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...
my wrists and fingers were the first and are still probably the most noticeable. today my fingers are swollen enough that they actually itch. is that a thing?
my ankles and feet swell too. i think my weight (which is a lot) hides some of the other potential swelling. but suddenly, like over two days, my skinny jeans are too skinny. and not in the places you'd think when you gain weight - like your hips or thighs. it's really only on my calves. and i haven't gained any weight.
so, could both of my calves be swollen? it's a bit annoying because my favorite jeans are dark blue and i can't wear them because they make my calves want to fall off and die. instead, for my first day of training, i'm wearing an old pair of 'fat pants' (women, you know what i'm talking about) which don't strangle my calves. they're dark blue with a subtle all over leopard print.
(can i use 'subtle' and 'leopard print' in the same sentence?)
what places - strange or otherwise - do you swell up?
my ankles and feet swell too. i think my weight (which is a lot) hides some of the other potential swelling. but suddenly, like over two days, my skinny jeans are too skinny. and not in the places you'd think when you gain weight - like your hips or thighs. it's really only on my calves. and i haven't gained any weight.
so, could both of my calves be swollen? it's a bit annoying because my favorite jeans are dark blue and i can't wear them because they make my calves want to fall off and die. instead, for my first day of training, i'm wearing an old pair of 'fat pants' (women, you know what i'm talking about) which don't strangle my calves. they're dark blue with a subtle all over leopard print.
(can i use 'subtle' and 'leopard print' in the same sentence?)
what places - strange or otherwise - do you swell up?
i checked and the appropriate police are on indefinite coffee break this morning probably closing or opening lanes on the George Washington Bridge...
you are good to go.
Ros
There are people who think leopard-print in any shade counts as "neutral."
Autoclef: that is the funniest thing I have heard in a while!!!
Be well all,
TheWino
BTW anything and area can swell like it was injured. After all RA by definition is inflammation.
i not only have blue on blue leopard print jeans, but red zebra striped jeans. and a zebra stripe dress. and a zebra striped sweater... and a cardigan. and a red leopard cardigan. and a red cheetah print long sleeved red tee. and a grey and black leopard print blouse. and a brown leopard print peplum top. and a giraffe print tank. and a red cheetah print tank. and my coveted leopard print coach bag. which i love so much.
i'm not counting any undergarments. because i have A LOT of animal print underpinnings. because it doesn't matter if those are subtle or clashing or whatever ;)
I am what the medical worlds refers to as Morbidly Obese. I have so much fat around my joints, it's hard to tell.
However, the Rheumy seemed to notice something at my first visit when he did my exam. I told him straight out, I can't tell if it's swelling or fat. All I know is when I hurt and where it hurts.
power to the animal in you and on you be they visible or not, my dear.
they should make such fun stuff, in johnnies :)
Ros
I can "feel" swelling in my hands, wrists, elbows, feet and other places but I don't see it. My rheumy can feel it. He says he has a few patients that have no visible signs but that doesn't mean they hurt less.