it's hard to tell if my increased pain/stiffness is solely because of the weather or if it's disease progression. the difference in my pain/swelling from july to september was noticeable. then from september to early december - my rheumy was surprised that my swelling increased that much while on mtx.

and now my hands, fingers, wrists, ankles, and feet seem even worse. even my individual toes are painfully stiff and achey. my hips and lower back don't seem to be getting worse per se, but nothing is getting better. typing has been slightly uncomfortable for me prior to this week, but now it can be painful. getting off the couch or toilet is painful. getting in and out of my car isn't too bad because it's a good height, but if i ride in my husband's car which is lower - forget it.

i have my next rheumy appointment wednesday. i'm already starting to compile my new medical cheat sheet talking points.

one thing - my knuckles. one doctor once told me that i couldn't have ra because the top most knuckles on my fingers were involved and that wasn't common in ra. the distal interphalangeal joints? mine hurt constantly, most even without movement, and are tender or painful to the touch. plus my index and middle fingers on my left hand are twisting in at that joint. it's not the angular turning deformation that i see online for ra, but actually twisting, like the fingernail of my index finger, instead of being like on top of my hand, is touching my middle finger. if that makes sense.