New member

[Guest guest]

Hi:

I just joined your group and was so thankful to find it. I was

diagnosed with arthritis in my finger and knuckle joint a few months

ago. My middle finger hurt when I griped something, turned a door

knob, etc.... I mentioned it to my doctor when I was seeing her for

something else. I went through a battery of tests and they decided

on bone spurs and arthritis. The physiatrist could feel the bone

spurs in my knuckle joint.

They wrote a prescription for Celebrex. Before I got it filled, I

read about it and discovered I couldn't take it. I am allergic to

sulfa drugs and break out in hives really bad. I can't take Vioxx

because it raises my blood pressure.

I really thought I could live without the meds, use the ring splint

the OT got me and life would be good. Now, I am having horrible pain

in my thumb on the same hand. The source seems to be in the fleshy

part between the thumb and my index finger.

I go back to the doctor in two weeks, but I am going to call and see

if I can get in quicker. The OT suggested a paraffin wax machine,

which I did buy and finally used tonight. It made my whole hand feel

good, but the pain is creeping back.

Is this normal (or whatever you want to call it) for arthritis pain

to affect more than one spot on your hand? I am right handed and I

am candle maker which requires the use of my right hand a lot.

I get tired of whiny, but gosh it hurts and is very painful. I am so

glad the intro to this group said we can whine! I am not shy at all,

so feel free to ask me anything you think would help me.

I am 44 and am a single parent to a 14 year old son with a connective

tissue condition, it is progressive. deals with joint pain and

severe visual impairment as a result of that. I tend to whine and

complain much more than he does. LOL

Thanks for letting me join, I look forward to getting to know all of

you.