I have awaken for the last few mornings with a very stiff and very sore hand/fingers. I can barely move my fingers or close my hand. It is painful to hold something, or even to lean against the counter.

I am wondering if this is MS related? or just arthritis or something else? It came on so quickly, I just woke up with the pain. Completely new.

Anyone have any insight or advise for me?

I don't really have any advice, just sympathy. I have had hand problems off and on for years. This past year has been particularly bad. Some days I wake up with my hands hurting, and other days, like today, I don't. It hurts to hold the steering wheel, or a kettle. Some days it hurts just to press down on the keys of my laptop.

It could be arthritis. Have you been tested for rheumatoid arthritis and x-rayed for arthritis? The jury is still out on what causes my hand pain; everything but MS has been ruled out.

Hope you find some relief.

I keep racking my brain to think if I could have hit it on something....I guess I didn't think MS would do this?? guess it can do whatever it wants!!

MS can do whatever it wants, but that does not mean it's attacking your hand. Does this stiffness and soreness ease on its own after a period of time? When you say "very sore", would you describe it as a burning type pain? Is it mainly in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers?

If your answers are yes, you might be experiencing carpel tunnel syndrome. Try Googling it and see if your symptoms match.

No, it is not a burning/tingling like I get in my right arm. It is painful to try and close my hand or open a turn cap....and yes, it is mainly my 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers and the knuckles and palm area too. And it does ease as the day goes on, unless I try to open something or lean on a counter.

CTS is something to consider. No one's symptoms for everything are classic/by the book. Ask your neurologist about it!

I have it, according to a neuro many years ago. It doesn't bother me very often any more. When it did it hurt SO BAD I wanted to cry! Then it would rather abruptly stop hurting.

I've had weak hands for years, can't put gas in the tank, have trouble with opening things.
And during bad times I would drop everything (sometimes I still do, without even realizing I'm about to drop something). I have to consciously hang onto things, not trust in my hands to remain gripped. However, I have little pain and x-rays done years ago before a cortisone shot in my wrist showed I have no arthritis. "Least arthritis in hands I have seen" said the doctor. I do not know what CTS is.

CTS = Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Not sure how I would get CTS; I hardly do anything! haha

It could be MS. Does your arm hurt at all? I know that when I have bad muscle spasms in my arms I will wake up like that and with nail marks on my palms.

It could also be a type of arthritis. Morning stiffness is typical with arthritis. Try some ice or heat, which ever makes you feel better or try SalonPas. They work great for that type of pain.

It could also be something totally different. I would put a call in to your PCP and take it from there as at this point, you don't know if it is MS or not. Let us know how you are doing and what the dr. says.