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Posted 11/9/2008 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone have problems with straightening and bending fingers?

I have it in both pinkies. The one joy I had left was guitar lessons and I would like to continue playing.

Have appointment with hand doc. Lyme doc suggested I use paraffin. One more thing for me to buy.

Please advise -- if you have something to share!

Thanks all.
Posted 11/9/2008 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
What is a hand doc? You will find after reading here that stiffness is a symptom, I would probably "skip" the hand doc unless he is LLMD. ALL my fingers are that way, and alot of other things too! (:

Posted 11/10/2008 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Got a referral from LLMD when I showed her what my finger is doing she sent me to the hand doc. It is not bending naturally. It makes a snap to bend -- thus the term trigger.

I have two of them misbehaving. It may not get better unless I get it treated by this hand doctor.

I was just wondering. You're right, we're all stiff all over. Comes and goes sometimes. This trigger finger business has been here to stay though and I would like to see what treatment if any he can provide.

Apparently, I am the only trigger finger person on these boards I guess!
Posted 11/10/2008 12:28 PM (GMT 0)

Before I was dx with LD I tried all types of docs. One was a hand doc because I had pain, swelling and burning in my hands. He looked at an MRI and saw nothing out of the ordinary. That was the extent of my visit. So if insurance pays for your visit, you might want to see him. Otherwise, I don't think it would be worth the visit. That's just my 2 cents worth.

Good luck - Lisa

Posted 11/10/2008 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
hopingToFindCure
 I had the same thing you have, in both hands also. It freaked me out when it first happened. I think it began shortly after I started on Levaquin for lyme treatment, what are you currently taking or have taken in the past? I truly think it is neurological and mine cleared up after coming off of the levaquin and I really  have not gotten it back. It does take quite awhile to clear it up though. It seemed like when it was happening my pinkies were disconnected from the rest of my hands and they felt really weird! Yes your symptoms are strange.......but then again isn't everything and everyone with this disease LOL!!!! smhair
Posted 11/10/2008 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
My pinkies feel connected to my hand. they just won't bend easily. instead of bending, they pop.

Unfortunately, I'm not on levaquin, so I cannot blame that. So I blame Lyme Disease instead. I'm on antibiotics.

Trigger finger is a real condition

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/trigger-finger/DS00155

I can't seem to explain it as well as the Mayo Clinic. Yeah, I know the Mayo Clinic sucks already. (At least for those with Lyme Disease).
Posted 11/10/2008 6:03 PM (GMT 0)

I took Levaquin for 3 months and three months later I got "trigger thumb."

I don't know if Levaquin did it but I was on an awful lot of other antibiotics before that trying to chase this stupid bug so I'm not sure if it's lyme or the side effects from antibiotics.

I am going in today for my second cortisone injection in the base of my thumb to try to get rid of it. I got my first shot around last June and it worked for a while. Now, it's starting to snap and lock again and it hurts at night.

The doctor told me that if the injections stop working they will have to operate on it.....

Posted 11/10/2008 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
That's exactly what the Internet says bookfreak.

I hope all goes well for you. I hate not being about play guitar, but can give it up temporarily.

Here is the Levaquin warning

WARNING

Fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN®, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. This risk is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, in patients taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart or lung transplants [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Posted 11/10/2008 8:49 PM (GMT 0)

Yeah, I read that too.

I asked the doctor about that but he said Levaquin doesn't cause that....  I beg to differ but that's the way it is with doctors these days. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing anymore in the medical industry.

He did say that trigger fingers can run in families but nobody in my family has ever had that. He also said that if it's genetic if you get it in one hand you will probably get it in the other. So, if both your pinkies are doing it, it may be genetic.

You might see about getting a cortisone injection, it makes it a little worse for a few days but after that it's gone. Mine returned after about 3-4 months but it isn't as bad as it was at first.....

I can't imagine trying to play guitar with a finger that locks up!

