Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Is it RA? Need advise

elaining
elaining
I'm new and hoping for some advise. I started having pain last year in my wrist. I went to my Orthopedic Surgeon (I've had surgery on it before) in Feb and he couldn't find anything wrong. This summer I had an MRI and by then my other wrist, toe, and thumb were also hurting. He said the MRI was clean but questioned if it was early RA. He advised me to make an appt to see Rheumatologist and see my Primary care Dr. My appt for the Rheum. is next month.
The pain has spread to all my hands and feet with occasional pain in a shoulder and knee. I am nauseated and exhausted all the time. My PC doctor didn't seemed concerned. He ordered blood work and said that all my blood work was normal but my lymphocytes were on the normal-high range. He blew me off.
My question is everything I've read talks about swelling and stiffness. I have neither, only pain.
Can it be RA without swelling and pain? I know sometimes bloodwork is normal. I'm afraid it's all in my head.
elaining
elaining
Sorry. I meant can it be RA without swelling and stiffness, not pain.
songbirdj
songbirdj
Hi and welcome. Yes, it can be RA without swelling and stiffness. Especially in the beginning. I have pain in every joint but very little swelling in any of them. Stiffness varies from person to person as well. When I was first diagnosed I didn't have any stiffness at all either.
Good luck at your Rheumy visit!
Jess
deleted_user
deleted_user
Trust me, the blood tests can mean nothing in the initial stages, even with crippling swelling and deformities. It took me 2 years to get a diagnosis, and I had many deformities by then. I am sed negative or very low at my worst.

You need to see a rheumatologist, some are better equipped to diagnose by symptoms, rather than just blood work. And exhaustion is a sign of auto-immune diseases, so that is another clue you should mention. Good luck in finding out what it is. Then you will be able to treat it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Me too, my numbers are low but my pain is high and I'm a pretty tough old broad. The doctors, most, go by the numbers and nevermind that you are practically crawling into their office. Find another doctor who takes you seriously. I went thru 3, you need to have somebody who you can work with as this will be a life long relationship.

Sue



P
deleted_user
deleted_user
Suera,I'm with you on finding the right Doc. and Elaining the sad thing is Rhuematologist aren't plentiful. I don't understand the progression speading to other joints so fast, thats a question of concern in my mind, although each of us are different. . And theres remission and active with R.A. Please don't ever think this is all in your head, denile is first symptom of any health issue.
best wishes
Taterandtobysmom
Taterandtobysmom
Looking back three years before I was diagnosed with RA, I had lots of fatigue and my body just ached. I felt like an old woman in my early 40's. Then it went into my feet which was diagnosed as plantar fasciitis. I knew I had slight arthritis in my fingers and saw a rheumatologist about once every 18 months and had blood work done for a few years, although I wasn't told I was borderline with RA. When it went into my knees and my right knee swelled up, I had blood work done and I went to a different rheumatologist and was then diagnosed with RA. You do need a good rheumatologist that can communicate with you.