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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / January 2005What would you do?(Long)
Hi everyone, I've been reading this ng and hoping to tap into the collective wisdom of the group. I'm not sure what to do next so maybe someone here has had a similar experience and can share it with me. I started having health problems a few years ago (I'm now 42) and was diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid disorder and then Fibromyalgia. Less than a year ago I woke up with the ring finger on each hand so painful that nothing could touch them without making me want to go through the roof. I don't remember if they were swollen. The extreme pain went away and they look ok (no inflamation)but if I catch them on anything they still hurt a little. About a month ago my index finger on my left hand (I'm left handed and do a lot of work with my hands so it's very noticeable)started hurting so much that I can only bend it a bit, one side of the joint is very very slightly swollen. Basically I can use my left hand only carefully. If anything touches the joint it's extremely painful. I went to the rheumatologist who diagnosed my FM and who is supposed to be an outstanding doctor (yes, I know about doctors which is why I'm posting here). She said the blood tests show nothing (I also know that doesn't necessarily mean anything either)and she didn't know what was wrong but that I would have to be "watched carefully" and that I should just take the Relafen she gave me for the FM. I'm beginning to flashback to how long it took to get a diagnosis for my thyroid and starting to feel desperate. I'm going to see an ortho on Monday. I don't know if that is the right specialist but I know he's pretty direct. Anyway, thanks for reading this and what would you do in my place? Lisa I have hand problems as well...but I do have OA and Lupus. Have they done any x-rays of your hands? I am seeing my Ortho hand specialist on Monday. I have lost minimal range of motion in both thumbs and my index fingers are no longer bending at the first knuckle at all. Both index fingers are beginning to turn toward my middle fingers...kinda freaky. There is some formation of nodules on thumbs and first knuckles of most fingers. He will prescribe finger splints and PT as needed. I am avoiding surgery for the time being. That may be something I have to live with eventually...but not now. I work with my hands every day and I need them to work well. I found a massage therapist who will hand massages! I will ask the doc what he thinks..but it sounds soooooo good. They use warm oil and heated towels.... Good luck with your doc visit! Keep us posted! Janet R : Hi everyone, : I've been reading this ng and hoping to tap into the collective wisdom [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] : you do in my place? : Lisa hi lisa, is there a chance you could get a second opinion? have they done xrays? my bloodwork was normal in the beginning too. tell that to my deformed feet and hands. =:-0 let us know how you make out. this sounds like something that needs a disease modifying drug rather than just an nsaid. diane > Hi everyone, > I've been reading this ng and hoping to tap into the collective wisdom [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > you do in my place? > Lisa so, blood tests have been done. chances are your ortho will do xrays. take a copy of your labs with you on monday. take a list of all your meds, vitamins and herbal supplements and their doses. in the meantime, have you tried alternating ice and heat treatments on your own? ice for 15 to 20 minutes; allow your joints/fingers to return to normal temperature, then apply heat for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat. if you don't have an ice bag, a bag of frozen peas will work (wrapped in a towel). if you don't have a heating pad, a sockful of rice heated in the microwave will work, too. let us know what the ortho does and says. kate Hi everyone, Thank you for your responses. My blood tests so far have been normal except rheumatoid factors (pending) and an elevated ANA which has always been because of my thyroid disorder. I'm wondering about massage-isn't it very painful? It is excruciating for anything to put the slightest pressure on my finger joint. Also cold. I've noticed that cold makes my hands and knees ache something awful. Heat feels good though. The rheumatologist said it (reaction to cold) may be due to a very tiny amount of inflammation (though nothing shows in blood tests so far). She also gave me a prescription for a topical ointment which I would like to try but it's very expensive. I'll see what the ortho says on Monday. Gosh, I thought I was done with all this illness stuff and dealing with docs. Oh well, thank you for your support. Lisa Hi Lisa welcome to the group. sorry you have to be here. I would get someone to run xrays to see what is going on. Also since I just found out the problems I have and now don't trust too many drs at all. I would say make sure your ANA is really do to the thyroid disorder and not something else.  SignatureLove and hugs to all Good thoughts coming your way too. Squirrely Jo > Hi everyone, > I've been reading this ng and hoping to tap into the collective wisdom [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > you do in my place? > Lisa I have auto-immune thyroid stuff and rheumatoid arthritis as well as Fm--The thyroid stuff and the RA symptoms started at the same time but the RA was diagnosed as such much later than the thyroid was diagnosed--I would get a second opinion if you can and maybe take it all to your endocrinologist to make sure as Sq. Jo says that your ANA is thyroid--sounds to me as if you have another one of those pesky auto-immune thingies going on and DMARDs would be the way to go--for those of us who started doing this thing before there was as much choice as there is now--we live with the joint damage--there is no reason now to have to go that route--also--my endo and my RD both agree that the thyroid and the RA stuff are related in that they are symptoms of my wacky autoimmune response--that these things seem to run in families and that along with the thyroid stuff comes cholesterol trouble--so check that out as well--alert your sibs--(I have a cousin who is almost identical to me as far as disease entities go--but the ten years older that he is shows the ten years more damage--which I am hoping the fact that I have been on DMARDs will alleviate)--hang in there--Alix |
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