Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group finger swelling???

Hi everyone, just wondering...does anyone experience finger swelling and pain??? I can honestly say that my lower back is stiff and painful every morning when I wake up...and Ive learned to live with that. But, the one thing that Ive found since starting the NSD is that if I cheat, even just a little, I wake up with swollen, sausage looking, painful fingers. Anyone else experience the same??

Dawn

Yep, its rather rare amongst AS sufferers but it does happen. You take any medication?



Carole

My fingers can become extremely painful, and swell some. They don't swell a lot, but they so swell up some. I'm not on any current medicine or diet.

I don't have problems most times with swelling in my fingers. They just are stiff and sore when I wake up in the morning.

Yep, I had some New England clam chowder one Friday and by Saturday afternoon my right thumb was swoolen and very painful. It took weeks for me to get back to normal. It seem that the potatoes is what did it. I am not on any diet but I hadn't eaten potatoes in months.
Check this out. I thought I had this. Scroll down and check out the hands.
Hope this is just something tempory for you.
God bless
Doreen

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040615/2853.html

I keep having my one big toe swelling. I have had this happen a few times..Once in my early twenties and I was given antibiotics and it went away..Just recently it happened again, stayed painful for about one month and then went away again.

Hi Dawn,
I don't know if I'd call them sausage looking, but I have significant problems with my hands/various fingers and joints. My worse are the left hand ring finger, two thumbs, and the 1st, 2nd and 4th nuckle on my right hand. I haven't been able to wear my wedding band or diamond for months now. The ring finger middle nuckle stays enlarged, and is obviously larger than the others. Sometimes it gets so sore it will wake me out of a sleep if I bend it during the night. My thumbs both have "trigger finger"(?) and get so sore sometimes that it's hard to dress or just maneuver things. There are days that my whole hand will be swollen. I just did a prednisone taper because of my hands.
I hope that yours don't give you too much trouble. I have about 5or 6 areas that are persistent and my hands are one of them. I don't know any tips to give you as far as keeping it under control. AS pretty much goes where it wants to. I can however give you a couple of tips if you need some help with your surroundings if your hands continue to be a problem. Take care, Wanda

Did your AS start in your big toe?
Mine started in my left heal. For the last couple of weeks I have had heal pain, but not enough to stop me from doing what I need to do including exercise.
I wondered wyh it came back since I am fused and have AS for over 50 years now.
Doreen

Hi Doreen,
Thank you so much for the link to that site. Ive done tons of research and havent come upon that one. Its quite resourceful. Ive been follwing the NSD since July and I can already see a difference in my symptoms. I developed painful sweling in my left knee without any injury...something Id never experienced before. Im a nurse and it was extremely difficult to be on my feet for long 12 hour shifts. That is what prompted me to try the diet....after lots of research. Low and behold, my knee swelling completely resolved within several days. The other night I cheated and ate tortilla chips. The next morning my fingers were painful, shiny and swollen. Im so thankful for everyone that has shared their stories and advice. Its funny, even though Im in the medical field, I truly believe in alot of cases, certainly not all, that we can heal ourselves without medication. With willpower and support, it is definately possible. And by the way, my toes also give me problems at times...

Take care, Dawn

I only take Ibuprofen when necessary. I was on Plaquenil 2 years ago but started to lose my hair, so I stopped it. Would much rather manage this with diet and excercise for as long as possible.

Dawn