stiff hands/fingers and feet

Hello,
I am currently unemployed and am worried about the recent onset of stiff hands and feet when I wake up in the morning and after naps. After walking around for awhile the stiffness disappears. At first I thought this was caused by my hypothroid disease. I got a new dose of medicine manufactured in the U.S. wondering if the onset was caused by synthroid manufactured by Merck purchased overseas when I was there studying. However, there has been no relief.

My sister has lupus and my mother was diagnosed late in life with MS. Needless to say, I am in a panic. I went to the doctor and she said carpal tunnel is connected with hypothroid. Since six months ago I do seem to have tingling in my left thumb area but this stiffness is now in both hands and feet and seems to be unconnected. The doctor said come back in one month for bloodwork on my thyroid levels. I doubt if my levels are off. I have tested at the same level for many years now after being on synthroid and my dosage of synthroid has never had to be adjusted.

Does anyone have similar symptoms? I am trying to figure out what is going on. Of course, I am also nervous about getting treatment while I am unemployed because I am afraid I will not get insurance when I do get employment due to a pre-existing condition. I feel like I am in a catch-22. I just turned 50 and want to make sure I have a healthy life in the years ahead.

Any help anyone can give would be great. I would be very grateful!

thanks and take care,
a. rainier

Thanks for the kind advice. I have a bottle of 800 mg ibuprofen. I can try taking one before bed and in the morning. My PCP doesn't seem too interested in treating me now that I have no insurance even though I pay for my visits. Changing doctors has also proved difficult because the offices I have called always ask if I have insurance and then I am told the doctor is not accepting new patients. This has been quite an eye opener because I was an upper management marketing director for a college before I lost my job. So, I guess I am going to have to rely on the advice on helpful people like yourself to guide me for the time being. I guess I am most worried about the cause rather than the symptom alleviation. If I knew what types of conditions caused this stiffness I would start researching options for treatment.

have a great weekend,
a. rainier

Yes, with my mother's ms that certainly was the case. If i could narrow it down to what disease is causing these symptoms, then hopefully at least I can treat the symptoms the best way possible.

thanks for your honesty!
a. rainier

Hi Rainier,

I also get alot of stiffness and pain in both hands lately and I've gotten it on & off over many years in my ankles and other joints. My hands hadn't bothered me for a long time, though...until recently. I can't even write much anymore because it hurts. Actually for me, typing is much easier. But since i've been diagnosed with lupus, fibromyalgia, and OA in certain parts...I am just figuring it's due to one of those. I get alot of migratory joint pains but I only seem to point out to my rheumy whatever is worst for the longest time. (I know it's stupid, but that's what I do....and it comes down to docs in the past thinking "it's all in my head", etc....) I also get alot of cramps and spasms in my hands & feet, though not sure if there is any relation.

I'm not too sure if it's my actual joints that are stiff & hurting or if it's all the connective tissues in there. But I also have some problems in my hips with some pain, snapping sounds, and muscle aches...plus my right arch has collapsed and a podiatrist thinks I might have lost some attachment of tendons in there. My podiatrist, PT, spine surgeon, and hip doc all said some of these issues could be due to lupus. So perhaps my hands may have some relation to that. It's also possible if you have family history of some of these diseases, one or more could also be affecting you.

I agree get a secound opinion.because Doctor's can be wrong.I can so relate as to what you are going through.I have RA,OA,AS,Crohns and I Sejerns and I have inflamation in the lining of my nerves.I am in a bad flare my self and my left hand is the worse one at the moment I can't bend my finger nore can I bend them.I have the Ra in both of my hands so I know what is causing this with my hands I have OA in my left knee and hip I'm awaiting for a knee replacment as we speak.I sure do hope that it get's better.Please keep us up-dated on how you are doing.