bcatz, my right side is almost always worse than the left. My crooked fingers and toes are on the right, 6 out of the 7 orthopedic surgeries I've had have been on the right. Seems like often one joint will start and the corresponding one on the other side quietly echoes.

Part of what you're talking about with aching may be a vicious circle: your right foot flares, so you walk funny and irritate your knee. Favoring the knee ticks off the right hip. And so on. And on.

My RA is symmetrical but usually 1 side is more painful then the other. Do you think yours is the same?

Thank you all very much! I do compensate all day walking. One leg is shorter than the other. Actually it's not technically shorter but my spine has a 9 degree curve. It makes the right the slightest bit shorter so the left takes the brunt of the impact. That may account for it.

You are right - pain is pain, and inflammation is inflammation.

Today, my LEFT (of course) middle finger has been tingling like crazy. I broke down and took a total of 3mg of prednisone and have been wearing a brace. It finally is calmed down. I think I'm in a slight flare. :(

I'm of the same opinion as Sally on this one.
Very often it's my left side. The right joins in enough but the left misbehaves more. Now I have more spinal issues effecting that side but still the RA is very apparent.
In fact the left hand & foot & elbow were my first signs visibly of RA.
Lone rangers for a while before the right joined in.
I have no doubt in my mind it was RA. Swelling very visible & joints freezing or locking up. Journaled some from years back. No sign of right side at first & took its time joining the left.
It's just my opinion but I do think there's a lot of unknowns about this disease. Can't help but feel like with so many medical conditions doctors/experts hyper focus on the majority possibly missing out on possibilities or what ifs.
There are to many cases that are not "text book" & to many doctors that don't think outside the box. Like our government they simply cannot or do not agree on certain aspects of disease.
Another reason for feeling blessed with this new dr he thinks outside the box & doesn't go with the majority.
We get to know our bodies & disease. If you feel it's RA , chances are it's RA.
Sammy

No parallel joint flares here, either. Not since I got RA 17 years ago. The only time I get parallel joint flares is if EVERY joint is flared, so it looks like it is parallel.

For me it was always the right side. My right foot in particular was the worst.

But this last 6 months, since Simponi failed, it has been my left. Left knee, left elbow, left wrist, left shoulder and left hand. Xeljanz is mostly working now, except the continued flares in the left hand. I'm kind of concerned about the ring finger starting to fuse. Although I have been working it daily, today it will not straighten.

So yes, to pain on one side. But no to pain at all! LOL

Also have to agree that RA does not have to be symmetrical.

My left side always bothers me more than my right. The only time I have had symmetrical pain was when I first was diagnosed.

My first Rhuemotogist based her opinion on this topic. If it wasn't both sides & in an area swelling was not always present she would rule RA out as the culprit.
Just reading responses & thinking back on her snap judgement frustrates me. Also makes me feel bad for her patients.
Proof is in the patients. If enough complain then makes sense at the very least it needs to be considered.
Sammy