RE: Question about swelling in fingers

[Guest guest]

Joan,

I wonder why doc has not put you on anti-inflammatory. I take Lodine XL

or generic is called Etodolac twice a day and keeps inflammation and

swelling under control. For me it seems the inflammation and swelling go

together. Hope it gets better for you. My swelling did go down.

God bless,

Kay

----- Original Message -----

From: " Joan " <jm94@...>

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >

Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 10:20 PM

Subject: Question about swelling in fingers

> Hi there,

>

> I wanted to ask a quick question of those of you who have dealt with RA

for

> a while. I was just diagnosed 4/26/04. The first symptoms I had were

that

> all my fingers on both hands and my hands themselves swelled up and were

so

> painful that I couldn't hardly stand to use them. Two weeks after that my

> toes and feet swelled. I saw my RA Dr. a month later. I have been on

> Methatrexate, Predisone, Motrin and Folic acid since then. I was told by

> the Dr. and later his nurse that the swelling would go down and my hands

> would be usable again.

>

> The swelling has decreased, but I am still unable to make a fist and

> completely close my fingers. This makes gripping somethings rather

> difficult. I scare myself using a sharp knife. I can't hold change in my

> hand because if I turn my hand sideways the money falls out. My question

is

> this, Will the swelling go down all the way or should I just learn to deal

> with my hands being this way. I want to be positive but it's getting

harder

> as time goes on. My Dr. increased my Methatrexate to 15mg a week from

10mg.

> I just start the increase dose this week. Will it just take more time?

>

> Thanks for all your information,

> Joan

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The swelling and non-bending fingers is the same problem I am having.

The swelling just hasn't gone down yet. It has been almost three months so far.

Hugs,

Jacy

-----Original Message-----From: Joan [mailto:jm94@...]Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 21:20Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Question about swelling in fingersHi there,I wanted to ask a quick question of those of you who have dealt with RA fora while. I was just diagnosed 4/26/04. The first symptoms I had were thatall my fingers on both hands and my hands themselves swelled up and were sopainful that I couldn't hardly stand to use them. Two weeks after that mytoes and feet swelled. I saw my RA Dr. a month later. I have been onMethatrexate, Predisone, Motrin and Folic acid since then. I was told bythe Dr. and later his nurse that the swelling would go down and my handswould be usable again.The swelling has decreased, but I am still unable to make a fist andcompletely close my fingers. This makes gripping somethings ratherdifficult. I scare myself using a sharp knife. I can't hold change in myhand because if I turn my hand sideways the money falls out. My question isthis, Will the swelling go down all the way or should I just learn to dealwith my hands being this way. I want to be positive but it's getting harderas time goes on. My Dr. increased my Methatrexate to 15mg a week from 10mg.I just start the increase dose this week. Will it just take more time?Thanks for all your information,Joan

[Guest guest]

> Joan,

> I wonder why doc has not put you on anti-inflammatory.

She's taking Motrin.

S.

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: " Joan " <jm94@g...>

> <Rheumatoid Arthritis >

> Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 10:20 PM

> Subject: Question about swelling in fingers

>

>

> > Hi there,

> >

> > I wanted to ask a quick question of those of you who have dealt

with RA

> for

> > a while. I was just diagnosed 4/26/04. The first symptoms I had

were

> that

> > all my fingers on both hands and my hands themselves swelled up

and were

> so

> > painful that I couldn't hardly stand to use them. Two weeks

after that my

> > toes and feet swelled. I saw my RA Dr. a month later. I have

been on

> > Methatrexate, Predisone, Motrin and Folic acid since then. I was

told by

> > the Dr. and later his nurse that the swelling would go down and

my hands

> > would be usable again.

> >

> > The swelling has decreased, but I am still unable to make a fist

and

> > completely close my fingers. This makes gripping somethings

rather

> > difficult. I scare myself using a sharp knife. I can't hold

change in my

> > hand because if I turn my hand sideways the money falls out. My

question

> is

> > this, Will the swelling go down all the way or should I just

learn to deal

> > with my hands being this way. I want to be positive but it's

getting

> harder

> > as time goes on. My Dr. increased my Methatrexate to 15mg a week

from

> 10mg.

> > I just start the increase dose this week. Will it just take more

time?

> >

> > Thanks for all your information,

> > Joan

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

My question is

> this, Will the swelling go down all the way or should I just learn

to deal

> with my hands being this way.

My thought is that your swelling will decrease significantly and

perhaps entirely with the help of meds. Time will tell. Try to find

ways to keep your spirits up in the meantime...be good to yourself in

as many ways as you can think of!

