Irritated, hot, achy fingers

[Onix]

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??

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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

[tulip]

Rest those hands! I can't help you other than to say that I hope you feel better soon.

[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.

[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.

[Onix]

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!

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)