Injections in small joints of hand?

Here's my dilemma. about 3 weeks ago I awoke one morning and my thumb on my rt hand felt numb and sore. Thought since I sleep in almost sitting position I somehow slept on it. In days to follow it got worse not better and it actually popped out of joint once and ER Dr popped it back and wrapped it.

After a week I removed the support wrap and it's horrible. If I bend it then it hurts but it also gets stuck mid-bend and I have to manually unstick it.

This is the 1st tiny joint at the top right under the nail. Of course I'm right handed and having no use of my thumb is hampering the entire hand function.

My PM Dr Tuesday said it was caused by an extreme arthritic joint and to calm it down he would do a few injections? ?? Cortisone I'm assuming.

Now I've had countless injections in numerous places but sticking needles in this tiny little space has me freaking out.I'm certainly no stranger to pain or needles but I'm thinking this has really got to hurt!!

One of the most horrible experiences of an IV was while I was hospitalized for 2 months during a difficult pregnancy and placental abruption and needing a access line fast and being all out of places for one and a intern putting that huge gauge needle alongside the bone in my little finger. If I think about it I can still feel the needle scraping down the bone and get nauseous.

My finger took weeks to return to normal.

Has anyone had injections in one of the small joints? Is it bad? This things getting far worse and even though he wanted to start this Tuesday I put him off and told him I would call and set it up for early next week.

Im scared or grossed out or something about this. I can't believe I'm so freaked over such a minor deal but there it is.

Yep, I am with Tina, the pain you have now is bad & think what that steroid will do to calm things down. They should also put some numbing stuff to help with the stick.

Let us know if you decide to do this...Good luck..Susie

Thanks guys! This bugs me being so paranoid about it. I've had 4 natural births, 2 emergency c-sections,a total of 13 various surgeries and far too many injections to count but that needle scraping the bone in my pinky from the IV sent me up the wall.

I called and am waiting for them to say when. I told the procedure nurse to make sure they had some ammonia on hand and a paint Scrapper since they would probably have to bring me around and scrape me off the wa

Seems like Chart has had injections in her fingers too, maybe she will see this post & give you some more info on the injections. I for one cannot stand needles, I use to be much worse than I am now when it comes to getting shots. My dislike started when I was a young kid, I was terrified of them, lol.

Hope yours goes ok & pain free as possible......Susie

I have had several steroid injections into both of my thumbs and into my index finger. I can't say they don't hurt, but it is not that bad. Just be sure to ask for the cold numbing spray first. I had one without it, and that did make it worse.

Vickie,

I'm sorry that you are having so much pain in your finger (((hugs))). I understand when you are facing a new procedure it's certainly normal to feel nervous.

I've had many steroid shots in my fingers, wrist, ankles, heel, and toes. I will say that it's not my favorite thing to do, but I've certainly had much worse things done to me. The spray helps so much and I'm glad that you were told about it. My last injection into my right thumb was done with the spray and I didn't even feel the shot go into the joint.

Good luck on Tuesday, and I hope that you begin to feel much better after the shot. The steroids should help you a lot.

Hugs,
Barbara