Severe Pain In Both Hands

[emmie]

i wonder whether i have arthritis, and if so what can be done.
i have pain in both hands., they hurt around the knuckle areas but are generally not right. Two fingers on left hand often go numb, not sure whether this is a sign, if anyone can help I would be be most grateful.

[emmie]

i keep on wanting to flex them but that hurts.

[dannyk13]

Maybe Sqad will be able to help you when he logs on.

[emmie]

could be danny, thanks...

[ummmm]

What have you been tested for?

[emmie]

i haven't been tested, don't get to the docs much these days, typing has become difficult. It was just a guess.

[Sqad]

Not enough information for one who has a rather complicated and diverse symptoms of disorders over the years, but it does from what you have said sound like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, the former being the most likely....but early days. The numbness in your left hand digits would suggest carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a well known associate of R.A.
I would rush for medical opinions at the moment, but would suggest that you try a Nsaid e.g Ibuprofen as a start.

[ummmm]

If you can get to the doctors I would book in for a blood test.

I had very bad joint pain and it turned out I was VitD deficient. Worth a shot.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I agree with Ummmmm. I held off with painful thumbs and toes for 6 months, self-medicating with NSAID's When I finally went for a blood test I was found to have a 'life changing' auto immune condition. Totally out of the blue as no one in my family suffers from this. Its one small blood test for peace on mind.

[Sqad]

Error...my ultimate paragraph should have read "I wouldn't" instead of "I would".

APG I can only guess that your test which showed a life changing auto-immune disease was a Rheumatoid factor for R.A. If i am wrong then ignore my further comments.

If the R.A factor is positive it doesn't mean that you have rheumatoid arthritis and if it is negative it doesn't mean that you haven't got R.A. It is a non specific test.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Sqad //If the R.A factor is positive it doesn't mean that you have rheumatoid arthritis //

Correct, but further tests, clinical symptoms, X-rays, and other laboratory tests can rule out RA . Seronegative RA does exist, albeit a much milder version.
As someone myself who would only go to the doctors as a last resort I wish I'd gone earlier.

[Sqad]

Thanks APG.

[emmie]

sqad, i wasn't rushing off to the doctors at any rate, and yes i have a coterie of ailments, one of which is osteoarthritis in knees, feet. I am not suggesting these are connected but feel that taking a simple blood test might show up something, as suggested. So will do that soonest. One thing is that my hands get worse when it's cold, its that pertinent?
thanks to all you have replied, very helpful.

[Sqad]

Very pertinent.......rheumatic conditions often get worse, more painful in the cold weather.
If you already have osteo-arthritis. that may well be a clue to your hand problems.

[emmie]

sqad, thank you, as it's getting colder outside my hands get worse, though i don't want to be wearing gloves as yet, especially as i am indoors, lol...

[Vagus]

It’s more to do with the change in barometric pressure, than the actual cold.

[Sqad]

Vagus...depends which website you go to consult, I agree that it was thought to be due to barometric pressure, now one study shows that cold is a major factor.

[Vagus]

Perhaps as the two go hand in hand (sorry Emmie no pun intended)both have an impact.

[Sqad]

Could be Vagus....could be.

[anneasquith]

Raynauds. ?

[AuntPollyGrey]

Raynaud's is a possible suggestion. OH suffers from this, its also colloquially known as white finger . A copper bracelet has given him a certain amount of relief.