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I was wrapping gifts for christmas. It was very painful. Finally managed to pull them apart and straightened out

December 7, 2025
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myRAteam

What caused your fingers to cross and lock up during gift wrapping?

That sounds like a really painful and scary experience! What you described could be related to several RA-related hand issues.

When fingers lock up and can't move, it might be trigger finger, where tendons become inflamed and cause fingers to get stuck in Show Full Answer

What caused your fingers to cross and lock up during gift wrapping?

That sounds like a really painful and scary experience! What you described could be related to several RA-related hand issues.

When fingers lock up and can't move, it might be trigger finger, where tendons become inflamed and cause fingers to get stuck in a bent position. RA can cause swelling and inflammation in the tendons, leading to numbness, tingling, and this kind of locking.

The crossing and locking could also be related to developing finger deformities. RA commonly affects the knuckles and middle joints of fingers, causing various deformities where fingers bend abnormally or angle away from their normal position.

During repetitive activities like gift wrapping, inflamed joints and tendons can become more irritated, leading to sudden painful episodes like you experienced.

Here are some things that might help:

- Warm up your hands before repetitive tasks by soaking them in warm water or using a heat pack
- Take frequent breaks during activities
- Try hand exercises daily to maintain flexibility and strength
- Consider wearing RA gloves for compression and warmth

It's important to mention this episode to your rheumatologist, especially since it was so painful and involved locking. They can evaluate whether you need adjustments to your treatment plan or if physical therapy might help prevent future episodes.

December 7, 2025
A myRAteam Member

Ouch. Don't won't that if I can help it. That was the first time

December 11, 2025
A myRAteam Member

I’m going in to my orthopedic doctor on Thursday and already planning on getting a cortisone injection for my trigger finger my left index finger is catching. I have had this numerous times over the years and an injection usually helps.

December 9, 2025
A myRAteam Member

Hoping you find out soon what is happening & get some pain relief! I've had trigger finger a couple times which was very painful & it resolved itself but some people require surgical intervention. I love to wrap & was known to do some of the most gorgeous gift wrapping but I've had a lot of difficulty with wrapping especially at Christmas time over the past year or so & thought I could continue since I fortunately don't have any bent or disfigured finger joints but I just can't do it anymore. I was scrolling on Amazon & bought these really pretty Christmas Drawstring Gift Bags With Tags. They are shiny & really pretty. If you put that in the search bar they'll come up with many other options. I bought the 38 piece assorted sizes for $33.99 sold by the brand Diamerd. 🙂❤️

December 8, 2025
A myRAteam Member

Genna, so sorry that happened to you. I would've soaked with warm water too. Definitely let the dr. know about this. Hope you get some relief soon.

December 7, 2025

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