topic Re: Hand swelling, pain ! in Wellness

Hand swelling, pain !

Mustang Shar — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:00:03 GMT

Looks like I'm going back to the orthopedic.

My hand will just swell and painful to the touch. I saw my orthopedic and at the time of the appointment, the swelling was only barely visible. However I did manage to take a photo to show her. She put me on steroids and hopefully wouldn't reoccur again.

Well.... wishful thinking. I had just fallen asleep when sudden pain woke me, it was my hand! All swollen and could not even touch it. That was at 11:45pm , I was up all night and finally got dressed and drove to ER. Used my left hand to put car in Drive!

ER Doc ordered steroids, but more long term and only twice a day and pain meds. I had previously iced and had Tylenol 3 with codeine and that didn't do a thing. Wicked pain.

Doc suggested perhaps it's all the nerve endings that are inflamed and orthopedic could do tests. Of course it's a holiday so will call orthopedic tomorrow.

This was the 4th and worst episode in 6 weeks. Has anyone here experienced this? The pain was worse then when I fractured my elbow last year, other arm. Crazy!!!

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

moonandthestars — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:14:18 GMT

@Mustang Shar of course this sort of thing always happens on a holiday! So sorry you're going through this. When you first saw your ortho you said she gave you steroids, but did she have any idea what was going on with you and why? Did the er have any thoughts as to what could be causing this? So sorry the pain meds aren't helping! I always find tylenol 3 to be very effective however I think they need to choose the pain meds for the type of pain that is happening. Perhaps there is a better choice for what is going on with you than tylenol 3.

Hope they get to the bottom of what is going on and cure you soon! Feel better.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Franklinbell — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:28:27 GMT

@Mustang Shar @I'm sending you healing thoughts and well wishes!

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Kachina624 — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:45:28 GMT

Have you been tested for a possible blood clot?

By the way, an orthopedic doctor is called an orthopedist.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

hckynutjohn — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 05:41:52 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Have you been tested for a possible blood clot?

By the way, an orthopedic doctor is called an orthopedist.

@Kachina624

Nah!! Two of my good friends are in Orthopedics, and I call them
orthopods.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

hckynutjohn — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 07:04:31 GMT

@Mustang Shar

I can certainly relate to a swollen hand, but I know what caused my problem. Over decades I have lost count of how many times I have been bitten by our kittens. Just a good cleaning and alcohol wipes and a bandaid, and I was good.

One night my wife and I were putting Flea and Tick meds on 1 of our many Indoor Only cats. This goes on the nap of their neck, the place like momma cats, pick up their babies.

I was holding him and my wife was squeezing on the meds. Next thing I know he had bitten me on my left hand, in between 2 of the tendons that run down from your digits.

Yes, it hurt like he!!, but most of the bites did also. Cleaned it up the same as I did others and thought no more about it. They all have residual pain, but nothing above a pain level 4.

When I woke up the next day, which was a Friday, my hand had swollen up to the 3 times it's size, and I couldn't even close my hand or bend my fingers. I called my GP to see if I could in, and I could not.

Will leave out how I ended up in the ER, I was admitted by my MD Nephew-in-law. He diagnosed it as Cellulitis, and I spent 7+ days in the hospital, seen by a Disease Specialist. I don't know how many bags of different antibiotics were IV dripped into my body.

I only took straight Tylenol for the pain. The worst pain was when someone even bumped it, it shot up to a level 10+. Took 5 of those days to even see that the swelling was going down.

It took me over 6 months to get back a majority of my strength in that hand. I am only telling you this story to let you know I can relate to how much pain you are suffering.

I really hope your doctors can get to the source of your pain so it will at least relieve some of your pain, and what they need to do to eliminate, or at least, control it.

I knew what my source was, and that was a good thing. Even with that it was a long painful recovery to once again be able to use my hand. Fortunately, I am right handed,

Best wishes to you,

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

FranandZoe — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 07:10:45 GMT

It could be gout.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

jlkz — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:14:33 GMT

DH found that taking one of his daily heart meds finally had a side effect: painful swelling of fingers on both hands and foot-to-knee on one leg. It was furosemide (aka Lasix) for ridding the body of excess fluid.

It took almost 10 days for the swelling to get close to normal. His cardiologist and PCP work together. This particular med is now on an as needed only basis.

Hopefully all your doctors have an updated list of both prescription meds as well as OTC supplements you are taking. It should be part of the analysis. Good luck with the pain reduction....it can make life truly miserable.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

honeybeagle — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:19:01 GMT

Have you seen a Rheumatologist for your hands? They will treat you for arthritis or a auotimmune disorder. This is who treats my husband and I.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

qualitygal — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:41:08 GMT

No doctor of course, but I wonder if it's edema, or if you broke it, or a gout? I'll be interested to see the tests they give you, and not just pills. I really hate "just pills".

