Thumb Carpometacarpal Spasms

I've assorted bits of osteoartitis and psoriatic arthritis here and there. I've been having some odd problems with my left thumb metacarpal recently. Thankfully I am very dominant right handed! It doesn't seem to be in the carpometacarpal joint but down the actual metacarpal bone. This is assuming I've not totally confused myself by diagrams on the internet :) Obviously it isn't the bone itself that is having spasms...

If my hand is flat on the table, I get spasms along the thumb metacarpal down the outside edge between my knuckle and the joint below that. It doesn't go further than that, and I've no symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The spasms are pretty regular in that my hand/thumb can be at rest and there is no difference in the timing of the spasms.

Has anyone else with hand osteo- or psoriatic arthritis has noted this problem (I've both)? It is adding to my increasing difficulty to get to sleep at night, and am already taking a prescription anti-inflammatory and Tylenol.

It isn't THAT bad that I can't ignore it (outside of bed-time), but curious if anyone has found an alternative way of dealing with this. I am loathe to start on stronger medication as my stomach doesn't tend to like those...which is why I am putting off seeing the doctor...

Hi Catrin! I was just searching TE forums for psoriatic arthritis and came upon your post. I also have psoriatic arthritis which has recently gotten pretty bad and I wanted to find other cyclists who might have it to share experiences and stories. I have psoriatic arthritis in my right index finger down to the carpometacarpal joint. I also have it in my second toe on the left foot, and more recently it has "spread" to both my knees and the left index finger closer to the carpometacarpal joint again. Not nice! I finally got myself to a rheumotologist and I have had to start on Prednisone after total failure on NSAIDs. Not happy, and the steroids are not yet having a huge effect either.

I haven't had the problem with spasms in the hand like you describe though, so I'm not sure where those are coming from for you. It does sound like it could be related to the arthritis since it's worse at night (?). Weird though? Have you had any luck sorting it out as yet?

Can I also ask how your body copes with the cycling? I don't know how severe your arthritis is or how widespread, but I haven't ridden in ages and am afraid to get on the bike and flare things up :( I was an avid enduro MTB'er before this all started going downhill a few months ago and it's killing me being off the bike. Would love to hear from you!

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Originally Posted by GumbyGirl

Hi Catrin! I was just searching TE forums for psoriatic arthritis and came upon your post. I also have psoriatic arthritis which has recently gotten pretty bad and I wanted to find other cyclists who might have it to share experiences and stories. I have psoriatic arthritis in my right index finger down to the carpometacarpal joint. I also have it in my second toe on the left foot, and more recently it has "spread" to both my knees and the left index finger closer to the carpometacarpal joint again. Not nice! I finally got myself to a rheumotologist and I have had to start on Prednisone after total failure on NSAIDs. Not happy, and the steroids are not yet having a huge effect either.

I haven't had the problem with spasms in the hand like you describe though, so I'm not sure where those are coming from for you. It does sound like it could be related to the arthritis since it's worse at night (?). Weird though? Have you had any luck sorting it out as yet?

Can I also ask how your body copes with the cycling? I don't know how severe your arthritis is or how widespread, but I haven't ridden in ages and am afraid to get on the bike and flare things up :( I was an avid enduro MTB'er before this all started going downhill a few months ago and it's killing me being off the bike. Would love to hear from you!

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Hi GumbyGirl!

I do have a touch of psoriatic arthritis in my hands (and osteoarthritis), and bits of arthritis elsewhere that includes my cervical spine and hip. It is worse in my cervical spine, but I've manged to persuade things to calm down. I do take one medication that seems to help, (100 mg of Diclofenac Sodium) but that is all I take for it.

The hands have calmed down - at least back to their "normal" condition. I think I must have somehow stressed them in June when I started riding more after having had to decrease my riding since the fall due to a neck injury on the mountain bike.

For road riding I've a custom bike designed to give me a very upright riding position that puts very little weight on my hands - I can ride my Gunnar all I want with minimal impact on my hands or discomfort. As far as mountain biking is concerned, please understand I am a beginner and probably what seems technical to me, wouldn't seem so at all for you with your background.

Because of the neck injury I am starting to focus more on just having fun on the mountain bike than on hitting more and more technical trails. My neck can't take another hit like that...this doesn't mean my skills won't increase, but it will take longer. That being said, I AM going to attempt a new trail Saturday :) I am an over-achiever by nature, so this gives me "permission" to pay more attention to checking out the woods around me, stopping when I want to check out flowers or to walk over an obstacle or other feature that troubles me.

I don't know if any of that helps? It sounds like your arthritis is worse than mine :(