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Has anyone experience swollen knuckle joint?
I was diagnosed with long covid in Nov 2021. Since then I have had a great many issues and problems some have come and gone and some have remained. I am noticing within the past couple of months my second finger on my right hand knuckle is constantly in pain needs to be cracked and is swollen. Had anyone else experienced any joint or knuckle swelling? I have in my joints all over my body but never in just my finger. Since covid,So many things go on with long covid I was just wondering was this something else to add to the list. Thank you in Advance for any replies.
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I just added it on to my list lol..that's all I can do
I have an autoimmune and the things that help are movement and rest. I wear wrist splints at night--even ones for the fingers that have pain and swelling. If pain cream doesn't work, I find that cutting a strip of lidocaine gel patch and putting it around the finger inside the splint helps. Ice/heat can be effective, too. During the day avoid repetitive motion (mouse is a culprit: get a roller mouse) and periodically do hand exercises like those for other hand issues to keep loose. I did get the shots once when my thumb and index finger went wild; and that fixed the pain, but still doing the splints, etc. An orthopedic is the doctor to go to: usually there's an xray and then referral to PT--mine is not RA, and bones and cartilage are ok.
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1 ReactionAsk your Dr. for a referral to Rheumatology and an "ANA" blood test. These evaluate for autoimmune disease. ANA is one of the standard lab tests recommended by the CDC & NIH for long covid.
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1 ReactionThank you! I go next week and I will ask him for the referral and lab test.
ANA is not always positive even when rheumatoid is present. In approximately 17% of patients with RA the tests are always negative. There is a form of RA that cannot be diagnosed by test results which medical science has started recognizing. It's like a milder form of RA but can be just as painful. It just doesn't cause quite as much damage but with all the symptoms.