Lupus Support - Hand pain

Author

Hand pain

deshawna2@hotmail.com

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

Hello group,

I never knew that there were groups out here for people with lupus. I
should of known better though, the internet has everything. I was
diagnosed with lupus August 2003. I am 19 years old now. I go to school
part time and work full time. I also have a baby. I have a question,
what do I do about my hand pain? I can't open anything because it
hurts to close it. I feel so bad because I have baby boy he'll be 6
months this week and he eats jar food now. I have to wait for his
father or uncle to get home before I can feed it to him because it
hurts to close my hand. I also feel really weak. I am so frustrated. My
rhuematologist has given me medicine, but I think he said something
about operating on my hand. That is my last option. I wonder if ther is
any other type of medicine I acn take. I actually felt my lupus was
under control better when I was pregnant than now. It take plaqunil
(not sure of the spelling). He also said it could be inflated from
carrying my son in his carseat, but I don't do that anymore. What
could/should I do?

Shawna

nfarrell22

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

Shawna,
I don't know what might be causing your hand pain, but I have a suggestion -
how about having your uncle or boyfriend open the baby food before they
leave and put the jar in a baggie in the fridge? Then you could heat it
either in the micro or a small pan of warm water when it is feeding time. I
had twins when I was just starting to have lupus symptoms so I learned a lot
of work-arounds. <S>
I hope your doctor can help you figure out how to best treat your pain.
Does he know how much you are hurting and how it limits you so much?
Nancy F, SoCal

<deshawna2@hotmail.com> wrote:
> months this week and he eats jar food now. I have to wait for his
> father or uncle to get home before I can feed it to him because it
> hurts to close my hand.<<

herbwormwood

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

Hello Shawna,
I don't know your full circumstances but my own doctor gave me a warning a
few years ago "stay out of the clutches of the surgeons". I am in UK and we
do things different here to the USA.

Lupus does not usually cause the sort of joint damage that requires surgery.
What exactly is wrong with your hand, I am sorry if this sounds an
insensitive question but the more we know about you the more we can support
and suggest you. Do you type and use a computer, if so get advice about
Repetitive strain injury. Lupus often causes hand pain but yours may be made
worse by something you are doing.
If the pain is extreme you can have injections of cortisone to bring down
the swelling. Try to rest your hand as much as possible, use gadgets to help
you open the jars and tins. Check out any volunteer groups in your area who
may be able to help you at home with some household tasks. It will just be
until you are better.
Put heat or ice on your hand depending on the kind of pain you have.

Let us know how you get on.

On Mon, 7 Feb 2005 00:38:42 +0000, deshawna2@hotmail.com wrote
(in article <1107736722.077474.229050@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com> ):

> Hello group,
>
> I never knew that there were groups out here for people with lupus. I
> should of known better though, the internet has everything. I was
> diagnosed with lupus August 2003. I am 19 years old now. I go to school
> part time and work full time. I also have a baby. I have a question,
> what do I do about my hand pain? I can't open anything because it
> hurts to close it. I feel so bad because I have baby boy he'll be 6
> months this week and he eats jar food now. I have to wait for his
> father or uncle to get home before I can feed it to him because it
> hurts to close my hand. I also feel really weak. I am so frustrated. My
> rhuematologist has given me medicine, but I think he said something
> about operating on my hand. That is my last option. I wonder if ther is
> any other type of medicine I acn take. I actually felt my lupus was
> under control better when I was pregnant than now. It take plaqunil
> (not sure of the spelling). He also said it could be inflated from
> carrying my son in his carseat, but I don't do that anymore. What
> could/should I do?
>
> Shawna
>

