Crohn's Disease Support Group

Hi,

I don't really know what to do about my arthritis bc my docs claim what I'm taking should help and it doesn't.

Yesterday woke up with no range of motion in my hands, and the tops of a few of my fingers were bending BACKWARDS in a way that fingers weren't made to point. My hands are stiff often but this thing with my finger tips was brand new.

This was FRIGHTENING to me. It subsided in a few hours for the most part but I'm worried about permanent damage. Anyone have any tips? I'm pretty sure this isn't normal and since when I go into the docs my hands aren't doing funky stuff like this (its mostly early in the morning when this kind of thing happens), they don't seem to take it seriously.

Feel like I should have taken a picture bc you had to see it to believe it. I don't know if there's anything you can do to keep damage from progressing.

Thanks.

I'm sorry I don't have any answers to give. I have just been diagnosed with arthritis in both hands; I have had Crohn's since 1996. I am learning about this combinaton now myself. If I learn anything, I will definitely share with you.

I wake up with extremely hot, very painful & sweating palms with my fingers locked into a semi-curled position, and it takes a while to get the fingers to flex at all, let alone with less pain. This is has been a relatively recent development, and all my doctor said was "arthritis." Pfui. I could have guessed that much.

Hugs, Cat

I have 3 fingers on my right hand that are messed up...2 go north and the other goes south...so to speak...they have been that way for a few years now, but I don't care because the arthritis in my back hurts so much more..Thank you Crohns!!

Maybe you should ask your doctor to refer you to a rhuemetologist (sp).There might be something else going on with you other than just Crohn's Disease.I have some permanent damage done to some of my joints from bad flares.Better safe than sorry!

Overtime I agree you should maybe see a specialist. The arthritis if thats what it is can do alot of damage. My back or lower back locks up which it is now and the pain is unbearable...plus taking some of the meds we do can cause side effects or long term issues.

Went to 3 rheums. One was a fancy specialist. They had nothing to say other than the meds I'm on should work for this. Obviously not the case.

Next time, take a picture and show it to your doctor!!I have thought about taking a picture of my poo and showing it to the doctor before I got my diagnosis!No one was listening to me....Gotta get their attention somehow!

I miss Doctors who listen and think "outside" the box and don't believe all their patients are lying and just wanting pain meds. Yes we want Medicine but mostly we just want to be well and maybe "normal"

I have had sever arthritis related to my Chron's for years. I would recommend seeing a rheumatologist. It took me a few tries to find someone with enough experience that could set me right. I have found my way into remission (for the most part) through a combo of Humaria, prednisone, methotrexate and tylenol arthritis.

Hang in there!