I have that tingling any time my fingers or wrists flare.
I treat it with prednisone burst, or ice or rest or ibuprofen or all of the above. I guess I don't expect to be flare-free all the time. My hand wrist flares will usually last three days.

Thanks Aggie83. How many mg of Prednisone?

I've had carpal tunnel surgery too. I've slept with wrists splints and one of those pillows that have the ridge and it seems to help.
Sue

Suera, I'll ask the Dr. about the splints. Are they the same ones as used with carpal tunnel? Can you point me to a website where I can see the pillow you describe?

Melissa, I have the tingling with a hand and/or wrist flare. I treat it pretty much like Aggie but tend to use a heat pad, rather than ice. Have also found Voltarin Gel helps but I don't think you can buy it otc.
We can here. I've also found a wrist support helps and keeping your hands pointing up rather than down seems to relieve the paqin quite a bit.

Re your last question. If you've givenh the current meds a fair trial and you are still having pain and swelling, then your RA is not controlled and you probably need to aded another med or have the dosage increased. I'd discuss it with your Rheumy and see what he/she advises.

On the pred, I might do 20, 15, 10, 5 mg in a four-day sequence. I've also done 20, 10 mg in a two day sequence. If possible, I don't do it at all.

Angel, haha, I meant to include the hot packs too! Sometimes I want heat, sometimes ice. Tends to be heat on the palm side and ice on the wrists.

Melissa,
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/carex-contour-cervical-pillow/ID=prod5775930-product
and I bought the splints at the drugstore too. My rheumy was no help with this at all.
Sue

Thanks all for the tips. I tried the ice last night on my elbows. May have to wait until I get back to the US to find the wrist braces. Prednisone - will check in a couple of days when I see the Dr. again.

I get this. Before my DX of RA I spent 3 days in the hospital post op from neck surgery, cervical fusion. The tingling came on all at once & with in a day turned into the most painful burning pain that you could ever imagine.

Ive heard a lot of carpal tunnel with both RA & spinal.

I use the splints, the ones you can purchase on your own are far more comfortable then the ones that are prescribed.
I use the ones with the gel padding & then another that goes a little further up at night. Its actually called a night splint.

When its severe Ive been put on prednisone. When its just enough to bother me I turn to the splints. I do use a muscle relaxer which is a must with me.
During my hospital stay the ER doctor explained how the muscles & nerves play off each other. One can trigger the other, hence the burning nerve pain. I was in such bad spasm the nerves could not calm down.

In my case the doctors believe its both RA & spinal.
It does cause problems & can be aggravating. Ive finally lost some of my fear that it will flare into the "on fire" burning pain. Since being on treatment for RA it has improved some. I know if I over use my hands or attempt to it can trigger problems.

I really think the first thing to try is the splints they seem to calm it down.
God bless & the best of luck to you.
Sammy

Thank you Sammy. I will try to look for the night splints - the gel part sounds a lot more comfortable. Although I don't have the spine issues that you do, I have experienced the burning pain you are describing - it was quite intense. More recently, I've had just the tingling sensation.

All the best to you.

Rheumatologists typically do not reccommend splints or braces because that is opposite to the research they are getting in medical jornals...which strongly forbid these for fear of muscle weakening, and thus putting more pressure on the joints.
But anyone who has a good wrist flare knos the relief temporary immobilization can bring! I usually wear mine while I sleep too, when my wrists are bad, so that I do not sleep in the wrong position. It also is less painful, so I get better sleep, which gives more energy to face the day that....on and on and on.
Heat and Ice are great too

Best of wishes

I have that tingling in my hands sometimes, when they swell a lot. Also in my wrists. I haven't had much trouble with this though, since my orthopedic doc put me on Neurontin for the neuropathy in my feet. I have DDD and facet joint arthritis in my back and that causes my feet to go half numb. The Neurotin really helps me feel better. It helps that all-over pain I get from Fibro, I think.

Hi Melissa, You have gotten a lot of good advice here. My hand used to be painful and tingling and the neurologist diagnosed carpal tunnel years ago. I was using a splint. There are several that are good and can be obtained at the local pharmacy. I would sleep in it at night because during the day was not feasible for me to wear it as I am in the health care field and constantly need to wash my hands. Volteran cream works well for what may be ailing any part of the body. find warmth helps for body ailments of any source. I have a heated mattress pad cover so the warmth comes from the bottom and helps immensely such as now when I am having some RA pain.

I think when you feel that you are in pain more often than not it is time to suggest to your Rheumatologist that you both need to discuss other options in medication to help you. Good luck and hope you are feeling better soon.