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

Hi Shawna,
I have a lot of problems with my hands. They get very painful and swell.
Personally, I would never consider surgery. I have had cortisone injections
done a few times. It works for me. Sometime going on a round of prednisone
does the job too. The hand is very complicated. I would worry that surgery
may not help all that much, or could make matters worse.
BJ-Sk. Canada
<deshawna2@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1107736722.077474.229050@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Hello group,
>
> I never knew that there were groups out here for people with lupus. I
> should of known better though, the internet has everything. I was
> diagnosed with lupus August 2003. I am 19 years old now. I go to school
> part time and work full time. I also have a baby. I have a question,
> what do I do about my hand pain? I can't open anything because it
> hurts to close it. I feel so bad because I have baby boy he'll be 6
> months this week and he eats jar food now. I have to wait for his
> father or uncle to get home before I can feed it to him because it
> hurts to close my hand. I also feel really weak. I am so frustrated. My
> rhuematologist has given me medicine, but I think he said something
> about operating on my hand. That is my last option. I wonder if ther is
> any other type of medicine I acn take. I actually felt my lupus was
> under control better when I was pregnant than now. It take plaqunil
> (not sure of the spelling). He also said it could be inflated from
> carrying my son in his carseat, but I don't do that anymore. What
> could/should I do?
>
> Shawna
>

Shelagh

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

<snip>
"herbwormwood" <herbwormwood@lycos.co.uk> wrote in message
> Hello Shawna,
> I don't know your full circumstances but my own doctor gave me a warning a
> few years ago "stay out of the clutches of the surgeons". I am in UK and
> we
> do things different here to the USA.
>
> Lupus does not usually cause the sort of joint damage that requires
> surgery.
</snip>
I would agree with that for the 'majority' of patients; however
I have had my saddle joint on my left hand/thumb repaired as it was
worn down directly by lupus involvement and I had no use of my thumb until
the surgery which was a success (after the 3rd time !! no kidding!)
1st Pins were tried and 2nd screws and they didn't work either;
finally they used my own tendon from my arm and fused it to my 'joint' and
it healed up and I have fair to good use of my thumb with the opposable grip
motion.
We have to remember that we are all very much unique with this illness and
so what works for one won't necessarily be the case for another.
hugs,
Shelagh

Nicole H

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

Hi
My first sign was hand pain. I too had a baby at the time and couldn't open
anything... my husband would have to open the jars before he left for work.
There are some machines now that open jars for you... also manual items you
can use... I'll include the links.

I still suffer from hand pain. Haven't found anything to do about it. You
can use ice or heat which ever works best for you.
I also found some hand braces... they weren't very expensive either... they
were for the hands not the wrist or certain fingers.... they offer nice
support.

I'm very careful w/my hands now. They are very weak and if I try to lift
someone heavy, my hands will pop and will hurt for days. It's very
frustrating.

DH is in law enforcement and we have guns and shoot recreationally (paper
only). (I'm looking for a new gun just for me so I've been trying different
ones) A friend brought a revolver along and asked me if I wanted to try
it.... I couldn't even pull the trigger. With a revolver, the person has to
do all the work... with a semi automatic, the trigger is usually an easy
pull and the magazine just pushes the next round up... w/the revolver, you
have to pull the chamber around to get to the next round. DH knew I was
having problems but the friend looked at me like I was joking. He just
didn't understand the hand weakness I have.

I use a nsaid and pain meds to help. Along w/many other meds.
Hope you get some help soon
Nicole in CA

Nicole H

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

Really
I've never read/heard that lupus causes joint damage. Was it damaged from
the constant inflammation? Or what was it? Just curious. Want to know
what to look for.

Thanks
Nicole
"Shelagh" <noyb@myob.bc.ca> wrote in message
news:887Od.329267$6l.138317@pd7tw2no...
> <snip>
> "herbwormwood" <herbwormwood@lycos.co.uk> wrote in message
a[vbcol=seagreen]
and[vbcol=seagreen]
> </snip>
> I would agree with that for the 'majority' of patients; however
> I have had my saddle joint on my left hand/thumb repaired as it was
> worn down directly by lupus involvement and I had no use of my thumb until
> the surgery which was a success (after the 3rd time !! no kidding!)
> 1st Pins were tried and 2nd screws and they didn't work either;
> finally they used my own tendon from my arm and fused it to my 'joint' and
> it healed up and I have fair to good use of my thumb with the opposable
grip
> motion.
> We have to remember that we are all very much unique with this illness and
> so what works for one won't necessarily be the case for another.
> hugs,
> Shelagh
>
>

