Ouch, Ouch, Ouch! Hope you get some relief at the ER. I also hope you don't wind up waiting a long time. Let us know what happens, Hugs, Elizabeth

Gosh, I hope you find relief from the finger issue soon. It sounds awful and very scary. You will be in my prayers...

Geez!!! I hope they can help you in ER. That sounds so painful. Hope you get some relief soon!

I have been wearing an Oval-8 splint on my little finger every night when I go to bed....It is nearly straight after three weeks. Bought it from Amazon.com

Good luck

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like a long wait at the ER, just because you won't be triaged emergency no matter how much it hurts.

I wonder if you need better meds? I had a lot of tendon trouble before biologics and now it is mostly just the left over stuff from the damage from the old days. I get tendons pulling in my feet, but I have a fluted roll bar and if I roll it and massage the tendons thye generally relax.

Good work with the one hand. I find that so frustrating - I am a touch typer, and when the fingers don't work it is hardly worth the effort to type.

Well the wait at the ER wasn't too bad... I went at dinner time and it only took about 20 mins to get admitted then only about 15 min to get seen by a doc in the minor injury department (they have a whole department for that). I was a bit concerned when they sent me down the hall and I saw the line-up of people in that ward. I thought OH here we go 2 hours later - but no they got to me pretty quick.

Then comes the not so fun part:
-4 seperate freezing injections around the base of my middle finger. Then wait 15 mins.
-Doc comes back and finger seems frozen he gently pulls on it to see if he can straighten it... I hit the roof cause the tendon wasn't numb - still really hurt!
-ANOTHER 4 injections with a different freezing (numbs all sensation) and by this time there is so much fluid that my skin feels like it gonna slpit and its cutting off the circulation to the tip of my finger. Wait another 15 mins.
-Doc comes back and tries again - it still hurt but better so I told him to go for it. GRIND, SNAP, TWANG, CRUNCH - finger is straightened and back in place. I coulnd't look but by the feel and sound and the look on his face - even he was a little grossed out.

"How long have you had RA?" he says. "Five years" I say. "hmmm, I think I'll get you a referal to a hand surgeon becuase this is likely gonna happen again." he says. Apparently hand surgeons are a not in big demand because I got an apointment on Monday morning. I doubt there is much he can to for me at this point - I have no deformity yet. Just bad tendonitis.

The doc called it trigger finger - inflamation of the tendon sheath preventing the tendon from retracting properly. I blame it on the Physio cause my RA is reasonably under control right now. I had a bad flare up about two months ago (bad box of meds) but I took a short course of prednisone and all seemed fine.

I have been in discussion about switching biologics but I'd actually like to take my Enbrel on a 5 day cycle. I think that would be keep me completely symptom free. Not sure if my Rhuemy can do that, I doubt the BC government would pay for 5 extra shots per year. Maybe I can save up enough to buy an extra box myself - only $1500 - HA! I have a rhuemy appointment in September after my MRI for my neck swelling (vascular fatty lesion - unknown).

I think I'll try a new Physio - a customer of mine recomended a hand specialist - knows a little more about it than a general physio. Used a tenson bangae on my finger for two days and it seems relatively okay now - being gentle with it. No brusing to speak of - barely even see the needle holes now.

Thanks guys for your comments.
I'm kinda glad I've always been a little on the tough side (my mom is tough - no snivelling allowed) cause its serving me well now.
RA is not for the faint of heart.

WOW...thanks for keeping us updated. I was waiting to see what happened, I was finally dx in early May of this year and I already have drformation in my left hand, including two bent fingers that wont move. Sounded pretty painful getting it straightened out but at least I know its possible. I'm going to try and find the Oval 8 splint that Aggie talked about and try that first since I have NO tolerance for pain.Hope all goes well at the surgeon appt. keep us updated **HUGS****

Tammy

My right index finger started doing that a couple years ago. It would be bent upon waking up and stay that way for a couple hours. It hurt too bad to try to force it straight. I bought a finger splint and put it on just before bed and it kept my finger from being able to lock up while I was asleep. Since being diagnosed and taking med, it hasn't been a problem. Your situations seems much more advanced than mine, but I wanted to share in case someone else sees this and might benefit from it. Good luck with yours!

Hiya Lynn!! Just wanted to let ya know that I had the same problem before...it was RA nodules that had formed on the tendons in my fingers. I have had them removed..and not had a problem since! Also had nodules on my elbows as well. PAINLESS to have removed!! Check with your Dr and see if that's what it could be...then pay a visit to a plastic surgeon!! (if needed)

Hi Lynn - glad the ER got your finger straightened out (literally!).

I've found a trick to get a stubborn finger back in place - it happens to me quite often - just let gravity do its magic. Take your arm and dangle it over something (a chair, anything that lets it dangle loosely) - you should start to feel blood collecting in your fingertips - loosely jiggle your wrist back and forth - sort of letting it flop around - usually doing this for several minutes puts my finger back in place pain free. You've really got to jiggle your wrist around for a little while to get it to work. This is the basic idea behind how we sometimes put dislocated shoulders back in place in the ER - letting gravity pull down on the joint and put it back where it needs to be. It's non-traumatic and good for RA because it's non-forceful and doesn't cause damage to the joint.

Oh - and finger splints - there are splints called SAM splints - you can buy them online - you bend it to the shape you want and attach it with tape/gauze/whatever is comfortable - they make little finger splints that are awesome. I finally bought one - tired of having my fingers tapes together at night! It's a cheap and easy splint - I'm finding quickly RA can be expensive - so anything cheap is awesome to me! You can buy a 3 pack of them on Amazon for under $4.00. Just type in "Sam Splint Finger Splint."

Good luck!