Does anyone suffer from random hand cramping and finger contractures?

@kalliope56 The peoples pharmacy (in the library) has this and other recommendations,

@kalliope56 but were your levels normal when they were ACTUALLY cramping? I have the same issues, and it's also normally when I'm dehydrated. So to test me on a normal day, my levels would be fine too. And I also wouldn't be having the cramps.

@kilh
Have you been checked for Raynaud’s? I hope you feel better soon.

My experience with fingers twisting is trigger finger caused by osteoarthritis. I have had injections in both hands at the base of trigger fingers. I am 88 and my fingers are deforming over the past four years. Arthritis pain in these hands isn't funny. I have found that any of the better arthritis relieving creams gives a few hours of temporary relief, such as Lidocaine Plus, Arnicare Gel, or Voltaren cream. Wish I knew how to slow this advancing arthrits down. Do not be afraid of having a hand specialist give you an injection occasionally. It does give months of relief from that severe pain. I can immediately push the finger back into place.

I'm a 77 year old woman with PMR and RA. My PMR is currently under control, but I started cramping hands and fingers a few years ago. It was not daily at first and increased until it was interfering with my daily activities - brushing my teeth, driving etc. I went to three different surgeons, who gave me three different types of surgeries that I should do. I went to two different Family docs, who said drink more water. (This was in Arizona) Interestingly, I was in the hospital for 5 days with pneumonia, and the hand/finger cramping completely disappeared. My Family doc pointed out that my body was being flushed with liquids. Since then two things have happened. One, I drink a lot more water, and two, I now have RA. My brother is just beginning to experience hand cramping. I'm curious to see if he develops RA, just wondering if the cramping is early stage of RA. I'm on Humira now for the incredible pain of RA. I've been told that PMR and RA can not be treated together. Cramping is still occasional and so is the RA pain, but it is less sever and less frequent. No PMR issues at the moment, but if I get a flare up, I'll need to start Prednisone again and then taper. I eat healthy, get 8 hours of sleep, exercise daily, (currently just walking due to shoulder injury), limit my alcohol intake, and drink more water. I do everything that I can to battle for my health, and that's all I can do until the next challenge comes along. Hopes this gives you insight.

Yes. It became a real issue for me, as I'm a working guitarist. After much discussion with pharmacists and doctors that are in my family --- first, cramping can be related to dehydration, even if you may not think you're dehydrated. For this, I've been using an electrolyte replacement water drink mix called "Liquid IV". It's for sports activity rehydration. Coupled with that, as per the pharmacist's recommendation, is to take Magnesium Glycinate capsules. Since I started the drink mix and Magnesium capsules I've had no problems with cramping. It was really bad this year with my fingers pulling over like that. For whatever reason, my Dups stays dormant for a while, then gets aggressive, as it did over the past eight months or so. I'm headed for my 4th NA in a few weeks, hoping to extend my music career, but once I lose enough dexterity, it's over. At least I seem to have conquered the cramping.

I had cramping in my pinky and ring finger, predominantly on my right side. I had cubital tunnel syndrome. The cramping was awful. In any event, I had cubital tunnel release surgery on both elbows and have not had any further problems. Good luck.

Might it also be your meds

@cindychesler Technically, you had cubital tunnel surgery. I know because my nerve conduction study concluded I had both. Here is a page from the Cleveland Clinic about the two types:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4005-carpal-tunnel-syndrome
But labels don't matter. Was your surgeon able to do it under local anesthesia? I am terrified at my age of general anesthesia.

@martyg Yes. When I first was diagnosed and after I went under the care of an epileptologist, he ordered a neuro-psych exam, useful as a baseline. After 2 years on the meds, I was having a lot of memory and dexterity issues, prompting me to inquire. Understandably, the dexterity, slowness, tremors and difficulty overall was likely due to the brain-slowing meds (playing guitar and using tools it's as if I'd been drinking), I wanted to know if my memory issues were due to the meds, or possible complications arising from my cavernous angioma, or was it brain damage from the seizures. He ordered a second neuro-psych test and an MRI, where it was concluded that it was likely the meds.

My memory was once my gift. I had excellent math and music skills. All gone. I can't accurately work with numbers. I have facial blindness. I can't be trusted to swing a hammer. I'm afraid to drive, even though I've been seizure-free since 2019. I doubt I could pass a field sobriety test. I lose my balance if my eyes are closed or if I turn my head too fast. We've decreased the dosage to the lowest my epileptologist feels comfortable with.

I have forgotten what it feels like to be sober. I'm persistent, especially with myself, so I'll keep trying. Wrestling with my own discomfort seems to come with the territory.