herbwormwood

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

There is hitchhikers thumb, where the thumb position becomes distorted, but I
believe this happens over a long period of time. I don't know if it is
actually the joint or if it is to do with muscles and tendons. Then there is
claw hand, self descriptive, again I believe its not the joints causing it
(??? any medics feel free to correct) and it happens over a long period. I
have both to some extent but I have lupus for 26 years and only sometimes get
hand pain. My hand is very weak. Left more than right. Pain mostly in wrist,
thumb joint, middle finger joint. I use an electric tin opener for the few
occasions I use tinned food. I use a jar popper for the jars and a rubber
cone which fits over the jar top. I use scissors with rubberised handles for
cutting plastic containers. I also have a variety of non slip mats for
securing things during food preparation. I cook health foods so I do a fair
bit in the kitchen. Some stuff is just too much and I have to ask for help.
I also have a system with shopping and carrying which minimises strain on my
hands.
Be careful of the computer keyboard and mouse, repetitive strain injury can
make matters worse.

On Wed, 9 Feb 2005 01:27:14 +0000, Nicole H wrote
(in article <SFdOd.8788$e11.7953@twister.socal.rr.com> ):

> Really
> I've never read/heard that lupus causes joint damage. Was it damaged from
> the constant inflammation? Or what was it? Just curious. Want to know
> what to look for.
>
> Thanks
> Nicole
> "Shelagh" <noyb@myob.bc.ca> wrote in message
> news:887Od.329267$6l.138317@pd7tw2no...
> a
> and
> grip
>
>

Shelagh

2005-03-19, 6:19 pm

Don't know what to call it exactly but whatever it is is happening in my
left hip joint too.... it too will need a replacement joint soon
enough...not looking forward to that!
I would say the ongoing and constant inflammation just wears down the joint
tissues and weakens the system allowing for 'dislocation' and tearing and
then the need for repairs.... it happens anyhow in some of our cases but
again I do maintain that as we are all individual in our disease processes,
we can't really do comparisons in that way.
HTH, from Shelagh
"Nicole H" <crimsonshedemonREMOVE@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:SFdOd.8788$e11.7953@twister.socal.rr.com...
> Really
> I've never read/heard that lupus causes joint damage. Was it damaged from
> the constant inflammation? Or what was it? Just curious. Want to know
> what to look for.
>
> Thanks
> Nicole

deshawna2@hotmail.com

2005-03-19, 6:20 pm

I am so sorry for just now getting back to everyone, but I haven't been
online in a really long time. Thanks for all the sugesstions. I
recently recieved some kind of splint for my hawnd/thumb. Hopefully
that works. I have already tried some medication and that doesn't work.
If the splint doesn't do the trick I am going to try the shots. Surgery
is my last choice. I feel alot better overall all. My hair is shedding
rapidly and I am thinking about cutting it off and starting all over
again. I seems to better short.

See ya!
deshawna2@hotmail.com wrote:
> Hello group,
>
> I never knew that there were groups out here for people with lupus.
I
> should of known better though, the internet has everything. I was
> diagnosed with lupus August 2003. I am 19 years old now. I go to
school
> part time and work full time. I also have a baby. I have a question,
> what do I do about my hand pain? I can't open anything because it
> hurts to close it. I feel so bad because I have baby boy he'll be 6
> months this week and he eats jar food now. I have to wait for his
> father or uncle to get home before I can feed it to him because it
> hurts to close my hand. I also feel really weak. I am so frustrated.
My
> rhuematologist has given me medicine, but I think he said something
> about operating on my hand. That is my last option. I wonder if ther
is
> any other type of medicine I acn take. I actually felt my lupus was
> under control better when I was pregnant than now. It take plaqunil
> (not sure of the spelling). He also said it could be inflated from
> carrying my son in his carseat, but I don't do that anymore. What
> could/should I do?
>
> Shawna

Nicole H

2005-03-19, 6:20 pm

My lupus started out this way... hand pain after having a baby. I would
have my husband open anything big I needed for the day... other things, I
figured out how to open/close w/my wrist.

I still have hand pain. I have some hand braces that I found... and I just
recently ordered some from Handeze
www.handeze.com
I ordered the full hand pair.

Overall pain control has helped but it doesn't help w/the weakness,
swelling, etc.

Nicole