Swelling of hands - Fibromyalgia Message Board

ladd3 · 02-17-2009, 09:17 PM

I have had fibromyalsia for several months now. At first I refused to take Lyrica because of the side affects. I tried to get by with Tramadol (Ultram) for a while, but it just did not take care of the pain. Most of my pain is in the muscles of the upper body: arms, shoulders, hands. In the beginning, I suffered in my upper legs and knees, but that is much better now. Finally after Tramadol didn't help enough, my pcp asked me to please try Lyrica. I am now taking 2 pills each night of the 50 mg of Lyrica. It has helped maybe 50%, but I hesitate to take more because I have gained about 5 pounds. Also, the Lyrica has caused my hands to swell. This problem just started a couple of weeks ago. My hands swell during the night and hurt very badly. I use warm rice bags and that helps a little with the pain. The pain in my hands is hindering me in my housework. It also hurts me to shake hands with people. Today my pcp gave me some topical medication, Voltaren Gel, to rub on my hands to help with the pain. Also she is increasing my arthritis medicine to see if that helps, since I am hesitant to increase the Lyrica. Does anyone out there have the swelling and bad pain in your hands, especially after beginning to take Lyrica?

Peekybro · 02-17-2009, 11:49 PM

Its odd hearing that Lyrica could be swelling your hands, it did nothing for me. But i regularly use wrist brasts (sp) and that helps with my swelling or pain i sometimes get. I would also suggest a cold pack, I use those almost daily.

I don't know if thats helpful, but cold helps me a lot.

HopeLaughs · 02-18-2009, 07:44 AM

I'm sorry that you're having this issue! I too, suffer with the swelling of the hands during the night and a lot of pain and stiffness, especially in the morning. I don't take Lyrica. My Reumy told me that the swelling was a result of the Fibro, and the pain was a result of my hypermobility syndrome (really, that's just a medical term for being really flexible). It seems backwards to me, but I'm not a doctor. Anyway, one thing I've noticed is that if I sleep with my hands flat, (not in a fist) things seem to be better. When I wake up during the night, I try to remember to flatten my hands back out. Oddly enough, every few months I get a little reprieve from it and get a few days when my hands seem mostly "normal", thankfully this is day two for me!! However, the day before I started my "remission", my hands were so swollen that I couldn't get my wedding bands off until lunch time.

I hope you get a reprieve soon too!

Pammyann · 04-02-2009, 01:02 PM

I have swelling of my hands sometimes, particulary at night. I take Lyrica but my hands were swelling even before. My legs swell sometimes too.

djl · 04-02-2009, 02:35 PM

I was on Lyrica due to compression of the spinal cord and neck injury about 1 1/2 years ago.. It never caused my hands to swell or weight gain. It did cause dizzyness that eventualy go away.

I do deal with swelling of my hands, but that started back in May of 2008 ( i was off the Lyrica ). The swelling started aprroximately 7 months before I was dx with Fibro.

But everyones bodies are different. Thet react to meds differently.
I would look into it if I were you just to be on the safe side.