Irritated, hot, achy fingers

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10-26-2009, 02:25 PM
Onix

Irritated, hot, achy fingers

Question for you ladies....re: finger/hand pain.

This all started for me early two weeks ago. My brake pads on my commuter were verryyyyy warn down, so I was having to squeeze pretty hard to get a good stop. I rode about a 80 miles with this problem (Yes, I should have gone to the LBS sooner...but...alas, lots of papers and tests do not allow for such things! :) )

Then...within two days I wrote solidly (and frantically) for 9 hours... (examinations). My hands were stupendously cramped during and afterwards. (I have almost always had pretty bad cramping hands when writing for tests and such).

(And, most likely I was doing a lot of clenching from stress and such...)

But....now...after a week of resting my hands and trying to take it easy....they're still killing me. (My right far more than my left--I'm right handed).

Sometimes feels like pain shooting up my fingers when they're in use (typing, braking, cooking etc.) Otherwise feels like hot achy-ness. Sometimes extends up to my elbow. My fingers just feel weak.

Do any of you ladies get this? Any stretches/home remedy ideas??
10-26-2009, 02:29 PM
BleeckerSt_Girl

Get your brakes fixed- it's dangerous to ride like that on such worn brake pads.
10-26-2009, 02:47 PM
tulip

Rest those hands! I can't help you other than to say that I hope you feel better soon.
10-26-2009, 03:30 PM
staceysue

Your fingers really shouldn't be hurting like that after a week of resting them. From what you're describing, it sounds like you've got some joint inflammation that's not going away like it's supposed to. Try some aspirin. It's good for joint pain.

If this happens again, you might want to have your doctor check it out. Does rheumatoid arthritis run in your family? If you're at risk for it, it's a good idea to get in the habit of taking a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per day in a glass of water now, to slow the progression if you're starting to get it.
10-26-2009, 03:59 PM
solobiker

You got me thinking on this one...Is the pain worse at night or in the morning? Does the pain radiate up the outside (lateral)aspect of your arm? What in kind of bike do your ride? When I ask this I am trying to picture antatomically how your arms/hands are in relation to your shoulders. Also you said you were doing a lot of typing..was the surface at an appropriate height? I am just thinking you may have inflamed your ulnar nerve. Kind of like when you hit your "funny bone". This is just a guess on my part since I can't do a clinical assessment via the internet. If this is the case usually ice and rest will help.
10-26-2009, 06:09 PM
Onix

Quote:

Originally Posted by staceysue

Your fingers really shouldn't be hurting like that after a week of resting them. From what you're describing, it sounds like you've got some joint inflammation that's not going away like it's supposed to. Try some aspirin. It's good for joint pain.

If this happens again, you might want to have your doctor check it out. Does rheumatoid arthritis run in your family? If you're at risk for it, it's a good idea to get in the habit of taking a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per day in a glass of water now, to slow the progression if you're starting to get it.

My grandmother has some type of arthritis. I'm not sure if it is rheumatoid arthtitis. I will call her. Hmm. Gosh, I hope it isn't that. I am in my twenties. When does it normally have onset? Hmm.

Apple cider vingegar---interesting! I have never heard of that before!

Quote:

Originally Posted by solobiker

You got me thinking on this one...Is the pain worse at night or in the morning? Does the pain radiate up the outside (lateral)aspect of your arm? What in kind of bike do your ride? When I ask this I am trying to picture antatomically how your arms/hands are in relation to your shoulders. Also you said you were doing a lot of typing..was the surface at an appropriate height? I am just thinking you may have inflamed your ulnar nerve. Kind of like when you hit your "funny bone". This is just a guess on my part since I can't do a clinical assessment via the internet. If this is the case usually ice and rest will help.

I will have to take notice of the pain to see if it is worse at night/morning. It feels most irritated at night I think because I have inevitably using my hands throughout the day (typing, using the "touch pad mouse" on my laptop, daily tasks etc. I commute on a Jamis Sateline. I ride an Orbea Onix for fun. I think my typing surface is at an appropriate height...but...I sit at multiple desks throughout the day for school and work. I will look into the ulnar nerve. I will try icing. The pain goes along the central part of my fingers, (especially my pointer and middle on my right hand) back on the top of my hand (following the tendon line), and then persists down to the elbow along the outside when especially irritated.

Thank you all for the thoughts and ideas. I'm off to take some aspirin! (I have tried ibuprofen...with not too wonderful success)
10-26-2009, 06:55 PM
lo123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onix

My grandmother has some type of arthritis. I'm not sure if it is rheumatoid arthtitis. I will call her. Hmm. Gosh, I hope it isn't that. I am in my twenties. When does it normally have onset? Hmm.

Inflammtory (autoimmune) arthritis can strike at any age. Women are more likely to develop it than men. Many women are diagnosed in their child bearing years. I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis when I was 16. 11 years later...

