I should preface this by saying that my diagnosis of RA is hotly contested by many docs because my inflammation markers are relatively low, but yes, I totally experience pain/inflammation in the joints closest to the fingernail. Kelly at RA Warrior actually wrote a post about this, here: http://rawarrior.com/does-it-matter-whether-rheumatoid-arthritis-affects-dip-joints/

Also: http://rawarrior.com/does-it-matter-whether-rheumatoid-arthritis-affects-dip-joints/ she discusses the general problem. Doctors often tell patients that "those joints aren't effected by RA."

Wishing you the best, -Megan

my doc checks ALL my joints for tenderness....

Can't type a lot as my DIP joints (both hands) are very sore today. My rheumy has told me that I likely have Psoriatic arthritis, which is much like the rheumatoid type. I have a negative RA factor, inflammation test is zero to low, no swelling, negative x-rays except for osteo. Have had MRI for right hand, it showed 'some sort of bone inflammation in the tip like it's pissed-off'. I also have the Hebrend's (?) nodules, a teeny bit of psoriasis, and some ulnar deviation from the mid-finger joint to the tip, which rheumy says is also indicative of PSA - he said RA deviation begins at the knuckle joint. I do have many joint pains (osteo, they said) and fibromyalgia. However, the pain in my fingertipss is unlike the pains elsewhere, including my toe joints, and when at its highest level, even Demerol didn't touch the pain in my fingertips. I've decided that the next time I have a big flare that I'll ask to get my RA and CRP tests again as I'd had to wait 6 months for my rheumy appt. and was NOT in a flare. Meanwhile, I'm on plaquenil, piroxicam, skelaxin (muscle relaxer), gabapentin and tramadol for pain.

RA targets any and/or all joints. Fire that "quack" of a Rheumy!

Oh and be well, I hope your finger jts ar not begining to fuse, fight on!

T

M y rheumy and chiropractor both told me that those joints in the fingers are an indicator of RA vs OA. These joints hurt New every am for quite a while. They are beginning to change in shape and get knotted.

My rheumy checks all of my joints as well.

Yep - it affects the joints at the very top "tip" of my fingers. In fact it all started with my fingers 13 years ago, when I woke up and they were stiff and curled up and I could not grasp things and they hurt all the time. I was dismissed by docs at that point b/c bloodwork showed nothing.

Anyway - now my RA is in my hips and in the tips of my fingers - Kimberley it sounds like me and you have the exact same problem joints!

I cannot imagine why a rheumy would say it doesn't affect that area - it's a JOINT for pete's sake!

Anyway, just jumping in to say (in my long-winded way, lol) - YES YES YES - my RA affects the very same area. It tends to hurt most at night....during the day they are kinda sore and sometimes numb but my hip pains are the worst so I tend to ignore the whole finger thing (but I do worry about it a bit b/c I love writing and typing).

I also experience pain and stiffness in my DIP joints. I have also been told RA doesn't affect those joints. Much of the literature you read also says this. As Scarlett says, I don't see why RA would exclude these joints. Sure, if you only have pain in one of the fingertips, I can maybe see OA, but not all the fingertips. Some doctors are too much "by the book."

I agree. Honestly I don't see evidence that RA is discriminatory with its joint selection. LOL