GBS + Arthritis
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January 11, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Dear All,
I’m writing on behalf of my wife, Fran Chalfant, who became ill with a severe case of GBS while in England in early July 2006. Since that time, she has in many ways made a good recovery, although she is never really free of pain. She is able to walk without assistance, though not as freely as she did pre-GBS and suffers from residuals more during cold weather than warm weather.
I suppose her greatest problem at the moment is with skewing of her fingers. We have been to a hand specialist who said that he could do nothing to help her and that he knew nothing about treating GBS. I am tempted to think that the skewing of her fingers is caused by problems with arthritis that pre-GBS had already settled to a certain extent at the first joint in her right hand and may have done so slightly in her left hand, too. GBS probably gave a good environment and opportunity for it to develop further. If I am right, then it would seem that she might find more help for the problem with her hands by going to a rheumologist than to an expert on GBS. Incidentally, I have yet to find a physician in Georgia who has been of any significant help in treating her GBS.
Well, what about it, Forumers: do my ideas have any merit at all, or am I headed in the wrong direction? We’ve gone through over a year of physical therapy and occupational therapy with encouraging results at first, but little if any over the past six months. The therapists tell us that they can do no more and that she should merely repeat doing what they’ve already shown her to do, keep active, etc. Of course, we do that. Probably they would be surprised how active she is in a day’s time; however, after 8 pm she otfen gets exhausted. Usually she is OK the next morning, though.
Any advice? -
January 11, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Hi Fran’s Husband,
I’m having a bad day with pain that feels like arthritis and just scanned your article to see something about after 8 pm. All I know is even on good days I barely make it past 8 pm and I just turned 50. Yikes… I too have thought about seeing a rhuema. doc. I will be watching the responses here.
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January 11, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hi: Because of the pain in my wrists and hands I went to a rheumotologist who told me I did not have arthritis and the problem was probably due to nerve damage when my hands were partially paralyzed. I am now working with another doctor to find a way to deal with the pain in my hands. I would recommend your wife see a rheumotologist if for no other reason than to rule out arthritis. I suspect she is suffering from the effects of GBS but it would be wise to find out for sure. I was relieved to know I did not have arthritis but also disappointed as noone knows how to work with my problem with hands. I do agree it would be a good idea for her to check it out. Jeff
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January 12, 2008 at 4:58 am
Also went the Rheumo-Route and found out it’s not arthritis though my finger and thumb joints are red and swollen. Guess what it was – tendonitis. And guess what the cure is – nothing, really. Here is what I did over the past year – a year ago today 75% of the joints on my hands were red, swollen and stiff – today only the thumbs are like that all the time, the rest have recovered. I am an impatient patient so when the doctor tells me rest and time will cure it I don’t want to hear that so I started stretching my joints little by little, squeezing play-doh and slowly working the strength back into the muscles so there was less strain on the tendons. It hurt, I had to go very slowly, but a year later I can type again pretty well on most days and I don’t constantly feel like someone is pouring acid in my finger joints. So far I haven’t seen any improvement in my thumbs so I may need to revist what I’m doing but the rest is vastly improved. 😀
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January 12, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I went to a Rheumatologist also, no arthritis here either. I had an EMG done on my upper extremities which revealed that I had Carpal Tunnel. So I go to an Orthopedic Surgeon. He said to take extra vitamin B6 and max out on ibuprofen every day for a month then come see him again. That didn’t do anything for me so he injected both wrists with a steroid. That didn’t work either and the only thing left is surgery. I don’t plan on letting him cut me unless my hands get really bad. I still have this problem; I hope we both can find a fix soon.
John
GBS Mar 04 -
January 13, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Fran is Very Lucky to have such a Caring and Wonderful Hubby like You! It might help to try muscle relaxers like zanaflex or flexeril, if those don’t help its probably resids and movement is the only thing to help. Can she use wrist splints at night? they will hold the hand at a basic angle to allow for relaxation of the tendons which in turn help the blood flow easier through the tunnels. or try using the wrist splints during the day to see if there is any relief before the pain gets too bad. can Fran use the creams that are out on the market for arth? if so, use them on the hands and invest in therapeutic gloves-these can be found at sewing/fabric stores. quilters use them to help relieve tension in their hands and they work wonders for other purposes-they aren’t more then 10 dollars usually.
Please give Fran a Big Hug for Me!! and Here is one for You, for being such a Wonderful Caregiver!!!:) -
January 14, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Dear All:
Thanks so much for your reflections (no pun intended…oh, maybe just one) on hand problems. I’m always in such a rush that my previous letter contained two spelling errors and I forgot to identify myself. Yes, I’m Fran’s husband and a retired English teacher. Also, 7-8 years working part-time and sometimes full-time in many areas of hospitals as and orderly, a ward secretary, a unit clerk, and as an expediter in a purchasing department. Over the years I learned a little bit about hospitals, etc., though nothing about GBS until Fran became ill.
What makes we wonder about the possiblity of arthritis being involved with her hand problem is this: what I’ve read about GBS and hand problems
is that the illness causes the hands to curl inward to the palms. This did happen initially with Fran, and therapy has been helpful in straightening out the fingers. The problem with skewing of the fingers is a different matter. The tendons, muscles, and nerves become twisted about, and repositioning of the fingers does not seem to have a beneficial effect. All in all, this problem reminds me of arthritis, although I may be wrong. Does anyone know anthing about skewing of fingers being an effect of GBS?—Don
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January 14, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hi Don,
I have read through a couple of posts that were written for you and wanted to throw my two cents in. I’m not sure what you mean by “skewing” of the fingers. In RA, the fingers will look “mushed” to the side. It’s a very difficult thing to describe in email. But it’s as if every finger starts turning left on the left hand and right on the right hand. Look up RA on the Internet for some pix. As far as GBS causing this skewing, it’s hard to say online. I would suggest starting with her primary physician and if he doesn’t know ask for a rheumatogist just to rule out like other’s have said. Residual paralysis can cause wasting in the muscles which could cause some deformity. Hope that makes sense….
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January 17, 2008 at 11:31 am
Dear All,
Again, thanks to all for your advice. At this point, it is difficult to get Fran to another doctor, since as part of rehabilitation doctors have so far been of little help. Gabrielle, by “skewing” I mean that the fingers curve outward like the fins of a fish. While I have seen fingers skew like this on arthritis victims, I also note that some characteristics do not match this diagnosis–no obvious loss of strength in the fingers, no swelling or redness of the joints. Until I can convince her to go to a rheumatologist for professional analysis, I doubt we’ll get anywhere with this problem. Unfortunately, there is much about GBS that is not known.
—Don
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