Hand swelling, pain !

Mustang Shar · ‎03-24-2010

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!!!

moonandthestars · ‎03-11-2010

@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.

Franklinbell · ‎01-04-2015

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

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

Have you been tested for a possible blood clot?

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

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@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 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@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 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

FranandZoe · ‎03-09-2010

It could be gout.

jlkz · ‎12-02-2013

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.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

honeybeagle · ‎10-19-2011

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.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

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".