Hi all. Diagnosed 4 mos ago, and on Biaxin, Plaquenil, Penicillin, sonn to go on Doxycyclene.
Have many neurological issues, but one symptom I have I don't see discussed much. Almost overnight, all my fingers became stiff, worse in mornings and evenings, and several developed "trigger-finger". Sometimes my fingers are locked in a clench and I have to pry them open. Can be extremely painful, other times just annoying.
Anyone have this? I read that Borelia loves tendons, and trigger-finger is a tendon phenomenon.
Is it possible that this is a neurological symptom and not a tendon symptom?
Posted by Lawrence (Member # 16436) on :
I've had Lyme's for 2 years and just diagnosed mid July 2008, was on Doxy and now on Rocephin. Spinal tap showed it was in my spine and brain.
In May or June I had 3 of my fingers on my left hand I believe stiff at any one time but it changed every day for about a week or two and went to other fingers then it went away on it's own.
Posted by KKYOUNG (Member # 10024) on :
I have a scooter I am riding back and forth to work and numerous times I have had my fingers "lock up" on me and will not move. Particularly scary when your on a bike.
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
I experienced that a number of times. You can also see the girl in "Under Our Skin" has it at one point in the film.
I think it's a neurologic symptom.
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
I've had this, too. Very painful. I can offer you some hope...
It was worse before diagnosis and treatment. I am a sculptor, and my hands would lock up after working for some time - I blamed it on too many hours doing meticulous work with tiny tools.
Then it began to happen spontaneously. It's what made me wake up and stop accepting the fibromyalgia, MS diagnoses and really investigate further.
Now, after treatment, it doesn't happen as often - but I have never gotten back to doing hours of detail work at a time, so not sure if that might set it off again.
However, after about 8 mos of treatment - I was again able to use a fork and knife and to cut my own food! Minor miracle!
Now, 3+ years later... it is a memory only. I hope the same will happen for you.
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
I have had this happen too, especially to one of my fingers that I had sprained years ago.
Another thing is that my fingers, mostly knuckles, are so swollen all the time that I haven't been able to get my rings off for 3 years. One of them really needs to be resized as the band is pretty worn, but I don't want to spend big bucks to have it removed and resized.
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
....Yep when driving sometimes I've had my thumb cross over my palm and just sort of weld itself there...this is usually accompanied by a real painful shin splint in my right leg.
I've taken neurontin and supplemented CA and K for it...also ultram.
it doesn't happen much anymore...don't know if it's even lyme related..I kind of doubt it somehow...
Charlie
Posted by lymemommy (Member # 12495) on :
I haven't had the hands or fingers freeze on me, but they have definately felt swollen and stiff as in harder to bend than they should be.
Kind of like I would expect them to feel when I'm, say 80 years old, as opposed to the 41 that I really am.
It went away when I started abx, but my tummy rejected ABX in a big way, so now it's back.
Also, I only test pos for bart and myco, not lyme, if that means anything.
take care, kp
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I have also had this happen many times. Not so much since treating for quite some time.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Yep. It's very common for lyme patients. And, it can get better.
Sleeping with carpel tunnel braces on helps me.
Don't push your hands too much, but just the right amount of massage/stretching can help in addition to addressing infections and collagen support.
Magnesuim and fish oil help decrease the pain for me.
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[ 25. October 2008, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by onthemend (Member # 13454) on :
Before I ever knew I was sick and getting sicker, I started waking up in the middle of the night with both of my hands clenched so tightly that it was a painful struggle to 'unfist' them. I would actually sit there and wonder 'gee - am I nervous about something? no, I'm not. so - why is this happening?'
It was a looonnnnng time later that the dx was made and all of these strange symptoms formed a picture.
It did go away for me, although I have fleeting reoccurances now and then. And by the way, I've suffered from a lot of hand incoordination during this struggle, too.
Best -
otm
Posted by jamescase20 (Member # 14124) on :
this is a common tbd sign.
My feet warmed up after being cold for years on a bart target drug gentimincin.
Who knows whats going on...my nathpath was unable to walk suddenly a few months ago and had to go to mexico for a high risk treatment. She has recovered, but lyme hatchlings are now coming back.
Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :
When I *first* got bartonella, I simultaneously developed bartonella cardiac symptoms and my hands froze into what I could only call "claw hands" where my fingers all froze clumped tightly together and bent forward like claws. It was really scary and I could not pry them apart for a long time.
I have not had that since then, though I have had symptoms where I suddenly can't move at all for a period of time, obviously neurological, but it's not centered in my hands.
Is this symptom common to bart vs. Lyme? Does anyone know?
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
I too have stiffness in my hands and get trigger finger off and on. My other joints are stiff off and on, but my hands are usually always stiff to some degree. I hate when I get trigger finger(s). Scary and annoying.
Posted by Dawnee (Member # 15089) on :
YES!!! Sometimes it seems to act up worse than others.
Yesterday I was peeling fruit with a knife and it was like my knuckles/fingers would get this stiff and sort of lock in place. I would try to open my whole hand and the last two fingers on my hand were a lot slower to react because they were just sort of "stuck".
Had the same thing happen a few months ago, except I was using a video recorder to tape my daughter's choir. Next thing I know, I can barely zoom in and out because my fingers were sticking in one position.
I also have issues with my right thumb always wanting to be kind of curled into my palm, and also I wake up in the middle of the night/morning with my fists clenched tight.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I had this happen for the first time a few weeks ago.
This after two years of treatment even.
I could not for the life of me hold a pencil and sign my child's homework.
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