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stiff, swollen, burning fingers - especially the tips, morning

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Posted 9/24/2012 3:04 AM (GMT 0)

Has anyone had stiff, painful, swollen, burning problems with fingers in the mornings due to anything related to thyroid? 

2007 - low thyroid diagnosis after hair coming out, hoarse voice, tsh test; prescribed 25 mcg levothyroxine

2009 - dosage raised to 50 mcg because tsh was 8 or so, I was suddenly gaining weight, I'd forget words in the

      middle   of   my sentences, hair was coming out; 

--- several weeks later the finger problem appeared suddenly one particular morning; doctor didn't think it had anything to do with thyroid or dosage; rheumatologist ran 100 tests, recommended synthroid instead of generic, but no change with fingers; went to neurologist who ran 100 other tests, prescribed gabapentin for burning sensation, but no improvement

2012 - experimented a few time with older dose of 25 mcg synthroid for several days, but no improvement (did feel rotten and short tempered!); now seeing a different rheumatologist every 5-9 months or so with all sorts of bloodwork with nothing to explain anything except he discovered antibodies for thyroid (not bad, maybe in the 80's)

--fingers swell, throb, can't wear rings, happens every single morning and when they're at rest, stiffness is mostly in top joints, burning sensation is worse after washing in cold water or holding cold drink; I've had episodes of bleeding underneath skin at tops of fingers when doing yard work (hematologist tested, nothing showed up in bloodwork)

All thyroid bloodwork is normal with the 50 mcg dosage.

Posted 9/24/2012 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
I've never experienced anything like this, but perhaps some of our other members will have experiences to share with you. Welcome to the forum.
Posted 9/25/2012 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks.
Posted 9/25/2012 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Katie Bell,

I haven't experienced the stiff, swollen fingers that you are describing. However since you
did have thyroid antibodies I would say that you are suffering from Hashimoto's so it's
possible that you may also have another autoimmune condition. A couple of autoimmune
conditions that come to mind are scleroderma and sjogren's syndrome since rheumatoid
arthritis has been ruled out. I have no medical credentials
but I am just throwing those out there for you to look at in case you might
have some of the other symptoms associated with them. I would think that your doctors
considered them. Also, have you had your B12 level tested? That might be another
possibility.

Also you said that your thyroid lab tests are normal but do you know what the actual values
are. There is some controversy over what is "normal."

I was looking around the internet and came across this post:

"In 1995, I had this issue with my fingers. I would wake up with swollen painful fingers. I had it for three years and visitied several doctors during that time. I had all kinds of test ran, including rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel, etc. The physician and labs never pinpointed the problem, and all the tests were negative.

In 1998, I visited a chiropractor. He identified a problem with a misalignment in the vertebrae in my neck, on the initital visit. After three weeks of adjustments, of a couple visits a week, the painful, swollen fingers in the morning completely dissappeared, and have never returned."

This reminded me of what I went through about 10 years ago. I had the worst pain in my arm
and my fingers were numb. I went to several doctors and they didn't know what was wrong, one
doctor wanted to do a bone scan because he thought it was bone cancer. I was desperate, I
have never been in so much pain. Someone suggested going to a chiropractor which I had
never done before and frankly didn't have much faith in. I tell you, that man saved my life.
I had a pinched nerve in my neck. I had to go every day for three weeks but the change was
incredible. I have really bad arthritis in my neck. Now I go in about once a year and I'm good
to go. You might consider a chiropractor. Just make sure you find a good one. Good luck.
I hope you feel better.
Posted 9/25/2012 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you! I had been seeing a chiro for my back and neck a few months before this started, so I went back to her and she did whatever she thought she could, but was absolutely stumped. I went to a neuro. who did MRI of neck and nerve tests, but no problems uncovered. I'll check to see if B was ever tested in blood, and I'll check those thyroid numbers. I've never been to an endocrinologist -- only family doctor for thyroid. 3 days ago my sister was diagnosed with MS (age 45, 2 years younger than me) so I started thinking more about my hands and how they've not been diagnosed. (Her diagnosis was quick after facial/mouth numbness and MRI) I'll check back to see what people are saying about those confusing thyroid numbers. (I also have these inflammatory conditions: chronic cystitis, and severe endometriosis - for years - but was finally treated with hysterectomy in December and so far so good)
Posted 9/27/2012 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Katie,

