I read something on that the other day....maybe in AARP magazine or something...i think it it also one of the joys of getting older. My husband has that and he does not have RA.

I have this and was told by the assessment nurses for my insurance that it might be psoriatic arthritis, fingernails only. Other people have told me calcium deficiency, but my bone density tests are back to normal.

I can't file my nails at all any more, or they rip and break. So I just clip them ugly and short. Another joy of old age, for sure.

My doctor said it's a sign of not eating right. I improved my diet, ate more often, and they went away.

My dermatologist told me they were "age-related longitudinal ridges" and showed me a picture labeled that way in one of his books. It does seem to be another joy of aging. :)

I've been on major RA med (pretty much all of them at some point) for 14 years and my nails are awful! I've had the ridges for years and years. I can now see the monthly IV treatments in them and my hair strands. Just as my osteopenia turned to osteoporosis my nails became super thin. They are like little razor blades. Now my toenails are too even. I've also been on b-12 for 14 years straight plus what is in the multivitamin but I guess I've never asked about the nails. I'm only 34 as of tomorrow. (-: Looks like there are a few different answers going around. Interesting. If I remember I'll ask my Rheumy on Monday.

I first noticed the ridges after I had a heart stent put in..Cardiologist says it is due to trauma to the body.. so with the stent and the r.a. I guess thatis what caused them..Mine are not that noticable..but they are there..I figure it is just another part of life..
Cass

My grandmother had them. My mother has them. And as I get older...now I have them. I was told it can be hereditary and just one more joy of aging.

Have them and they definitely got worse after the RA hit - one that splits at certain length so keep nails short. Very deformed thumb nail currently after something strange in thumb knuckle to nail edge that I thought might have been RA related. So I suspect the RA and/or the drugs doesnt help with body's normal processes. Of course age possibly a factor...

I was diagnosed in oct. 09 with RA. I have had ridges that are horizontal on my nails since I was about 12 years old and I am 51 soon. All the doctors have not been able to tell me what may cause this either.

Rosemo,

I had the same issue a few years ago but with my toenails because i have arcylic nails. My doc mention it could be B-12, calcium or Thyroid all three have that as a symptom...Mine turned out to be a under active thyroid (hypothyroidisim). It is very easy to determine all three with blood tests i would ask Rheumy or primary to run it with your next set of lab work..

since i started the thyroid meds i no longer have the ripples...

Good luck...

I am sitting here getting my Remicade iv & I asked my doc about the ridges in my nails. She said it developes when my body is not controlled....basically during flares. The reason my ridges correspond with my ivs are because the iv works for about a week before I start to flare again. Also, meds are a cause. I forgot to ask about age but it would make sense too.