Swollen knuckles problem

Suzy: When you immobilize the finger, how do you do it? And does it have to be completely straight? If it's just one knuckle (lower knuckle, closer to hand) do you think it would be enough to immobilize that knuckle with a very small splint? Or does it have to be the entire finger?

Thanks!!

When my thumb was really bad I actually made my own cast. But not long ago my middle finger acted up after my huge dog pull his leash and I could not bend my finger and the knuckled swelled. My dog injured a knuckle that was already arthitic. So I tried to splint it but too awkward. So I just did not use it at all just sort of wraped my hand loosly with a wrape bandage.. Then I Iced it at night or whenever I could, to take away the inflammation. After about a week I could bend my finger but it took another week to be able to bend it completely. I know it's difficult, but simply do not use that part of your hand. When you do it only hurts it more. When the knuckle swells it usually due to inflammation or injury. Just put ice on it. Hot water only made my hand worse like if in bath water. It felt good while in the bath, but overall the hot water it made it worse. So I would put ice on it when out of the bath. Cold ice draws out the inflammation. Hope this helps.

After you find your diagnosis go to a reliable health store that has been in business for a long time, they will be able to help you

Depending which knuckle it is You can just wrap it with guaz to remind you not to use it. For my thunb joint I actually put a cast on it. Easy to make yourself with guaz and plaster. My other knuckles if they act up, I just wrap knuckle through fingers and around my hand with guaz so I can't use it. You can buy some hand immobolizing gagets in the pharmacy but I find they do not mold to my personal hand. I would take it off the guaz or cast every morning and put ice on it and wrap back up. The ice takes the inflammation down. For my thumb, I made the cast so I could pull it off when I want and used guaz to hold it in place when on my thumb.

I've had similar issues.  I've done a lot of hard physical labour since I was 13, worked on a farm etc etc. A few days after giving birth at 24 I found I could not move my hands in the morning as they were so painful and swollen, I am now 42 and about a year ago my index finger started getting 'stuck' if I flexed it, it's almost like I can feel the tendon getting caught between the joints?  My knuckles are always swollen and tender but worse in the mornings from lack of use during the night.  I have been tested for RA but blood work is negative.  I've tried Naproxene and Diclofenac both of which have not helped at all yet I've suffered some side effects (painful stomach etc).

I had rheumatic fever as a child and was on penicillin for many years but the doc says it's not related to my condition.  I exercise very regularly and my weight is just right, I've tried changing my diet buy cutting out bread and milk but still no luck.  Xrays show no sign of RA or arthritis and I will be going for an ultrasound and physiotherapy in a few weeks. 

Call me crazy but I wonder if this condition is not related to pregnancy hormones, or at least a pre-existing condition reacting to the pregnancy hormones?  My joints were fine until I gave birth, and almost immediately after that the swelling and pain started.  I got so desperate that I tried bandaging my hands and foreams at night to stop the swelling but had to cut off the bandages in the middle as the swelling got so bad. I've also tried 'splinting' my hand at night as my finger is now permanently slightly bent and painful to try straighten it out.  I have recently found a way to get slight relief in the knuckle of my finger by cracking it, however I have to do this about every 5-10 mins even while I'm out running and exercising.

I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place as the pain and anti-inflammatory medication prescribed may eventually help if I take it for more than 3 months, but the side-effects are frightening :(

I decided to research this topic as the swelling in my middle finger knuckle has not gone down for about 2 weeks now. I do have a theory as to why this is happening though...I tend to sleep on my side with my hands wrapped under my pillow. I think my fingers are simply remaining bent for hours under my pillow as I sleep, cutting off blood flow. The earlier post about immobilizing the finger with a splint sounds like a good solution to try.

The trick is to immobilize the finger in whatever position it is in without any pressure on the finger.  Just so you will not move or try to use in.  The swelling is inflamation which you can put ice on it and also take a deflammatory like Aleve.  Ice helps take away inflammation.  Warm or hot conpresses will only make it worse 

follow up from Doc visit, any family history of psoriasis could also be a cause of joint pain like this.  It's weird as 2 of my siblings suffer from this but on their skin, not internally? 

i had swollen knuckles and painfull when making a fist i massage the swollen joints daily with oil and all the stiffness and pain has gone bar the middle finger but its defanately improving worth a try guya

I too am suffering from the same symptoms kuckles locking and pain mostly right hand hummm I too had a flu shot

actually this was the first time ive gotten a flu shot since i was a child. i am a 48 yr old female and had no prior problems

i have now started soaking my hands in very hot water as hot as i can bear just short of burning with fantastic imediate results 

have the same problem started about 3 months ago finger on my feft hand started locking slightly at first now its gotten worse ,especialy when i wake in the morning starting to worry me hope dosnt continue and symptoms worsen,used to workout with barbells alot i am 51 havent worked out for 7 years, guess years are catching up on me, let me know if you have some news, good luck.

Yes, it does sound like an epidemic. I too have the index and ring finger knuckles swollen and sensitive. This has made it difficult using my right hand. Xray showed nothing but my dr said xray would not indicate arthritis in early stages, otherwise the dr had no idea what the problem was. Has anyone found a doctor that has treated this problem with results.

 

Okay guys, I haven't had a flare up of my knuckles in nearly 2 years.  I use to get it all the time.  As I said I immobolized my hand.  At the same time I drank Black Cherry juice.  Not sure why but the cherry juice keeps it away.  Someone told me it is because it has something in it that takes away uric acid and inflamtion.  At any rate it has not come back.  It use to be the knuckles on one entire hand except the baby finger use to lock up, swell ane painful at times.  Now it has gone.  I was a loan office and always typing applications and information.  Now I am retired and do not type as much.  But Doc said it wasn't from typing but something in my system.  The cherry juice took away what ever it was.  My hands are perfect now.  I say Immobilize untill well and drink cherry juice.  Also dip your hands in ice water and do not use untill knuckles heal.  It does take some time, maybe a week or two but it will go away.   I also take antitoxins.

I could not straighten my knuckles when they locked. I just did not use in position they were in and slowly the got better and straightened.
I haven't had a flare up of my knuckles in nearly 2 years. I use to get it all the time. As I said I immobolized my hand. At the same time I drank Black Cherry juice. Not sure why but the cherry juice keeps it away. Someone told me it is because it has something in it that takes away uric acid and inflamtion. At any rate it has not come back. It use to be the knuckles on one entire hand except the baby finger use to lock up, swell ane painful at times. Now it has gone. I was a loan office and always typing applications and information. Now I am retired and do not type as much. But Doc said it wasn't from typing but something in my system. The cherry juice took away what ever it was. My hands are perfect now. I say Immobilize untill well and drink cherry juice. Also dip your hands in ice water and do not use untill knuckles heal. It does take some time, maybe a week or two but it will go away. I also take antitoxins.