I know exactly what you are talking about with the fingers. Mine is especially bad at night or anytime my hands are above my waist. I get pins and needles when I drive, hold a book, eat, write, comb my hair, etc. I also have the stiffness which is particularly bad in the am. When I wake my hands are cupped and I loosen them by running warm water over them and gently massage them. I too have thyroid issues along with a host of other problems most of which have not been definatively diagnosed. I was told I had Fibromyalgia for 30 years. This hand thing started about 3 years ago shortly after I developed a lot of swelling and stiffness in my knees and feet. I went from an 8 1/2 shoe to a 9 1/2 and am very fatigued. My Rhuematologist treated me for Rhuematoid Arthritis although I didn't test positive for it. Those meds didn't work and I was on steroids for about a year. Two years ago I started treating with a Lyme literate doctor and test positive with Bartonella, which is a co-infection of Lyme Disease although my Lyme test came back only as "Suspicious". It's been three years since the hands, knees and feet symptoms started and while the intensity waxes and wanes a bit, I have not had any long term improvement. I wish you well and am anxious to get any update. I appeciate the other responses which give me hope.
Posted 9/27/2012 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Maxie B,

Thanks. So they're treating you for lyme? they gave me some sort of lyme test because this started about 8 months after an unually annoying tick attachment. The site would swell and itch on and off for no good reason months and months and months after the tick bite. But, of course, the test came back negative and I was assumed to be concerned about nothing. During that time I had swollen lymph in a shoulder muscle with intense pain -- treated with antibiotics -- and it settled down. The same shoulder knot reappeared 3 yrs later, again for no apparent reason. My feet hurt (and shoe size increased) when I step on them each morning, but, again, it's nothing to pay attention to, says the rheum.
Posted 9/27/2012 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck, Maxie B. (Sorry -- my computer locked up in the middle of the previous post.)
Posted 3/30/2014 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
This is a topic I know all too well. Hypothyroidism runs in my family. I was diagnosed 3-4 years ago. I have also always suffered with severe anxiety, depression, as well as addi. I knew all these disorders were genetic, and some I noticed the symptoms from childhood.

I have a more severe case of what you describe, quoted from wiki "is a hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system causing extreme vasoconstriction of the peripheral blood vessels, leading to tissue hypoxia. Chronic, recurrent cases of Raynaud phenomenon can result in atrophy of the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscle. In rare cases it can cause ulceration andischemic gangrene." I recently learned of this rare condition because I had a severe attack much more then most of the very few diagnosed with it. This mystery illness is extremely rare and most doctors have never seen it or treated it. As it was in my case I developed compartment syndrome. If I didn't seek immediate medical care I would have had to havebmy legs amputated below the knee. This frequently targets women around 15 or 30 that also suffer hypothyroidism, certain medication taken for illnesses also afflicting the individual.

My case was isolated and unique, most present like you have. I went to bed, woke up the next morning my feet were numb, as well as a horrific blue and purple tone. I had no anesthesia when I gave birth to my daughter. This made that seem like a stubbed toe. I would not wish that pain on my worst enemy. If you get more intense symptoms, I beg you go to the ER. Insist they check your pulses in all extremities and monitor your heart rate.
Posted 3/30/2014 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Kimberly, your information and warning are spot on. However, this post is more than a year old, and the OP has not been here since, so I doubt she will respond. Thank you for trying to help!
Posted 3/31/2014 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Here I am! Are you saying, Kimberly, that my symptoms really seem to be something you're familiar with? Wow! Did you end up finding my post because of these symptoms? Wow! Thank you so much! I'm eager to hear more and find out what you recommend.

I'm so glad you didn't end up with such a horrid amputation! How did they treat you? What do you do nowdays?

Coincidence that you posted yesterday! Just a few days ago after sort of giving up on doctors altogether last year other than to go to physical therapist to find out what I already knew (that manipulating the fingers a while helps them loosen up, but the swelling remains longer or until they get cold), I went back to the original rheumatologist I saw in 2009. The x-rays were perfectly normal and he ran who-know-what bloodwork, but I won't get results until I see him in a few weeks. What do you recommend that I say? (I imagine he'd bristle at the idea of self-diagnosis based on a health forum!)

