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wrenb ([personal profile] wrenb) wrote2007-10-24 09:50 am
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Sore hand

Mostly I'm just blogging this for my own records, but I thought I'd put it out there in case anyone has a stellar idea. I woke up this morning with a very sore knuckle (base of my right forefinger). It hurt even when I wasn't moving my hand. Eventually I got up and moving, and it didn't bother me. When I got to work I started checking email and it started hurting again. Dr Google says the joint is an MCP joint which is more common in rhuematoid arthritis than in degenerative, but I don't have any symptoms of either except for this one joint with occasional pain. For which I'm thankful, because 30 is way too young for arthritis.

If it keeps hurting I'm going to take some ibuprofen. I'd rather treat this with something topical and specific, but I don't have anything available to me right now. Massage does not help. I guess I could put my microwave heatpad on it if the knuckle gets really bad, but right now I'm doing ok.

Edited to add: I mentioned this to my doctor a month or two ago, and she checked my hand out (same knuckle). Said it was fine, but watch for a pattern. Hence the post.
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[identity profile] sunnyhunny.livejournal.com 2007-10-24 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
FWIW, I do get a randomly sore knuckle every now and again. It's very tender for several days and then clears up. Since I'm enormous klutz, I've usually just figured I whacked it into something without even realizing it. :) But yeah, I do get that.

[identity profile] thidwick.livejournal.com 2007-10-24 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Ditto. It's usually, but not always, the base knuckle of my right pointer finger. And it's always in the winter.

[identity profile] webhill.livejournal.com 2007-10-24 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
an isolated case of joint pain does not a syndrome make... but, for a 30 yr old (caucasian??) female with an intermittently painful joint in an area unlikely to have been injured, I'd definitely wonder about some kind of immune mediated disease (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc) or lyme borreliosis. But in your shoes, I wouldn't be panicking. Seems totally reasonable to ice it and rest it and see.

[identity profile] robintutt.livejournal.com 2007-10-24 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
The knuckle on my left thumb often does that. But it goes along with the "arthritic-like symptoms" of my Crohn's.

[identity profile] torrilin.livejournal.com 2007-10-24 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Arthritis seems a wee bit unlikely. I've had arthritis since about age 16ish, but I've got some fairly serious structural problems. (If you see me limping, that'd be why.)

Dumb suggestion: see if knitting helps. Often when I have joint pain, exercise can mitigate the effects. That's why you'll see me on a bike even if I'm having a real bad day with my hip or knee.

Oh and totally OT, I got some tea at Steep 'n' Brew. I shall tell you if I like it. I'd already know the answer, but I need to empty the teapot of Earl Grey first.
beth_leonard: (Default)

[personal profile] beth_leonard 2007-10-25 07:07 am (UTC)(link)
Driving? Poor ergonomics while driving can cause problems, usually in the wrists (keep them straight if possible), but I could see it causing other joint difficulties. If the pain is related, consider it. Other brainstorms: reading heavy, hardback books or using a IBM-laptop style button mouse.

I hope it feels better soon!

Also, I don't know what part of your cycle you're in right now, but when you are pregnant or might be pregnant take Tylenol not Advil for pain. Advil is not good for pregnancies because it works by cutting back on bloodflow to high-flow areas. That's good for most injuries, but bad for developing fetuses.

I am convinced that this is the reason "Doctors and Hospitals recommend Tylenol most" as they state in their advertisements. If you have to recommend a OTC pain reliever to a woman of childbearing age, that is the one.

--Beth
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