Pinky Arthritis

[Guest guest]

I was working on building a shelf a couple weekends ago, and I kinda smashed my

finger. Ok, I really clobbered it one. But, I had put ice on it, and it seemed

ok.

The following day (two Mondays ago), a friend said, " What's wrong with your

finger? " I asked, " It kinda hurts, why? " and she said, " Because it's swollen,

it looks like you shoved two jelly beans into it! " Despite her telling me that,

I didn't see any swelling, myself.

After she said that, I put a splint on it, and iced it every night for a few

days.

Last night, I couldn't sleep. The finger - the right pinky - was just throbbing

something awful. I took off the splint to see what was going on under there,

and sure enough it was swollen and looked just like my friend said, like it was

stuffed with two jelly beans.

I removed the plastic real-deal splint and splinted it with some stiff paper and

medical tape. I thought maybe the hard splint was messing it up. Then, I made

an appointment with my primary doc today.

The primary doc didn't take xrays, and just told me that her diagnosis is that I

have beginning arthritis in my finger tip on that finger.

Hmmm. Really? I clobber it on the shelves, and then I'm arthritic? Ok, I know

that's not quite how arthritis works. But, I once again have unexplainable

pain.

I put a new splint back on. It did feel a whole lot better splinted with the

thick paper vs. the plastic splint thing. And, I have decided to keep the

splint on for a few more days, and see how it goes.

Does anyone have experience with arthritis in the finger tips? What does it

feel like? You can answer me here or offline.

My finger throbs at the 1st joint (near the nail), and it's swollen, and it

hurts like it has a shard of glass embedded in the joint when I move it. I've

never had this pain before. Except, when I had my other finger broken last year,

which is why I had that finger splint.

Is it broken? Is it arthritis? The arthritis scares me a bit. If broken I

know the splint will take care of it.

Any ideas or comments?

Jade

[Guest guest]

Hi! I don't have any human experience, but I have a lot of animal

experience.

It sounds like either 1) you have an infection in the joint or 2) you have a

small hematoma, some blood/fluid buildup.

If you have pain, and the finger feels hot, I would vote for the infection.

Since it may be isolated in a joint, I am not sure if oral antibiotics would

help. Maybe you could go see a specialist.

Gosh...there are so many BAD doctors out there! Really makes you wonder!

[Guest guest]

(((((((Jade)))))) I was diagnoised with arthitis in my thumb after hand surgery

for carpel tunnel release. the surgery triggered the immflammation that lasted

6 months. It flares up to varying degrees on and off. I can wake up to

terrible pain, tenderness and swelling. From what I have been told, in early

yrs of arthitis the symptoms can be trigger by trauma and have erratic flare

ups.

have splinted my thumb because it feels better. However the occupational

therapist told me that was not good. It will stiffen the joint further.

I have found warmth helps.

Hope your finger is feeling better soon. hugs, Tami