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Specific knuckle stiffness (Read 8483 times)

spidermonkey09

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#25 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
April 13, 2018, 01:47:56 pm
This occurred to me just after I got interested! The logic doesn't really follow for me sadly.

Scouse D

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#26 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
April 13, 2018, 02:46:14 pm
No worries. But whether the logic follows or not I'd still have a feel up the top side of your forearm for trigger points as the extensor muscles do refer to the fingers and the joints of the fingers. In your op you said they were stiff, not swollen so it could be referred from forearm? I'm just saying don't rule it out. From mine and nais experience, forearm massage makes the pips less hurty.


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#28 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
April 17, 2018, 01:28:31 pm

After asking a masseuse to give my forearms a quick look and him advising they were very tight and full of trigger points, I started self massage on them and actually bought an Armaid in the end (which is great, btw).

They really are full of points from elbow to wrist, inside and out and have benefited daily massage and stretching, haven't had a squeak from either PIP or elbow since becoming diligent about out it 6-8 weeks ago.

I suspect a lot of climbers golfers and tennis diagnoses are down to tightness and trigger points rather than actual injuries which is why many folk find 'alternative' methods work when the usual remedies haven't.

+1 to all of the above. After months of trying to sort out tennis elbow with Julian Saunders' exercises etc, i went to a sports masseuse and he utterly beasted my forearms, saying they were ridiculously tight. Within about a week, all pain was gone and (touch wood) hasn't come back. I'm too cheap to buy an armaid, but have had great success with religious stretching
and a standard foam roller up against a wall or somewhere where i pull in and bring full strength against the roller and really work the trigger points. Painful (but not as bad as an Armaid!) but it works.

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#29 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 01, 2018, 11:06:24 am
I'm interested in this thread.

I have a number of finger joints on both hands that are permanently painful to press. Some are a bit swollen and the worst one on my right middle finger DIP is always a bit red/pink compared to a healthy finger. Quite a few of my fingers actually have this red/pink bit going towards the nail actually.

I saw a specialist some time ago who diagnosed it as early onset arthritis (and essentially said, manage it but keep climbing) but reading the above I wonder if I have capsulitis/volar plate injuries and should seek a second diagnosis.

Fultonius

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#30 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 01, 2018, 09:44:49 pm
I'm suffering with middle finger DIP pain just now, right along the back edge of the knuckle (i.e. nail side, not pad side).It mainly hurts when clenching a fist but also certain lifting movements.

 It's been a long onset...."manageable" type of pain. Bit stiff and sore after climbing and the next day. However, last week I was away for a week ski touring and thought "great, a week rest and cold treatment" but it just got worse and worse. It's now quite sharpand the knuckle is starting to look like my dad's when he had rheumatoid arthritis!!!  (i.e. there's a noticeable firm lump on the back outside of the joint line)

Anyway, standard doc appointment tomorrow but we'll see what they say. Wondering if it could be a stress fracture?

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#31 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 03, 2018, 09:23:13 am
I'm interested in this thread.

I have a number of finger joints on both hands that are permanently painful to press. Some are a bit swollen and the worst one on my right middle finger DIP is always a bit red/pink compared to a healthy finger. Quite a few of my fingers actually have this red/pink bit going towards the nail actually.

I saw a specialist some time ago who diagnosed it as early onset arthritis (and essentially said, manage it but keep climbing) but reading the above I wonder if I have capsulitis/volar plate injuries and should seek a second diagnosis.

I was initially diagnosed with arthritis but as it was affecting my work as an outdoor instructor I was sent to a specialist. He was well regarded and his conclusion was that even though the blood tests and physical signs seemed to be arthritis that it was just inflammation as this can also look like mild arthritis. He was right.

spidermonkey09

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#32 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 03, 2018, 10:30:02 am
What did the doc say Fultonius? I've been managing mine through a bit of stretching, a bit of forearm extensor massage and generally trying to be smart. Hasn't gone away, but hasn't got worse either!

Scouse D

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#33 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 03, 2018, 12:25:42 pm
If you go and see a gp you will get referred on as they are not specialists. This is in no way a criticism as my wife is a GP, they are generally not specialists in musculoskeletasl stuff. If you present with general achey joints and stiffness then there is a very good chance you will be 'diagnosed' with arthritis.
Being told you have 'arthritis' is never helpful. 'Early onset arthritis' sounds terrible. You feel like you are falling apart. It makes you stop using your body how it way designed. I was told I had arthritis in my ankle after I broke it ('OH that's bad arthritis you've got' - guess how that made me feel... guess how that made me walk, 'I've got to be careful, I've got arthritis'). I was subsequently told it wasn't arthritis by a more enlightened healthcare practitioner and I needed to start walking normally and using my ankle. It's loads better now, as is my mental health.
I would stop chasing a diagnosis. A diagnosis of a condition makes you feel shite and will only be a guess based on the fact you have inflammation and stiffness. You are far more likely to have overused some muscles in your forearm than have developed a degenerative condition to worry about.  Have you been climbing loads? Have you done much forearm care? Have a good feel up the extensors on the back of your forearm. Healthy muscle shouldn't have tender points, I reckon you'll find some up near the elbow on the top of the forearm- have a good dig about. Try pressing into these spots firmly for about 30 seconds or so until the tenderness diminishes then wiggle your fingers to see if they feel a bit less stiff. If hey do then it's probably worth getting a sports massage/trigger point/dry needle/whatever massage technique you prefer.

Fultonius

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#34 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 03, 2018, 01:12:41 pm
GP was great, said it could be a Heberden's node (arthritis) but more likely a ligament inflammation or potentially a stress fracture.

Sent straight for an xray, which, praise to our local NHS was done in about ten minutes from entering the hospital!

Strong anti inflamatories and rest, wait for results.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2018, 01:28:56 pm by Fultonius »

pat69

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#35 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 09, 2018, 11:18:04 am
I've been using the wave tool to work on adhesions and also to increase blood flow after hard sessions and general maintenance on my  fingers and arms with some real success.

[https://youtu.be/X4V1Qs41dHE]

Fultonius

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#36 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
May 23, 2018, 07:24:24 pm
X-Rays all clear, so no bone injuries or arthritis. Not much help or advice either...
Quote
It'll get better with rest.
  Good news I guess, but I'm a bit lost now.

Fultonius

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#37 Re: Specific knuckle stiffness
July 04, 2018, 02:49:09 pm
Unsurprisingly, I didn't get lucky with a super-knowledgeable GP this time...  6 weeks later, no improvement.

Speaking to a climbing mate I got a recommendation to see Phil Mack in Edinburgh as he's apparently pretty experienced with climbers hands. I'm glad I did, but wish I had ages ago!

After 10 minutes of questions and a through examination he showed me on a diagram where the flexor extensor!! tendon bifurcates just past the back side of the DIP joint and where it inserts. Precisely where I've had pain. It was very much an "aha" moment as it explains why it was rarely directly sore from individual moves, but more of a nagging niggly building type pain.

I then said "oh, by the way, I've also had lateral (tennis) tendinitis/tendinosis in both elbows in the last year" - he thought this was linked and it'll be down to a change in my movement patterns.

Either way, deep cross friction, dry needling and some laser for the a few session plus an immediate and careful return to climbing to restore function.

Obviously it's early days but I'm glad to have a diagnosis that makes sense and I can treat. I think Dave Macleod said it right when he said something akin to "keep searching until you find the correct expert". Amen.
« Last Edit: July 04, 2018, 03:14:11 pm by Fultonius »

 

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