What could be the cause of stiff and painful hands?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am not sure what happened to my mother’s hand. She says it gets stiff and she is also experiencing pain in her hands. We had a check-up with an orthopedic doctor, who diagnosed it as arthritis. Then, we visited a rheumatologist, who referred us to a dermatologist, suggesting it could be due to a skin condition. I am not sure what needs to be done next or whom we should consult. Some doctors suggest it could be due to muscle compression and recommend seeing a neurologist. Could you please advise us on the next steps?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern.

There is a strong possibility of arthritis, as it can sometimes present at this age with pain and stiffness. The eczema could be psoriasis, which needs to be confirmed by a dermatologist.

There is a type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. However, the arthritis can only be confirmed by the rheumatologist, as they need to examine the joints, assess tenderness, and check for swelling. Some blood tests, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), will also need to be done. Only once the diagnosis is confirmed can disease-modifying drugs be initiated.

I hope this has helped you.

Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.