Q: I have a problem with my fingers. They are VERY stiff in the mornings and my knuckles will lock when I make a fist. When I try to open my hand I have to pull my fingers out with my other hand.
Hi, Gina!
Sounds as though you have some serious morning stiffness in your hands. How long has this been going on, and are your fingers/hands painful. Are they swollen and/or warm to the touch? How long does the stiffness last? I don't see that you have shared any health information, so I don't know if you have been diagnosed with RA or not. Please provide a little more information, and we will certainly try to help you as much as we can. RA and OA can cause the type of symptom you are describing.
V
I had this before I was first diagnosed with RA in the 1990's. I can empathize completely. I had to pry my fingers open aftering writing for an extended period of time. Once I was on the right meds, everything loosened up and my hands diddn't "stick" any more.
Are you under the care of a Rheumagologist?
Be careful pulling your fingers out. It sounds like you have a tendon or ligament that is triggering. This in the past happen to me alot. My hand surgeon told me by prying or pulling on the fingers that I could rupture a tendon and ligament. She had me rub your palm at the base of the finger thats locked. You my feel a knot and if you do rub it until your finger begins to work. You may feel a pop and if you do, its ok. I've had multiple shots in the palm of my hands and also had tendon release surgery. Hope this helps
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I have not seen a Dr. yet, this has been going on for about 6 months now. My hands loosen up a little after about an hour but stay stiff all day. They get swollen but I don't notice them being warm to the touch. The past couple weeks both my hands, my right wrist and my right elbow are giving me some pain. I can't hold anything for a long period of time and picking up even a coffee cup with my right arm is painful. I love to water my flowerbeds but holding anything hurts after 5 minutes. I don't know if this is important but the palms of my hands are pealing and very dry. I get dry skin so I use lotion alot throughout the day and use the same brand so I know it works. My hands have never been this bad before.
Gina.