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Skyegirl21 — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:00:40 GMT

Assuming there wasn't any event that you know that has caused this- Think hard, are you a gardener? Crafter? Definitely keep trying to find the real source of the issue- Steroids are a bandaid, they decrease swelling but are not fixing the real issue- If it keeps repeating, have them do testing to find it.
Example, I recently came down with bad chest congestion, and then suddenly realized 2 days prior I was out Weedwhacking a huge area and I must have breathed in a lot of pulverized stuff- It took 3 weeks to clear! Lesson learned to wear a mask...

Best wishes they find the problem and you got better once and for all!

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

JFD12 — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 13:05:48 GMT

I would have to go with gout, also. You're describing exactly what happens to my boss when his gout kicks in ... very painful. I hope you're feeling better soon! He is in agony when it happens. A total guess though!!

By no means am I a doctor ... lol... but does it count that many members of my family are in the medical field and I've been around the lingo for so long?! Not that I know what they're talking about! 🤪 Please feel better! 😊

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Mustang Shar — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 13:39:52 GMT

Gout was mentioned but Doctor said something about the color of my skin was normal and all blood work was normal except inflammation rate 🤷🏻‍♀️

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Mustang Shar — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 13:46:36 GMT

ER mentioned an EMG test might be necessary. Interesting that the pain is a 9 on a 10 scale. I'm sure perplexed and will repost once we get a definitive diagnosis. Crazy , now I'm going to look up gout and get educated on that.

thanks so much everyone appreciate the info

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Mindy D — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 15:51:55 GMT

@Mustang Shar @Besides orthopedic problems, it could be gout, angioedema, rheumatoid arthritis or other rhumatic disorder including psoriatic arthritis, injuries or bumping into things, thoracic outlet syndrome, keeping your arm in a certain position; called dependent edema, retained fluids, lymphedema, infection blood clot, scleroderma and more.

https://www.buoyhealth.com/learn/hand-swelling

Were you seeing the orthopedist for some previous condition and treatment that could be related?

This does not have to stem from an orthopedic cause.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 19:59:02 GMT

@Mustang Shar Hopefully you get some relief SOON..

Do you type, text or do a lot of scrolling on your laptop or phone? At work I am on a computer and then I also surf the internet and text with friends. I have been having siginificant pain in my right hand. No swelling but pain and it goes up my arm (past my wrist) but not as far as the elbow.

It does wake me at night, but again my issue is not like yours..but I was thinking maybe if you do any of the things I mentioned that could be adding to your pain.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

qualitygal — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 14:34:36 GMT

@Mustang Shar wrote:
ER mentioned an EMG test might be necessary. Interesting that the pain is a 9 on a 10 scale. I'm sure perplexed and will repost once we get a definitive diagnosis. Crazy , now I'm going to look up gout and get educated on that.

thanks so much everyone appreciate the info

@Mustang Shar Checked back to see what is going on now with your hand. ??? Any further info on what's going on?

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Mustang Shar — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 17:30:20 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
@Mustang Shar wrote:
ER mentioned an EMG test might be necessary. Interesting that the pain is a 9 on a 10 scale. I'm sure perplexed and will repost once we get a definitive diagnosis. Crazy , now I'm going to look up gout and get educated on that.

thanks so much everyone appreciate the info
@Mustang Shar Checked back to see what is going on now with your hand. ??? Any further info on what's going on?

Orthopedic has recommended a rheumatologist as it's not gout, nor nerve endings EMG not needed. Thinks having to do with my immune systems. This appointment is now for Aug 1st. So just in case, Orthopedic ordered a couple of scripts for another emergency should it occur between that time. There was still some swelling she noticed, although I didn't. So I wait and hope another episode doesn't come to fruition 😢. Thanks for checking on me - appreciate it.

I'll tell you, living alone even though I have the 3 dogs( who were most comforting during my pain) has a few disadvantages. But I learn to persevere

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

beckyb1012 — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 18:42:48 GMT

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
Have you been tested for a possible blood clot?

By the way, an orthopedic doctor is called an orthopedist.

@Kachina624

Nah!! Two of my good friends are in Orthopedics, and I call them
orthopods.

hckynut 🇺🇸

That made me laugh. Must be the physician of choice for the Pod People.

Re: Hand swelling, pain !

Trailrun23 — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 03:14:32 GMT

Gout can be helped by eating tart fresh cherries or drinking tart cherry juice. They also make tart cherry capsules. When DH feels a flare up of gout in his toes, he drinks some cherry juice and within a couple of hours, the pain is much less. He stopped using the prescription he was given for gout and now just uses the cherries. His dr had never heard of the benefit of cherries for gout. Amazing how little drs seem to know other than going straight to the prescription pad. Same with local honey keeping seasonal allergies at bay rather than meds and shots...my ENT tried the honey with his son and told me it worked...