Does anyone suffer from random hand cramping and finger contractures?

Hi I have a lot of hand issues very similar to yours. My main problem fingers are the ring and middle of both hands. They have recently started to swell and are extremely painful. But I have a lot more symptoms. They can check if there is cervical involvement when they do the nerve conduction studies and EMG's so im not sure why he did not check while he was doing them if he thought it was spine/nerve related. Thats what they did for me anyway. I have dupuytrens chords showing in one of my palms but briefly it was the main cause of my pain. After 6 yrs I was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic paraplegia but they are unwilling to definitively say thats what is causing my hands to be a mess. My knuckles are all swollen and fingers are all so stiff and my hands get ice cold. Cold temperature really makes them spasms or if im over tired my body locks up too. The vascular doctor said it was dysautonomia. I kept getting passed around by the doctors and they all want to send me to rheumatology but every test is normal and they say it isn't anything autoimmune. I refuse to take gabapentin it scares me. I have been given robaxin for my spasms and it works pretty decent. I get spasms all over not just my hands. It doesn't take me out like the others. I also use a paraffin wax bath for my hands and have a litte massage that kinda looks like those things you put your hands in to dry your nails at the salon but it has air pockets that cycle and it massages your hands. It works enough to put me to sleep lol. I hope you get some answers.

I'm getting the same symptoms. Only the right hand, with the index finger. Started right after I painted the bedroom. Retired at 69 years old. Sometimes I wake up with hand cramping. A friend of mine recommended a vitamin B complex.
Does not help; the vitamin B complex only turned my pee really yellow and smelly.
Stretching does help a little.
Appreciate any good ideas.
Except for Vitamin B complex.

This sounds strange but my husband and I swear by pickle juice and yellow mustard. I also notice I get more hand, finger, and arm cramps when dehydrated. Now, it could also be our cervical spine issues and surgeries haven't fully resolved that area. But, try the pickle juice and/or mustard. I also use CBD roll-on oils on those areas if you want to stay on the natural path. I've used Voltaren also. Hope it helps. Take care!

@beancat425
Many I know swear by pickle juice!
I love pickles, so I'm going to try drinking it sev X wk, maybe 1/4 c ?
I also know turmeric powder works for inflammation, it has helped w/ my arthritis in hands, knees. I usually mix it in my scrambled eggs, egg salad, soups , salad dressing, stews. But make sure you also add sprinkling of blk pepper to help absorb it

The pickle juice works well for me.

Dr. Claire K. Nackoney

Lately my fingers have been cramping up = I may try the pickle juice again. Thanks for the reminner

Hi. I posed your question to ChatGPT and said "my friend has..." Here's what came up. (About the Gabapentin: do some research on that drug. Watch some medical videos about it on youtube. Not a good drug to be taking if you can do w/o it. I took it once and had to get off of it. (I had neuro Lyme disease and was prescribed that before I actually was diagnosed/treated.)

What your friend is describing sounds more like muscle cramping, dystonia, or nerve-related muscle contractions than a structural hand problem.
Some possibilities a neurologist might consider include:
Cervical spine (neck) issues – A pinched nerve in the neck can sometimes cause hand weakness, spasms, cramping, or abnormal finger movements. The hand specialist's comment about the spine makes sense.
Focal hand dystonia – A neurological movement disorder where muscles contract involuntarily, causing fingers to curl or assume abnormal positions. It can occur intermittently.
Peripheral nerve disorders – Problems with nerves outside the brain and spinal cord can sometimes cause cramping and spasms.
Muscle cramp syndromes – Some people develop recurrent painful cramps despite normal blood work.
Early movement disorders – Less commonly, neurologists look for conditions affecting muscle control and coordination.
Medication effects – Certain medications can contribute to muscle cramps or dystonic reactions.
Electrolyte fluctuations not captured on testing – Even with normal lab results, occasional shifts in hydration or electrolytes can sometimes contribute.
A few questions that would help narrow things down:
How old is your friend?
Does it affect one hand or both?
Do the spasms occur during specific activities (writing, typing, cooking, driving)?
Is there any numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness?
Any neck pain or history of neck arthritis/disc problems?
Do the fingers "lock" in a particular position, or is it more of a painful cramp?
The neurologist will often order an EMG/NCS (nerve conduction study) if the blood tests are normal. That test can identify many nerve and muscle disorders that don't show up on X-rays or routine lab work.
One thing that catches my attention is that the fingers involved are mainly the index finger, middle finger, and thumb, which are largely supplied by nerves that originate from the C6-C7 levels in the neck. That doesn't prove it's a neck issue, but it makes the spine theory worth investigating.
If your friend develops worsening weakness, trouble using the hand, muscle wasting, or symptoms spreading to other body areas, they should let the neurologist know promptly rather than waiting for the next appointment.

I changed neurologists and the new one suggested the problem could be related to hydrochlorothiazide, the BP med I was on. He suggested that the spasms might be related to a sudden electrolyte imbalance caused by the diuretic. I weaned myself off Gabapentin and stopped the diuretic both with dr approval. Although I still get cramps from time to time, they are few and far between, and pickle juice resolves them quickly.

@kalliope56 but what have you done to replace your anti-hypertensive medication? The diuretic was to keep off excess water weight?

I do , sometimes I have to "gently" push my fingers to get them to straighten out , after they cramp up. gripping things sets it off, hand pain especially across the base of the palms. down the sides of the palms from the little fingers down.