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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It's been awhile

SusieG
SusieG

...since I've been on this site.  First, because I was in remission, and then because I was put on a med that's been working quite well for me.  I've always recognized a flare when I've had one and thought I'd throw my current circumstance out there for comments.  Only the last digit on two fingers (middle & ring of right hand) are red and tightly swollen for about a week now, but above the joint, closer to the cuticle.  No cuts or injuries there or to the nails.  Weird.  Ideas anyone?

Kimhurts
Kimhurts
When that happens to me my doc says that last joint by the nail isn't RA. Curious what other people say. Mine says regular OA. Could it be Psoriatic Arthritis?

Glad you are otherwise in remission with a med that works for you. Keep us posted what you find out.
SusieG
SusieG
Interesting. The joints don't hurt, the swollen, red areas are just really tight. I am also curious if anyone else has experienced this and what it might be.

How have you been Kim?
MarleneJ
MarleneJ
The top joints by the finger joints are called the PIP joints. Typically RA doesn't attack them, but PsA does! If you have both diseases, you will get flares and deformities in both the PIP and DIP joints, the joint closer to the knuckle.

I used to get PIP flares in the early years of RA. But now I don't, or the meds control them.

Your disease might be morphing into PsA in addition to the RA. Contact your doctor and let him decide. I started Plaquenil in March as a prophylactically to ward off COVID. I have no idea if it works for that. But it 2 weeks, the flares in my outer fingers were gone completely. So I am stating on Plaquenil as well as mthx and Cimzia.

You may need to add a different biologic. Some of them are overlapping, whereas others are disease specific! I hope you get some answers!!