painful fingers

Have any of you been tested for non-celiac gluten intolerance? It often manifest as psoriasis, IBS, heartburn GERD, and arthritis. I eliminated grains from my diet and my symptoms are much improved... I don't have to rely on medications anymore except an occasional OTC anti-inflammatory. Be warned, though, the first 2 weeks can be rough... Weaning off wheat is like weaning off morphine as there are similar receptors in the brain affected. Also, may have to increase salt intake to avoid muscle cramps. Good news, though, you must add natural fats including butter, eggs, chicken with the skin on, etc. as they will become your bodies preferred fuel. DietDoctor.com is a good place to start. Research key words: ketogenic diet, LCHF, nutritional ketosis (not to be confused with ketoacidosis).

I get severe, acute pain in various fingers to the point where I cannot move them at all, or touch them. Because the pain is only ever acute at night, and inability to move only occurs when the pain is so acute that I would rather chop off my fingers than put up with it, no doctor has ever witnessed it. Every pain in my body is put down to fibromyalgia, but I'm having trouble believing this diagnosis when finger pain and immobility does not feature highly in web articles, and no hand pain is included in the diagnosis of fibro. Last night due to the severest of pain in the last 2 fingers of my right hand, I took oxycontin, valium and codeine forte, but I still failed to sleep due to the pain. I rest my hand on heat packs for some minor relief, although just having the cotton touch my fingers causes terrible pain. These episodes used to be infrequent, but now seem to be almost every week, with only a couple of days relief. The only drug that works is oral prednisolone, which I take for about 10 days, and that gives me a couple of weeks without any pain. However my GP is very unhappy for me to take prednisolone like this, yet she has no alternative. I can't take lyrica, and have been given a script for Cymbalta, although she doesn't want me to take that either. I take mega doses of magnesium, which was definitely helping for a while, but now seems to do nothing. Valium does not make any difference to my hand pain either. If I can't type or write, then I can't work. I am sick of having to ask my husband to dress and undress me too. Does anyone have any ideas of what this could be, because as I said, I don't believe it is fibromyalgia. I have abnormally high ANA levels in my blood, which has my rheumo bamboozled, and for which he has no answers. Please help if you can.
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Pain in the middle joints of my fingers, feels like they have been broken sometimes! Feet pain, can't hardly walk sometimes, knees hurt, hips ache, feet pop after I sit for a while, and all the tests and biopsies snot confirm anything! 2 of 3 markers for MS, treated with IVIG for several months, wow what a change in life style, bad headaches, blurry vision, and still no idea what is getting me! Called it CIDP for a while but now Doc is not sure, everything is a risk and reward type of approach! I would just like some answers!

Hello Rockon, and Danaj3,& All,

I am sorry to hear of the condition of UR fingers. As I understand all to well what you are dealing with. So sorry.

I too take the same meds you take. I have also purchased a hand & foot paraffin wax spa. It's just wonderful. I use it all the time. With 5 layers on warm paraffin wax and plastic bag then a MIT to keep them warm.

My joints are misshapen in my rt. hand curled fingers and cannot flatten my hand open on a flat surface.

I have psoriatic arthritis & Duprytrends Contracture . I don't notice if u mention UR diagnosis Rockon. UR dr. A rheumy?

My fingers, hand wrist are painful as the heat and exercises from PT help the most as meloxicam stops more damage. Apremilast is another drug alternative for all my joints are painful . This drug is a PDE-4 protein blocker a bio drug. I am Leary has anyone else ever taken any biologic drugs? Lyrica is one. Has some scary side effects. Bio drugs really aren't my cup of tea.

Hope you feel better soon. Peace & healing.
(( hugs ))
CHOTTI

Hi, MrTelephone, and welcome! I'm glad that a gluten-free diet helps you. You must be gluten intolerant and there are quite a few people out there with this problem. But many with fibro don't have this problem so the diet really doesn't help them. We are all so different.

We do keep discussions about food and diets on our Diet and Food Discussions thread. It's close to the top right now but when you want to discuss this topic, please post there. It works best for the forum and it's good to have all that info in one thread! You should read it and see all the varied suggestions there. There is something for everyone!

I'm glad you like this forum, too. We do have wonderful members who love to help one another and, as a bonus, do care about each other, too. So, I think you will like it here.

I suggest that you write an introductory post to introduce yourself. We want members to know you are here so they can greet you.

If you haven't already, do read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There is a ton of info about fibro and you will learn a lot there also.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you. Hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine