Hand swelling then shrinking back

[Evoluzione]

Doctor PH, what do you think to this?!

I was getting ready to go out for lunch yesterday and found I couldn't get my decent watch over my hand, tried a few times and no way would it go on.
Tried again this morning at a similar time and it slipped over just fine, I hadn't done anything different with it then or over the last few days.
So what was all that about?

[78Pace]

I have a similar problem. From time to time one or both of my hands puff up so that I can't bend my fingers much at all. It usually lasts a day or so for me. The GPs have no idea what it might be. I suspect some sort of allergic reaction but I've not narrowed it down to anything conclusively. It tends to happen in warmer weather but if that was the issue then it would have been worse than usual last summer (which it wasn't).

[Evoluzione]

78Pace said:

I have a similar problem. From time to time one or both of my hands puff up so that I can't bend my fingers much at all. It usually lasts a day or so for me. The GPs have no idea what it might be. I suspect some sort of allergic reaction but I've not narrowed it down to anything conclusively. It tends to happen in warmer weather but if that was the issue then it would have been worse than usual last summer (which it wasn't).

It's not arthritis and you don't get any pins and needles in your hands do you?

[drmike37]

More info would help:
Just one hand, or both?
Ever happened before or since?
Painful? Redness? Stiffness?
Any other bits of you swell up/ get stiff? (fnar)
Any pins and needles or similar?
Do you have any medical history? Specifically things like autoimmune disease, diabetes, inflammatory problems?

Most likely just a bit warm, but other causes are available. I know it's the standard cop out but.... If it becomes a feature your GP would be the correct first port of call.

(I am a hand surgeon, but I'm not a rheumatologist - or a physician of any sort - by a long way).

[Evoluzione]

drmike37 said:

More info would help:
A. Just one hand, or both?
B. Ever happened before or since?
C. Painful? Redness? Stiffness?
D. Any other bits of you swell up/ get stiff? (fnar)
E. Any pins and needles or similar?
F. Do you have any medical history? Specifically things like autoimmune disease, diabetes, inflammatory problems?

Most likely just a bit warm, but other causes are available. I know it's the standard cop out but.... If it becomes a feature your GP would be the correct first port of call.

(I am a hand surgeon, but I'm not a rheumatologist - or a physician of any sort - by a long way).

Thanks for posting, I didn't know we had a surgeon on board and as this was just a one-off so far I wasn't worried about it, more interested. Also I do have underlying conditions with my hands, but have never known this before. This left hand is waiting for carpal tunnel release, right one done about 2 months ago.
On that note do you know the answer to this? Since the surgery (which has been successful) my grip has been reduced quite a lot, will it come back in time? This does worry me. My left hand now has better grip than the right, before it was probably the other way around or at least equal. Should I be doing some exercises? This worries me waiting for CTR surgery on what is now the hand which has most grip, but 'between rock and a hard place' there.

To answer your questions:

A. I don't know, but (as per above) they are now mismatched anyhow. I only know this happened because of my watch and I only wear it on the left of course. That aside I wouldn't have known as it wasn't detectable in any way.

B. Not that i've noticed.

C. Nope.

D. No swelling, but I do have arthritis. How widespread this is now I don't know, I was last scanned for it a long time ago and it was in my spine and over my shoulders (only the former is detectable to me). Presumably it's spread, but as it can't be stopped I haven't bothered finding out more.

E. Yes to P & N due to CT

F. Only type 2 diabetes. This was blamed as the cause of CT, but I don't think they took into consideration my job which has put a lot shock loading through my hands over the years (vibrating tools, hammering, vibrating machinery etc).

[drmike37]

A few things..

Diabetes causes carpal tunnel sundrome. It can also be a cause of generalised and variable hand swelling and stiffness.

Vibrating tools don’t as a rule cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
They can cause white finger but this is quite different and requires a very specific set of symptoms/signs.

Arthritis also causes hand swelling. Again variable.

Carpal tunnel surgery releases the flexor retinaculum and therefore affects flexor tendon function. Mostly will recover as retinaculum heals (slightly looser hopefully) but i think most people end up 5-10% down on grip strength. Usually a far lesser problem than chronic sleep deprivation due to the pins and needles.

[drmike37]

And i surely don’t need to remind everyone that this constitutes entertainment only and not personalised medical advice!!

[Evoluzione]

drmike37 said:

A few things..

Diabetes causes carpal tunnel sundrome. It can also be a cause of generalised and variable hand swelling and stiffness.

Vibrating tools don’t as a rule cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
They can cause white finger but this is quite different and requires a very specific set of symptoms/signs.

Arthritis also causes hand swelling. Again variable.

Carpal tunnel surgery releases the flexor retinaculum and therefore affects flexor tendon function. Mostly will recover as retinaculum heals (slightly looser hopefully) but i think most people end up 5-10% down on grip strength. Usually a far lesser problem than chronic sleep deprivation due to the pins and needles.

Nothing more to say, other than thanks very much for taking the time and i'll take it all on board

[78Pace]

Evoluzione said:

It's not arthritis and you don't get any pins and needles in your hands do you?

Not arthritis. I do get pins and needles in my left wrist and part of my hand from time to time, which is due to a nerve impingement in my neck. I'm T2 diabetic and do get flare-ups with my back but they could be down to posture (sitting at a desk all day and/or sports which I've done for over 50 years). The hand-swelling thing though seems independent of the above and has been occurring over the past 6-7 years or so.

[Boosted LS1]

Is it just one hand or boh hands? Could it be fluid retention?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Do you drink alot of alcohol? Fluid build up can occur on one or more extremity. Back of hands and/or fingers also.

Be honest with yourself, if you do' how much do you drink unitwise a week.

[78Pace]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Do you drink alot of alcohol? Fluid build up can occur on one or more extremity. Back of hands and/or fingers also.

Be honest with yourself, if you do' how much do you drink unitwise a week.

Very little - a heavy week is 3-4 units - as drinking and diabetes are not good friends.