30 minutes. Definitely get seen ASAP.