Ok, now.. I have been having this for around 4 months and when I wake up in the middle of the night or in the morning(Mainly in the morning) My hands, both left and right are closed shut. When I try to open them, it hurts so very bad, that I cannot stand it!! I mean I have to pry them open with one hand prying the right, the other hand prying the left to open thm!! They are swelled, along with my left foot and ankle, but the hands hurt so bad!! I don't know why they even close so darn tight while I am sleeping. And I sometimes leave them shut, rather than prying them open. I feel like I am making no sense here! Well, this is all about what is going on. does anyone know why this happens? It never happened before I got the "Beast, RSD"??)The pain feels like my hands are both broken! When I do open them, they try to close again and I have to lay them both flat on each side of the bed and cry like a huge baby!! I hate to even mention I cry! Well, if anyone knows? has had this, please tell me is it the RSD? something else? Thank you!~Love, Desi

Swelling and stiffness, especially in the morning, is one of the symptoms of arthritis. There is much more to a good diagnosis, of course, and you have other things going on, too.

But, my rheumatologist has seen very few "combination" patients -- both rheumatiod arthritis and RSD -- and has commented that my symptome are not exactly like most RA patients.

If your regular doctor is not able to get anywhere, ask about a referral to a rheumatologist.

Hope you get better. This could be a simple treatment. (Fingers crossed, even though it hurts!)

Mike

Hi Mike and thank you very much for your reply! My PCD already sent me to a rheumatologist and there is no sign of that. So, my PCD also ran a series of tests and wants me to go back in about a month to see if it has anything to do with RSD?? This is all just so crazy and I can't understand why I am getting this now?? I mean I never had it before? The pain, hurting. Can it do anything to relate to the RSD? He said there is a possiability, but how?? I have RSD in my right wrist, it then spread to my arm, shoulder, left foot, ankle.. but both hands hurting like this is really a puzzle! thank you again, Mike! ~Love, Desi

Hi Desi,

You poor thing. This is still going on? I haven't been around much lately because of my sacro pain but my mother-in -law had a problem with her hand that turned out to be cellulitis. Just wanted to pass that on to you so maybe you could ask about it. Hope you get help soon.

Linmarie

Desi,

My hands often curl up.. I often wake up with my hands looking like what you have described yours to be doing. My hands also do this when I am stressed and sometimes for unknown reason.

My doc checked for arthritis.. none found. He said that it has to be the RSD. My right foot has been curled under for about 3 yrs now. Left foot has been curled for about a year.

Just thought I'd let you know you are not alone.


Abbie

Hi Desi,
I have read that some people have dystonia associated with their RSD. Maybe if you google that, it might provide some info.
Good luck,
Jeanne

Desi, so sorry to hear about the pain with your hands. I have been through that too and always the answer is it is RSD... Im so tried of hearing that- but I have found out I could have lack of oxygen at night- sleep apena. Possibly this could contribute? Any problems with that and you? Just a thought but I was told it cauing this- lack of oxygen along with our vascoconstriction from RSD- I hope this improves for you CZ

Oh my goodness friends,
I was just reading all the threads on this board and noticed that I never thanked anyone, except for Mike! i am sooo sorry!! Please forgive my forgetfulness! Blamb it on RSD hu?? LOL
Anyway, thank you LinMarie!! It is so great to hear from you!! Cellulitis?? I nevver heard of that. I will google that as soon as I thank the other's! Thank you sweetie, and I do hope that your sacro pain, that your having lets up! gosh!! you must be in so much pain!! I will keep you in prayer sweet one! ~Love, Desi

Hi Abbie! Yes, I too think it has got to be the RSD thing too. I was hurting with this curled up hands all morning and night, sometimes in the day, too. I will get that tingling, (Fall asleep pain in both hands and then it go's numb), then the hands curl up in bad, bad pain) Are you still getting this often? Thanks for your reply and please try to write more and post when you can! You have been missed! ~Much Love, LinMarie!~Love, Desi

Hi Jeanne! How are things going your way, sweetie? good I sure hope! dystonia? yea, I heard of that!! Maybe I should google that, like you mentioned! Thank you!!~Love, Desi

Hey ya CZ Thank you for your post about possiable sleep apena! A-hem... I do snore at night and even with my tonsils, adnoids out, Lack of oxygen could maybe doing this?? Hmmmm.. I just hate going to those docs that have beds and you know they watch you sleep! knowing me, I would be up all night, unless they gave me a sedative! But, guess they want you to fall asleep on your own. My husband had to do this and he is wearing a mask with fresh air going through. He does not wear this mask. I tried it a few times and it just feels so good, put me right to sleep. His machine was free(Uncle Sam) for being disabled 100% from that darn vietnam war), so why let it set here, when I can use it. They made him wear this(I brought up his machine, as it is at his level of "Air" going through for him). so, I will ask my PCD about it. as this is getting outta hand now with with my hands acting up like this. ~Love Desi

Hey Desi!
I'm going through, catching up on stuff. My boyfriend of forever and I broke up and I moved and I've just been blah for a while now. But I'm starting to feel a bit alive and thought I'd check in here. And I was just so disheartened over the big "incident" that took place earlier this year. But people seem to be a bit more supportive these days. So that's good. Thanks people!

I just wondered if you had tried wrapping your hands in a heat pad at all? When my foot cramps up this helps a lot. Yours sounds quite a bit more severe than my foot, but maybe it could help a bit! You're just always such a sweetheart and I hate to hear that you're not doing too well. I hope that this helps! Sometimes it's the little things that we overlook or forget that can help a lot. I know that my ex would always make me peppermint tea, which helps my tummy tolerate all of my meds. And now I have to remember that on my own. I'll have an upset tummy and can't figure out why and then I'll realize, oh yeah, nobody brought me my tea! Have to make it myself! It's hard being demoted from being a princess!

Hope you're feeling better!
Lynn

Hi Desi - it's not arthritis, it's dystonia. Horribly painful. It is important to pry your hands open no matter how hard it is, because your hands could get stuck that way permanently. Maybe wearing some hand braces at night could help? sorry you're getting this symptom too