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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Lori57703 10/04/2013

I have not been diagnosed with RA yet but my doctor is doing some testing and is pretty sure that I have RA. My questions is about swelling. I have some swelling in my hands today that is different than what I am used to. It presents a a puffiness between my joints and extends across the back of my hands between the bones. There is no redness or heat. Of course my hands and all my other joints ache. The swelling does not appear to be withing the actual joints but between them. My fingers and wrists are stiff. Is this similar to what some of you have? Thanks. Lori

RCross 10/04/2013

I do have that puffiness/swelling between the joints on my hands...and my feet. It gets to looking weird sometimes especially on my feet! My advice is to take pictures to show your doctor. Are you seeing a rheumy?

Lori57703 10/04/2013

I am not seeing a rheumy, yet. I will see my PCP on Monday for the lab results from this week. I suspect he will refer me at that point. Right now just taking naproxen, 440 mg twice daily and tramdol if that doesn't do it. I avoid the tramadol as much as possible. Oh yes, and heat. My joints are loving heat.

trishcorsi 10/04/2013

Take pictures for you PvP and save them in case you do go to a rheumatologist. My fingers, during a flare, look like hot dogs! Trish

Christine26 10/05/2013

I haven't had any swelling for a while, but that is a part of the disease. Trish's idea to take a photo so the PCP can see the amount of selling in case you have gone down by Monday. Hope you are feeling better soon.

willferg 10/06/2013

Sometimes my fingers and knuckles are swollen, and other times it's my wrists and the backs of my hands, like you described. My fingers are stiff every morning, but depending on the kind of day it's going to be, they get better, or they don't.

Lori57703 10/06/2013

Thank you to everyone for your responses. I really do appreciate it!

We had a really nasty blizzard here Friday and I had been real quiet and not doing much Thursday, Friday and most of Saturday. We actually had no power for 25 hours. So my swelling and most of my aches and pains were nearly gone. I spent about 3 hours at the neighbors yesterday. Woke up this morning with stiff, swollen hands and feet. Hips stiff and sore. Did a little house work today and now wrist are sore along with knees. Dang, is this how it's going to be?

RCross 10/06/2013

Lori....I could be but hopefully when you get on the right meds all those symptoms will vanish, or at least decrease.

If you are dx,d with RA you'll need to learn to balance what needs to be done with what you CAN do without creating more pain for yourself. I'm still learning this myself...and I was dx'd in February. LOL

deleted_user 10/07/2013

buy arthritis gloves ..they really help and add extra support as well .

sammyo1 10/07/2013

I don't always get the redness or heat.
I think each persons "swelling" is different.
The best of luck to you.
Sammy

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