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Hand seizers/cramps

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Posted 11/13/2007 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
K...this is a little different.  about 2 weeks ago I was writing and my hand cramped up, nothing major.  But it started to get worse and worse.  Now, if I try to open any jars or do anything with my hands that requires any strength my hands will cramp right up and seize so that I cant move them unless I force them with my other hand.

Anyone ever have anything like this happen?  I thought maybe dehydration, but I dont feel any other symtoms of that and I have been really dehydrated.

Posted 11/13/2007 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi...I can relate from having repetative strain injury and myofascial syndrome....my feet cramp like that since I was a kid..killers and hard to hide when it happens.

You should tell the doctor asap anyway....because I think that's a symptom of either the pred or the imuran. I had a friend who cannot take imuran because she ended up with nerve "communication" problems in her back and had a problem with her legs. She is prone to muscle/nerve problems..it seems the imuran exacerbated it? Her feet became numb from Flagyl...

No end of some symptoms with some meds...but reallllllly....call your doctor just in case it's a side effect that needs to have the meds changed incase there's more damage (permanent) that can happen.

If it's not normal for you....it's not normal period.

Do you have neck problems normally?

To open jars and things that require a grip...those waffle sort of grippy spongy squares are really helpful..one around the jar, the other around the lid...I use two all the time.

Hope this is just a passing symptom for you.

Keep us posted.
quincy
Posted 11/13/2007 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
I had this happen last year when going through a bad flare and was losing a lot of nutrients. I found out it was likely due to a potassium deficiency and as I got healthier things got better. You might try adding a banana or two a day to your diet to help.

Posted 11/13/2007 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting.. i eat at least one banana a day, guess i need more potassium still. i also drink plenty of water...i get these hand spasms, they lock up-feels like the muscles reversed direction if that makes any sense. sieze like you said is a pretty good word to describe it. I do a lot of cutting cooking and building models at school. I cut my foot the other day because my hand spasmed and i dropped a knife. This also happens while writing and typing, seems like any repetitive motion can set it off.
Posted 11/13/2007 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
I have a lot of hand issues (carpal tunnel/tendonitis/raynauds/trigger fingers) so my hands cramp alot but it's especially noticable when I'm flaring. How are your bms? Are you having D at all? If you are, then that could explain the cramping because you are losing important nutrients such as potassium. If you are having D, potassium shortage doesn't show up overnight - it can take a while to manifest itself. But I agree that either way, you should have this checked out by your doc.
Posted 11/13/2007 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I had this happen 3 times with my hands, really freaked me out!

I was eating a banana a day and now instead (I am sick of bananas now) I take two potassium pills a day 600mg each. I have low postassium and have been fine since taking the potassium. Have your Doc check your potassium levels. Hasn't happened since, also the cramping in my legs has pretty much gone away too.
Posted 11/13/2007 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Potassium and magnesium deficiency. Start eating a banana a day. I get the same thing from prednisone. If I extend my toe, my calf will cramp. The bottom-of-the-foot cramps are the worst, however.

You should notice almost immediate relief after eating a banana.

Good luck!
Mitz
Posted 11/13/2007 3:27 PM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...

 How are your bms? Are you having D at all?

Ive actually been kinda backed up for the last week.  No "D" to speak of in awhile.
Posted 11/13/2007 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
if you're still on the nasty pred, that's probably it - i had major cramping issues - good riddance prednisone !

Posted 11/13/2007 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've had problems like this since high school...
But since this is NEW to YOU - check with your doc!
Posted 11/22/2007 6:54 AM (GMT 0)
For me, the hand cramps were caused by a lack of calcium. I was on prednisone and I wasn't drinking milk due to flaring. Once the doc got me on the calcium suppliments, everything was ok again.
Posted 11/22/2007 10:44 AM (GMT 0)

Fosterdad - I had this!!  The exact same thing that you describe!

I can guarantee you this is due to the prednisone.  When I was on high-doses, like you are on now, I had hand cramps every day. I couldnt open bottles or jars.  Infact, I couldn't do anything physical with my hands.

Once I started to taper the pred, it went slowly went away.  It was so awful. Hope you feel better soon.

Posted 11/22/2007 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Is it your whole hand cramping, or just the fingers "sticking" painfully? I had"trigger" fingers on both hands. It affects my middle two fingers and thumb on each hand. If I tried to close my hand, these finges would stick at the first knuckle, and hurt a whole lot. I would have to take my other hand and straighten the finger out. My ortho said it's caused by tendons in the fingers swelling and catching in a sheath they run through in the hand.

In my case, injection of a small amount of cortisone into the tendons fixed it, and I can use my hands again. I'd suggest you discuss with your doctor, and ask for an orthopedic referral if necessary.
Posted 11/23/2007 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
heres another possible factor-

i am very aenimic, i notice that when my hands are above my heart for too long they sometimes start to spasm. could it simply be something to do with bloodflow?
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