Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Question: I am a 65 year old male. I have excruciating pain in both hand, including the joints in every finger and in both wrists. These pains occur most every morning and lessen throughout the day but never do they fully go away. I am also dropping things more often than not. I should add that I cannot clench ether hand into a fist as the palms of both hands become very painful particularly in the area immediately below the index and middle fingers. I also have triggering in both thumbs and index fingers. I've been treated by orthopedic surgeon in the past when the problem was limited to a finger or a thumb and he's treated me with Cortisone injections. However, the problem is now full blown. I'd like to know therefore is number 1 your opinion of what migght be causing this and whether you think I should seek a different specialist in a different field?
NOTE: I was in a car accident in 1974 afterwhich I was diagnosed with having "Limited Extensions" in my neck which l believe was leakage to the 4th 5th and 6th disk. Since then I've had a couple of episodes of disability where I could not walk more than a couple of feet but I was always back on my feet within a couple of days. But never before have my hands all but shut down like they have in the past month.
NOTE: I was in a car accident in 1974 afterwhich I was diagnosed with having "Limited Extensions" in my neck which l believe was leakage to the 4th 5th and 6th disk. Since then I've had a couple of episodes of disability where I could not walk more than a couple of feet but I was always back on my feet within a couple of days. But never before have my hands all but shut down like they have in the past month.
Brief Answer:
Possible rheumatoid arthritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for using Healthcaremagic to post your health query.
I read carefully your question and I understand your concern.
The way you are describing the pain in the small joints of the fingers in both hands, the stiffness in the morning and the pain during the day, it all sounds to me like Rheumatoid arthritis.
I think you need to see a rheumatologist in order to decide definitely that diagnoses.
He will examine you physically and also do some labs from which the ERS (erythro- sedimentation rate), the RF (rheumatoid factor), the PCR (C-reactive protein) and ACPA (anticitrullinated protein antibody), ect.
The reason why the steroid shots have helped, would explain that diagnoses too, because steroid treatment is one of the main treatments of this problem, which will be added to Celebrex that you are already using.
Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Possible rheumatoid arthritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for using Healthcaremagic to post your health query.
I read carefully your question and I understand your concern.
The way you are describing the pain in the small joints of the fingers in both hands, the stiffness in the morning and the pain during the day, it all sounds to me like Rheumatoid arthritis.
I think you need to see a rheumatologist in order to decide definitely that diagnoses.
He will examine you physically and also do some labs from which the ERS (erythro- sedimentation rate), the RF (rheumatoid factor), the PCR (C-reactive protein) and ACPA (anticitrullinated protein antibody), ect.
The reason why the steroid shots have helped, would explain that diagnoses too, because steroid treatment is one of the main treatments of this problem, which will be added to Celebrex that you are already using.
Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
