This morning I woke up and my hand was throbbing. I crooked my right index finger to rub my eyes and pain seared down my hand. Further investigation showed me six barely visible blistering spots on the outside of my finger at the base of the joint. I almost fell in the floor in tantrum like tears. I've had this happen a lot. I knew what was coming. I should have seen it last night when it hurt to use a kitchen knife. It has been a long time since I had this last though and I guess it just never occured to me.
I waited in dreaded aniticipation for the swelling to set in. Sure enough, within two hours my finger was immobile, red, painful, and the swelling was creeping down the back of my hand. Another hour and the blisters doubled in size.
I went to a very nearby pharmacy and asked the pharmacist on duty what would be good to put on it. No one has ever been able to find anything to help it clear up. I've been to two doctors. I should have known. I almost laughed when the woman asked in a very heavy foreign accent if I had been hiking in poison ivy. It was worth a try. I shrugged and did what I usually do; I closed my eyes and just picked an ointment to try (Fyi, anti fungal isn't the key!).
I am now sitting here with this stupid finger that aches all the way to my elbow. Eventually the blisters will burst and the skin will peel much like a severe burn. It usually takes about four months for it to heal. It is alway on the same finger and it is always on the side of one of the joints in said finger.
I am hoping that someone out there can shed some light on this painful problem and dare I hope, someone might have a solution. I truly think this has something to do with me going off met for a couple of weeks. I haven't had them since going on met. I had to come off of it while I was sick and have been gradually getting back on track. Curse PCOS!
If I haven't grossed you out too much, go over to Mel's and see what the rest of the class is showing.
15 comments:
OOHHH! That looks painful! Sorry, I'm not sure what it could be. I hope someone can help.
I'm wondering if you have shingles! I had it on my hip several years ago and it started out with just a few little blisters that hurt like the DEVIL...and I was having pain all throughout my back kidney area.
When I went to the ER, they MISDIAGNOSED me as having 'renal colic' because they said the rash didn't look like shingles. Seriously, they're idiots. I ended up going to my regular doctor a few days later and started a course of Acycolvir to help curb the severity of the symptoms.
Do your blisters eventually scab up and then go away? That's what mine did with shingles. And it was STILL painful even after they left...it's because it's the nerves that get infected. Also, shingles tends to strike in the same place over again, and tends to come on in periods of stress or lowered immune system.
It's worth a shot to find out!
GL and take care of yourself!
IFRocks,
You rock! I don't know why I never considered that. My family has a tendency to get shingles (both grandmothers and my lil' bro). I guess it just looks different on my finger. I found this article...
http://assets.aarp.org/external_sites/adam/html/2/2512.html
Guess I'm headed to the doc. Thankfully I will have a solution this time though.
I've had this off and on for several years. I guess they sort of scab. I usually end up with what looks like a third degree burn for several weeks. I've never had medication for it though. Hopefully, this time will be muuuch easier!
Thanks!
Eeeeks, it looks so painful! Do you develop it on your own?
I know somebody who develops this type of blisters with new footwear or new gloves and wearing them for a long time...
I just hope the pain disappears soon, but more importantly, I hope there is a permanent cure for this.
psssst..."Do you develop it on your own?" means - does this occur on its own? Or after some specific activity?
I hope the doctor can answer the shingles question and clears up the blisters and pain.
I have not had shingles, but that sounds right to me, as I've had a couple of relatives who have. I hope that you get a GOOD doctor who takes you seriously and you get help soon. (and your picture wasn't that bad. I was prepared for much worse!)
Wow - I have no idea but I DO know that immobile hurting fingers are no fun!
Four months?? Seriously?? So sorry you have that to deal with too.
It looks like Shingles to me. Typical shingles has a "prodromal" phase in which you feel the pain before the watery blisters form. It is usually along the same "dermatome" or nerve pathway.
Not too many derm issues are painful and recur in the same exact area.
The only other diagnosis is contact dermatitis. Is that finger
touching something that you are allergic to?
If it is shingles, they can sometimes put you on an antiviral drug that might lessen the symptoms.
Sorry girl, those blisters hurt like shit!!!!
Yay! I had a Eureka(!) moment as I was looking at that pic and trying to figure out what it might be. Whoa,if I'm right....you can call me "House" from now on, lol!
Definitely try to get an antiviral from your doc...that helped me a lot. Also, I got yummy pain meds and even sleep meds for mine....so no harm in asking!
Take care and let us know how you are!
Owie...that does look like it hurts. And you say the pain is all the way to your elbow, sheesh - I'm sorry!
I hope you get this resolved soon, and rock on to Eve for the suggested solution to the mystery.
Ouch! It looks painfull.
Hope you find what makes it and how to cure it.
OUCH...that sounds so horrid! Sorry I don't have a clue.
My guess would be shingles! I hope you feel better soon!
I would think it wasn't shingles because you can only get that one time. Unless I was misinformed and I hope to Goddess I wasn't! Shingles was horrible! Other then that sad bit on "knowledge" I have no idea what it is. If I find anything, I'll let ya know though. Good luck, I hope it goes away soon!
*HUGS*
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