Posted 11/11/2008 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
bookfreak,

Yes, I have only played for six months, but it was a WONDERFUL diversion from surfing the net, looking for answers. I don't know of another instrument that doesn't involve the hands extensively except for a tamborine I guess. Maybe the drums? I'm not interested in the drums . I have decided I will continue and just let the ole pinkie pop up and look weird while playing.

God, cortisone shots to the pinkies. That sucks.
Posted 11/11/2008 5:05 PM (GMT 0)

HopingToFindCure:

I went to the doctor and got the injection in my thumb last night. He said that usually after 2-3 injections it goes away. He said if it doesn't then he can do a minor surgery to fix it. He said he uses a local to numb it and that the surgery takes about 15 minutes. He said most people are good to go after a couple of days.

Just thought you might want to know if those pinkies of yours get worse. My doctor said some people get it to the point where they can't bend their finger back up at all.

Posted 11/12/2008 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Wow. You have a great doctor. I guess I'm glad I'm going. I have small bones and I image the pinkies ligaments are very delicate too. Maybe they can infuse some cortison in there. I had that done a couple years back on my tennis elbow and even though it's back now of course, it worked and was so much easier than a hypodermic needle.

I'm glad your thumb is responding to the shot. Maybe this will be the last time!

If not, he makes surgery sound like a breeze. Let's still hope/pray it doesn't come to that.
Posted 12/24/2009 1:31 PM (GMT 0)

Hey, ya'll - don't know if you guys will see this since it has been so long since your question, but I recently had my right ring finger start to do this, and the pain radiates clear up to my elbow.  Night is the worst.  When I wake up, I have to slowly bend my finger out until it straightens (using my other hand, it won't do it by itself) and then after about a half hour, it starts working normally again.  Doc called it "trigger finger" and said when it becomes too much I can have the surgery.  Being a believer in natural remedies, I started drinking Elations, you know, that drink you see advertised on TV with the glucosamine in it?  I think it might be helping.  It's definitely helping my "arthritic" knee.  I tried glucosamine in pill form first, but this seemed to help almost right away, like within a week.  It's not completely gone, my elbow still hurts if I try to throw something or do something strenous with it, but it might be worth a try.

Posted 12/24/2009 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
My fingers move well, but at times contract into an amnormal stiffened position. It is painful and I can no longer move them. I have to pull them out and straighten them with my other hand. Anyone else have this?
Posted 2/24/2010 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
  Hi,

 I am trying to find out about levaquin-saw your post about your pinky. Yes mine feel like they're on fire. My muscles or whatever really burn, too. It is not my my joints and was wondering if it was the leaquin.  I only took it for 8 days, so I don't know if it is possible to get side effects from that little. Want some info before I go to my dr.

Thanks,

Posted 2/25/2010 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
the tips of my pinkies have callasis on them and all my finger tips feel ruff or numb. I can't figure out why my pinky tipps have callisis?

i am going to try heating up sesame oil in the mornignsa for a week to see if it helps, and rubbing my hands and all joints with it. leaving it on for 20 minutes then washing off with sandle wood soap. this is what they do in Ayurvedic medicine .
also my pinkies are seperated away from other fingers and when I try to bring them together the pinly starts trembleing.
Posted 2/25/2010 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
My fingers spasm and contort into strange positions. It is painful! I dont know if this is what you are talking about, but I would like to know what causes it.
Posted 2/25/2010 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
One of the first signs that I had a problem was after playing the guitar my two pinkies were numb and not as flexible as usual. I stopped playing for a while. Even left a band I was in. I still have hand pain but I am playing the guitar again. However my knees are killing me.

I hope you get through the trigger finger. I never had that.

Look in to playing the mandolin. You don't have to use your little finger so much when you play chords. Playing guitar is one of the things that hepled and continues to help me keep some semblance of sanity.

I use Tiger Balm on sore fingers, knees, neck etc.

saxmar
Posted 2/26/2010 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hey,

did anyone get tendonitis from levaquin?

please answer.
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