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...
Wow...thanks to everyone that sent me messages checking up on me. It feels amazing to open this forum up and feel all of the 'care' that you showed in your messages.
I've been really great but just took some time off from the internet for a couple of weeks to really relax and enjoy the holidays. So, no worries at all for all of you that were worrying why I was absent. But simply put, thank you for noticing I wasn't here.
MY QUESTION:
Since back on the mtx, all of my swelling has pretty much gone away. I can actually see looser skin on my hands once again. However, in the area between my thumb and index finger, I still have a bit of swelling there and it just doesn't seem to ever want to go away. When pressed it still has some pain in it, especially closer to the thumb joint. Any idea why in that area where there is no joints why I would continue to stay swollen?
In addition, when I'm working with my hands and they start to cramp up (we all know how that feels), the area of my index finger joint, the middle finger joint and down to my thumb joint will IMMEDIATELY start swelling. I can literally watch it swell quickly. I never noticed it before because my hands were always swollen but now since they aren't...wow, it's the craziest thing I've ever watched. Does anyone else have this issue and is this an RA thing with the immediate fast swelling?
RAfighter
I've been really great but just took some time off from the internet for a couple of weeks to really relax and enjoy the holidays. So, no worries at all for all of you that were worrying why I was absent. But simply put, thank you for noticing I wasn't here.
MY QUESTION:
Since back on the mtx, all of my swelling has pretty much gone away. I can actually see looser skin on my hands once again. However, in the area between my thumb and index finger, I still have a bit of swelling there and it just doesn't seem to ever want to go away. When pressed it still has some pain in it, especially closer to the thumb joint. Any idea why in that area where there is no joints why I would continue to stay swollen?
In addition, when I'm working with my hands and they start to cramp up (we all know how that feels), the area of my index finger joint, the middle finger joint and down to my thumb joint will IMMEDIATELY start swelling. I can literally watch it swell quickly. I never noticed it before because my hands were always swollen but now since they aren't...wow, it's the craziest thing I've ever watched. Does anyone else have this issue and is this an RA thing with the immediate fast swelling?
RAfighter
as you know, the inflammation in the joint affects the surrounding area of it too......like muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone.
so i think the swelling between your index and thumb might be with this inflammation. if you can stop working (if you have any chance), rest for a couple of days applying heat and cold. hope that helps.
why dont you give a call to your doc and see what they say?
hope you feel better.