hum not sure cause im still waiting on my DX but that sounds so horibal. uggh i hope your feeling much better to day. hang in there

I hate to say it but yes, this is how RA can be. However the good news is that the right meds can make a big difference. It's a shame you've had to wait so long to see a doctor. Maybe your PCP could prescribe Prednisone to help while you're waiting to see the Rheumatologist.
Hope your flares stay away.
Hugs

I've never had a joint get cold (usually they get hot), but the pain sounds familiar. It comes and goes. One day, this joint hurt, the next day it's a different one. I've just learned to roll with it. I've noticed that the more swollen my fingers are, the more twisted they look. Then the swelling goes down and they look a little more normal. I find that putting cold packs on joints that are particularly bad can help. (I like frozen peas best!) Some people swear by heat. Glad you're feeling a little better today. I agree with Angel - your PCP should give you something until you can get into the Rheumy. Etodolac really helped me for a while. Now I'm taking Celebrex and it seems to help some too.

boy angel I wish you could get in sooner. you need to start meds soon before you start getting joint damage.
I agree with the other on asking your GP for some pred to help control the inflammation. once you get in to see your rheumie, push to start all the aggressive meds they take 3 months to start working.
keep us posted
hugs sandi

My doctor told me there was nothing else she could do for me once she learned I had R.A and Lupus. It's already did damage to my knees before I even was tested. My knees are gone and my doctor was giving me a shot to numb them for I couldn't even get off the toilet without them popping, cracking, and hurting so bad. (She wont even numb them any longer) Now they are holding fluid:( She jus called told me I had R.A and Lupus and the Specialist would call and thats all she could do for me. So I wait:( I know when my fingers twist around like that it does scare me, I get so worried they will stay like that. Two of them didn't go back to normal they are still twisted slightly, and whats odd is one of the nails discolored and it didn't go back. How ever I feel good today other then the always aches and pains. My back is catching on me today but I even felt good enough to go ride the bike at the gym. Felt good:) TY for your help:)

I agree with the other posters. You need some prednisone to get this under control until they can get you on the right biologic or what ever.

As far as it taking 3 months to work...once I was on Remicade within 2 weeks mine worked. But everyone is differant.
I do know that methotrexate takes some time to kick in tho...

Good luck and wishing you plenty more pain free days =)

I too have to wait for my appointment. I got my results on 3/2, my rheumatology appt is 4/7. 5 weeks seems like and eternity.

I had a little bit of pred that I took for 2 1/2 days on a decreasing dose that first week. What a sigh of relief.

I'm on 5000mg of Fish Oil daily and 5000 IU of Vitamin D+ 1200mg of Calcium, in addition to my daily vitamin. Not to mention meds for other stuff.
I'm not sure if the Fish Oil is helping or not, but I don't want to stop taking it to find out.
I hurt, I'm fatigued and I'm frustrated.

The only OTC remedy I've that help's once in a while, but esp w/ morning stiffness is Percogesic Back Relief/Doan's Back Relief (Magnesium Salicylate). Even then I have to take a dose right before bed and another at like 3 or 4 am, which I'm usually up at that point for a bit anyway.

I keep reading that people take Tylenol. Which isn't an anti-inflammatory, it just increases the threshold of pain; in our case that's not a bad thing. Has anyone had luck w/ this?

I have taken the tylenol..it does help kill the pain.. but not the inflamation..I have to be careful due to the heart problems...but if it kills the pain I am happy...

Cass