Seems like my finger/hand freak out day from earlier in the week. I couldn't flatten out my hand without using the other hand to do it and it hurts so much. I have a couple of fingers that are starting to turn toward the pinkie finger. I also had that issue with pinkie finger kind of making a hump in the middle joint. That hand is not as bad today. I don't know if you have a nodule on your hand or not, but I have a confirmed one on my ankle and the size does fluctuate somewhat with the amount of inflammation i have, but it is definitely growing. It stays in the same place, but perhaps because of its location I can move it some. Don't know if this is it moving or just the skin around it moving, hard to tell. Best thing to do is to watch it and see what it does. If it continues to grow, i would show the Rheumy asap. Is prednisone all you are on?

Sounds like a nodule to me. Course I'm not a doctor so I agree with Elizabeth, if it gets worse show your doctor.
I thought for sure my middle finger on the right hand was deforming because i couldn't straighten it upward and was stuck in the down posistion. It was called trigger finger. The tendons around the joint were inflamed.
After the flare was over it finaly started working right again.
Hope you feel better soon,
Missy

I have a nodule in my knuckle and it sounds like that. I want to stress again that prednisone does nothing to stop the progress of this disease. It does nothing for nodules. You need either methotrexate or Rituxan. I was also taking a supplement, which Sarah would know about and it helped diminish the nodules, too.

Sorry to hear you have this disease. For me, deformities are when the joints start to move. I have bunions on my thumbs and a fused ring finger. But there are many other types of deformities. Once you get a deformity that is it unless you get surgery, which I don't recommend, with the problems I have had, and everyone else I have talked to.

The best way to prevent deformities is to get on a DMARD to start, and more if that is not enough.

Thanks, ladies. I have an appointment scheduled next week anyway, so I'll tough it out until then. I am also taking 400 mg plaquenil. The doc hoped that would be enough and we would taper off the prednisone. I have had a stressful week with work and other stuff. Let's pray this is just a stress reaction flare up, more reason to retire early in a couple of years. Now my knuckles look a bit blue. Sigh. Guess Ill try an ice pack.

That is a good question, aggie. How long have you been on the Plaquenil. It might be time to switch to something stronger (perhaps MTX). I'd definitely call your rheumy on Monday.

I have noticed in the past few days (among other things), that my pinky finger has a little zigzag in the PIP joint. Instead of being straight, it deviates toward the thumb, then back out, then back in. Like someone pushed just that joint in toward the thumb. Weird. Not sure if it's anything to be concerned about?

I've only been on the plaquenil for seven weeks, so not necessarily enough time to see if it's 'enough or working'. My appointment is May 10 and was made a month ago, so I figure I'll wait til then. Just took ibuprofen, hope it will take the edge off. Thanks, everybody.