While there is believed to be a genetic component to some types of inflammatory arthritis (psoriatic, ankylosing spondylitis), you can have it without a family history of the disease.

If you can't tolerate aspirin, try Aleve. It's an NSAID (non steroidal antiinflammatory drug)

Symptoms of inflammatory arthritis:
1. Swelling in the joints
2. Pain
3. Fatigue
4. Stiffness, particularly in the morning, lasting 30 minutes or longer.

If it is inflammatory arthritis, the treatments now are FAR better than they were 11 years ago. So, it's not the horrible diagnosis it used to be. Still sucks, but it's manageable, especially with early diagnosis and treatment.
10-26-2009, 07:58 PM
lunacycles

I developed arthritis in my hands about 5 years ago, from 20+ years of bike wrenching and then framebuilding. Ouch! I wore a brace on my hand to support my thumb for a while, then took some time off, which helped a lot. If it is arthritis, consider taking some Glucosamine sulfate with chondroitin. I started taking this daily when the pain became obvious and, now, 5 years later, I would say the pain has improved about 70 percent. No brace, I work a lot, and I rest my hands as much as I can.
10-26-2009, 08:06 PM
OakLeaf

Myofascial release in the hands and forearms should help too, although obviously less so if it's inflammatory arthritis :( (hoping it's not). When the muscles are full of trigger points, the tendons pull the joints out of alignment and cause all kinds of problems. BTDT. Good luck.
10-26-2009, 08:23 PM
shootingstar

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunacycles

I developed arthritis in my hands about 5 years ago, from 20+ years of bike wrenching and then framebuilding. Ouch! I wore a brace on my hand to support my thumb for a while, then took some time off, which helped a lot. If it is arthritis, consider taking some Glucosamine sulfate with chondroitin. I started taking this daily when the pain became obvious and, now, 5 years later, I would say the pain has improved about 70 percent. No brace, I work a lot, and I rest my hands as much as I can.

Noticed under a different topic yesterday, lunacycles that you have arthritis in your back. How long have you had that?

Do you do any other type of work to relieve the pain in your hands? You sound quite dedicated to your biz and to cycling.
10-27-2009, 12:41 PM
Onix

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

Get your brakes fixed- it's dangerous to ride like that on such worn brake pads.

They are fixed! I am happy to report that! Also installed new brake housing and cables!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo123

Inflammtory (autoimmune) arthritis can strike at any age. Women are more likely to develop it than men. Many women are diagnosed in their child bearing years. I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis when I was 16. 11 years later...

While there is believed to be a genetic component to some types of inflammatory arthritis (psoriatic, ankylosing spondylitis), you can have it without a family history of the disease.

If you can't tolerate aspirin, try Aleve. It's an NSAID (non steroidal antiinflammatory drug)

Symptoms of inflammatory arthritis:
1. Swelling in the joints
2. Pain
3. Fatigue
4. Stiffness, particularly in the morning, lasting 30 minutes or longer.

If it is inflammatory arthritis, the treatments now are FAR better than they were 11 years ago. So, it's not the horrible diagnosis it used to be. Still sucks, but it's manageable, especially with early diagnosis and treatment.

That is all really good information. Thank you for that. I will have to pay attention to morning stiffness. The pain isn't there in the morning...since my hands aren't in use overnight...but...I will pay attention to this.

Thanks for the tip on Aleve and symptom list.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunacycles

I developed arthritis in my hands about 5 years ago, from 20+ years of bike wrenching and then framebuilding. Ouch! I wore a brace on my hand to support my thumb for a while, then took some time off, which helped a lot. If it is arthritis, consider taking some Glucosamine sulfate with chondroitin. I started taking this daily when the pain became obvious and, now, 5 years later, I would say the pain has improved about 70 percent. No brace, I work a lot, and I rest my hands as much as I can.

Good to know. Thank you for this feedback! Sounds painful what you have :( I am glad to hear the pain has improved!

Quote:

Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Myofascial release in the hands and forearms should help too, although obviously less so if it's inflammatory arthritis :( (hoping it's not). When the muscles are full of trigger points, the tendons pull the joints out of alignment and cause all kinds of problems. BTDT. Good luck.

Thank you for this feedback. I am seeing a physical therapist for my knee in a few days. Maybe she can help me out with this as well (She does myofascial work). Good idea!
10-28-2009, 07:20 AM
lo123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onix

That is all really good information. Thank you for that. I will have to pay attention to morning stiffness. The pain isn't there in the morning...since my hands aren't in use overnight...but...I will pay attention to this.

Thanks for the tip on Aleve and symptom list.

FYI - morning stiffness with inflammatory arthritis is regardless of use overnight. I will often wake up to have my fingers stuck in a claw position and they won't budge for 15-30 minutes.