Arthritis in Hands & Elsewhere - Questions? - Arthritis Message Board

WannaBeFreeToRoam · 01-28-2006, 08:40 AM

Hi everyone,

I need some help, answers, stories and/or advice! I have RA arthritis. It is in a lot of parts of my body. The bad parts seem to change from time to time! Right now, one of my most hurting parts, are my hands and wrists. Here is one question: Does anyone ever get really dry hands and sores on their hands/fingers and around their fingernails? Mine has just started up in the past 3 - 4 weeks. Never has done it before in 2 years!

Plus my sores, on my hands and finger and other parts of my body, seem to take forever to heal. I put Neosporin on them and aloe and hand lotion. It does help somewhat, but never seems to go away totally! Do any of yall have these same symptoms or problems?

I do go back to my rheumatologist in a couple of weeks. But, do not know if there is anything that she can do. Please help!

Any answers will be greatly appreciated.

Wannabe

WannaBeFreeToRoam · 01-30-2006, 11:59 PM

Hi Anyone?!

Please answer if you have any stories, advice and knowledge of my above post!!!

Thanks for your help!

Wannabe

creinha · 02-02-2006, 10:04 AM

I have RA and most of my problems are in my hands and wrists too. I have had problems with sores on my hands, but not from RA. It was contact dermatitis.

What do your sores look like?

WannaBeFreeToRoam · 02-02-2006, 12:40 PM

Hi Creinha,

Thanks for replying. My sores just cam up about a week or 2 ago. I started on Prednisone and Relafen about 2 mo. ago. My dose goes up and down depending on the weather and the pain.

Some of my sores/rash are just like red dots. They do not do anything, unless I itch them and then they turn into sores. And then some are like small light brown circles with beige in the middle. When my RA is real bad, they turn red and pink. If I do not scratch them, they just stay that way. I put neosporin on all my sores at least once a day. And then there are some flakey type sores/places. If I scrape at the flakes, then they become red and the flakes come off. It seems like there are about 3 different kinds of sore, on my hands, finger mostly and just past my wrists, on my arms.

I have not shown my Rheumatologist, because they were not there the last time I saw her! I go on the 20th of Feb., so...

What is contact dermatitis? And what do you do for it?

Thanks again.

Wannabe

creinha · 02-02-2006, 12:50 PM

Contact dermatitis is like an allergic reaction. I always take prednisone for it. I'm shocked the prednisone isn't helping yours. Maybe you could take a picture of your hands just in case it goes away before your next appointment?