Is it some form of raynauds or a side effect of hypothyroidism? Is it raynauds if the fingers burn horribly after being cold or holding a glass of ice water, even if the fingers don't change color? What would you call it? Does it have a name I can google? How is it treated? Do you get the finger problems and burning bottoms of the feet every morning all the time like I do, but you had an unusual attack at one time? Is there a test that I can have done to figure this out? I had RSD - reflex sympathetic disorder - on the left hand 20 years ago after hand surgery, but it recovered after therapy and blood pressure medication.

I don't see anyone for thyroid other than my general practitioner, a very good person. What type of doctor treats you?

Sorry for the thousands of questions! I'd appreciate anything you'd like to share. Thanks!!! :)
Posted 11/26/2014 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
reading this has been resourceful. this morning i woke up unable to move my index and middle finger on my left hand. i have no idea what this is from since ive never had an issue with my hand (besides I'm a righty). went to family dr. and he prescribed antiinflammatory meds and a hand xray. by evening time my fingers are swollen and ive got this tingling sensation going down my arm. i find this to be so odd since i went to bed fine and woke up with painful condition the next morning out of the blue. if anyone has experienced this as well please let me know. thanks
Posted 10/24/2015 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
28 October 2015

Update on my thread below:

After seeing a rheumatologist, the finger swelling, lesions, bleeding has been diagnosed to be Chilblains Lupus and did not have to do with the initially suspected change in brand of my levothyroxine. It was just a coincidence that the condition and change of brand occurred during the same month.

I'm on steroids to reduce the swelling and antibiotics to heal fingers.

Next appointment is next week - 3 November 2015.

I'm grateful that I have more information on what's happened.

Best wishes to all,
Johann

Dear Katie,

I came across your thread below from three years ago and hope that you still visit this site or receive messages from it.

I am currently experiencing the exact condition that you described – swollen, throbbing, stiff, blotchy fingers with bleeding on the tops of fingers.

My doctor has referred me to a rheumatologist under the suspicion that it’s RA however I believe that the condition was triggered after moving from one generic brand of levothyroxine to another.

I received a new brand of levothyroxine at the beginning of last month (September 2015) and two week’s later my fingers swelled up. And over the last week, the tops have started to show tiny cuts and are prone to bleeding.

My appointment with the rheumatologist is still a week away but in the mean time I’m going to stop taking the new brand of levothyroxine and will speak to my pharmacist to try to get back to my previous brand.

Did you or your doctor look at the role that the brand of levothyroxine may play or have played in your swollen fingers?

Are you still experiencing the condition?

I hope that your condition has improved.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

With my best thoughts and prayers,
Johann


katie bell said...
Has anyone had stiff, painful, swollen, burning problems with fingers in the mornings due to anything related to thyroid?

2007 - low thyroid diagnosis after hair coming out, hoarse voice, tsh test; prescribed 25 mcg levothyroxine
2009 - dosage raised to 50 mcg because tsh was 8 or so, I was suddenly gaining weight, I'd forget words in the
middle of my sentences, hair was coming out;

--- several weeks later the finger problem appeared suddenly one particular morning; doctor didn't think it had anything to do with thyroid or dosage; rheumatologist ran 100 tests, recommended synthroid instead of generic, but no change with fingers; went to neurologist who ran 100 other tests, prescribed gabapentin for burning sensation, but no improvement

2012 - experimented a few time with older dose of 25 mcg synthroid for several days, but no improvement (did feel rotten and short tempered!); now seeing a different rheumatologist every 5-9 months or so with all sorts of bloodwork with nothing to explain anything except he discovered antibodies for thyroid (not bad, maybe in the 80's)

--fingers swell, throb, can't wear rings, happens every single morning and when they're at rest, stiffness is mostly in top joints, burning sensation is worse after washing in cold water or holding cold drink; I've had episodes of bleeding underneath skin at tops of fingers when doing yard work (hematologist tested, nothing showed up in bloodwork)

All thyroid bloodwork is normal with the 50 mcg dosage.

Post Edited (thejtway) : 10/28/2015 3:48:18 PM (GMT-6)

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