Does anyone suffer from random hand cramping and finger contractures?

Posted by kalliope56 @kalliope56, Jun 15, 2023

I am at wit’s end with a problem I’ve been having with my hands and fingers. My hands randomly have spasms and my fingers randomly contract. In particular, the fingers that contract are my index finger in my middle finger and occasionally my thumb. My fingers curl inward towards my palm and will not release for a few minutes. I saw a hand specialist last week who took x-rays and checked me for carpal tunnel and trigger finger, and said I did not have any major issues with my hands. He thought the issue might be spine/nerve related and he referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist ordered blood tests to see if I had any vitamin/mineral deficiencies and also ordered a thyroid test. All results have come back normal. Something has got to be causing the painful spasms and the finger contractions. The neurologist prescribed Gabapentin, and I just started taking it. Has anyone else had experience with random hand spasms and finger contractions?

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michc | @michc | Jun 28, 2023

In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @michc, While you wait to see if anyone else with EDS has experienced similar problems..." + (show)

Hi, Thank you for the link. I did ask for recommended non invasive specialized therapy for people with EDS. He just told me to take the anti-inflammatory and see him in 6-8 weeks if it doesn’t improve for a steroid shot. That’s why I switched to someone else. I gently massage the fascia. I try to keep it straight especially at night, because in the morning it’s locked in super tight. I can hear and feel it click as I maneuver it to open.

Bluegrass Gal | @cindychesler | Jun 29, 2023

In reply to @marye2 "Magnesium and hand stretches. Mine is intermittent, and I think it is more so on days..." + (show)

I too have this very intermittently. It is also when I’m dehydrated, usually after a 3rd cup of tea. Lots of water helps. Skipping the 3rd cup helps too.

kalliope56 | @kalliope56 | Jun 29, 2023

In reply to @cindychesler "I too have this very intermittently. It is also when I’m dehydrated, usually after a 3rd..." + (show)

So the caffeine in tea brings it on?

Bluegrass Gal | @cindychesler | Jun 29, 2023

In reply to @kalliope56 "So the caffeine in tea brings it on?" + (show)

It seems so.

kalliope56 | @kalliope56 | Jun 29, 2023

In reply to @cindychesler "It seems so." + (show)

I’ve pretty much cut caffeine except for 1 cup of decaf coffee per week.

Bluegrass Gal | @cindychesler | Jun 29, 2023

In reply to @kalliope56 "I’ve pretty much cut caffeine except for 1 cup of decaf coffee per week." + (show)

I think the dehydration plays a big part.

TSB | @terrirussell | Jun 30, 2023

That sounds exactly like Dupuytryns Contracture…..I have it and also have EDS ……

gaetano | @gaetano | Jun 30, 2023

Try electrolytes start with gatorade also water

michc | @michc | Jun 30, 2023

In reply to @terrirussell "That sounds exactly like Dupuytryns Contracture…..I have it and also have EDS ……" + (show)

This is in my middle finger. All of my fingers do hyperextend, since the “trigger finger” the middle finger does not hyperextend and I feel the pain at the base of the ring finger too. I asked the hand specialist and he said because of the EDS, this shouldn’t occur. My primary hand specialist I can’t see because she’s booked solid for a while.

kalliope56 | @kalliope56 | Jun 30, 2023

In reply to @michc "This is in my middle finger. All of my fingers do hyperextend, since the “trigger finger”..." + (show)

My hand specialist said mine was not trigger finger, carpal tunnel, or Dup-Contracture, which is why he referred me to a neurologist. The Gabapentin seems to be working well; however, I would still like to determine the root cause of my problem.