Sierra

[Guest guest]

I had the same problem for a few months but I am now much better. Prednisone at

up to about 40 mg daily helped me but I didn't get real relief until I added

Remicade and then only when it went up to 6 mg/kg. Now I'm off Prednisone

except for special needs and can use my hands pretty well. I have less strength

and dexterity that I used to have but part of that is age (76 years old). You

have a way to go on increasing Methotrexate and maybe you will need an

additional or a different DMARD. Many RA medicines take several weeks to months

to become very effective and higher doses often result in great improvements.

Keep your doctor informed of what you can't do so that medicines can be changed

as needed. God bless.

>

> From: Joan <jm94@...>

> Date: 2004/06/19 Sat AM 03:20:01 GMT

> Rheumatoid Arthritis

> Subject: Question about swelling in fingers

>

>

Hi there,

I wanted to ask a quick question of those of you who have dealt with RA for

a while. I was just diagnosed 4/26/04. The first symptoms I had were that

all my fingers on both hands and my hands themselves swelled up and were so

painful that I couldn't hardly stand to use them. Two weeks after that my

toes and feet swelled. I saw my RA Dr. a month later. I have been on

Methatrexate, Predisone, Motrin and Folic acid since then. I was told by

the Dr. and later his nurse that the swelling would go down and my hands

would be usable again.

The swelling has decreased, but I am still unable to make a fist and

completely close my fingers. This makes gripping somethings rather

difficult. I scare myself using a sharp knife. I can't hold change in my

hand because if I turn my hand sideways the money falls out. My question is

this, Will the swelling go down all the way or should I just learn to deal

with my hands being this way. I want to be positive but it's getting harder

as time goes on. My Dr. increased my Methatrexate to 15mg a week from 10mg.

I just start the increase dose this week. Will it just take more time?

Thanks for all your information,

Joan

[Guest guest]

For those on or considering antibiotic therapy I recommend Road Back Foundation

http://www.roadback.org/index.shtml They describe tests that may help in the

selection of the antibiotic to use and I think they recommend dietary changes

also. Also they tell about the Herximer reaction that is a sign of the

treatment working but the symptoms are increased pain for quite a while. I've

only browsed the site but I have heard good things about it. God bless.

>

> From: " karen fonseca " <blackdogshaven@...>

> Date: 2004/06/19 Sat PM 07:45:33 GMT

> " Rheumatoid Arthritis "

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >,

> Rheumatoid Arthritis

> Subject: Question about swelling in fingers

>

>

Hi Joan,

I finally got a confirmed diagnosis of RA last month, although I have had

the disease for years. My RA is the worst in my fingers and somewhat in my

feet. I am on antibiotic therapy, Lodene, and Pred. I am only talking 5mg

Pred daily, doc said I can raise if I need it but I am trying hard not to.

I still have lots of swelling in my hands, fingers, and feet. With

antibiotic therapy, I was told it can take up to a year for results, so I

am trying to be patient. It is not always easy though. So, I truly

understand where you are coming from.

[Guest guest]

for that link below, just use: http://www.roadback.org the one below gave me an error.

-----Original Message-----From: hvantuyl@... [mailto:hvantuyl@...]Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 3:50 PMRheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Question about swelling in fingersFor those on or considering antibiotic therapy I recommend Road Back Foundation http://www.roadback.org/index.shtml They describe tests that may help in the selection of the antibiotic to use and I think they recommend dietary changes also. Also they tell about the Herximer reaction that is a sign of the treatment working but the symptoms are increased pain for quite a while. I've only browsed the site but I have heard good things about it. God bless.> > From: "karen fonseca" <blackdogshaven@...>> Date: 2004/06/19 Sat PM 07:45:33 GMT> "Rheumatoid Arthritis " <Rheumatoid Arthritis >, > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Subject: Question about swelling in fingers> >

[Guest guest]

I am living proof that one can handle antibiotic therapy and come out better!! Yes, dietary changes help tremendously. There were some days I did not feel so great but I was always able to go to work and I was very determined to get off of prednisone... I lost weight being very careful what I ate and that helped.

God bless all,

Kay

----- Original Message -----

From: hvantuyl@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 2:50 PM

Subject: Re: Question about swelling in fingers

For those on or considering antibiotic therapy I recommend Road Back Foundation http://www.roadback.org/index.shtml They describe tests that may help in the selection of the antibiotic to use and I think they recommend dietary changes also. Also they tell about the Herximer reaction that is a sign of the treatment working but the symptoms are increased pain for quite a while. I've only browsed the site but I have heard good things about it. God bless.> > From: "karen fonseca" <blackdogshaven@...>> Date: 2004/06/19 Sat PM 07:45:33 GMT> "Rheumatoid Arthritis " <Rheumatoid Arthritis >, > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Subject: Question about swelling in fingers> >

[Guest guest]

> As long as you are taking predisone the swelling will

> not go down all the way,

This is inaccurate. Prednisone is a potent anti-inflammatory drug.

S.