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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 6/23/2013 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Continues testing because of mild pain in hands. I have never had any stiffness and was wondering if that helps with any DX, the doc has never asked.
Posted 6/23/2013 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
No swelling or anything? Redness? When my hands are hurting usually they swell pretty bad.
Posted 6/23/2013 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Started in RT MCP and PIP index and middle fingers a few months ago. Has moved to left same. I have been referred to a Rumey on the 18th of July. I have little swelling or redness I keep reading that ra is always associated with morning stiffness in the affected joints which I do not experience at all. Is this a common symptom in the early stages or something that develops later or not at all in some?
Thanks, Al
Posted 6/23/2013 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
It's good you have a RA doctor appointment! Make sure to write all this down so you can take it with you to your appointment, and make sure to drink plenty of water as you'll be sent to a lab for lots of bloodwork.
Also make sure to note any other joint symptoms as RA is not limited to the hands, can be in the knee and feet, also get into your eye doctor and let your eye doctor know you have an RA appointment, so your eye's can be checked and monitored as RA can effect the eye's....
Posted 6/23/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Anybody in regard to stiffnes? Is is a standard?
Posted 6/24/2013 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Stiffness is one of the main complaints, yes but, other symptoms present that might not be as bad as the stiffness...Are you having pain with the stiffness?, sometimes a good long soak in a warm bath helps with stiffness or a moist heating pad. There are some morning stretches that you can do before getting out of bed that might help with the stiffness, for me medication helps...You can always google RA and stiffness...make sure to put all this down when you go to visit with your doctor!
Posted 6/24/2013 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Chartreux,

Like I indicated, I have never had stiffness as a component. I have burning and some redness of the hand knuckles and associated mild pain. Started in right and moved to left hand. GP did blood (sero neg) and x-rays were neg as well. Since I am still four weeks out with my rheumy apt. I am attempting to make some sense of all this. I keep reading about the stiffness as being a hallmark component as well as sensitivity upon compression of affected joints. I do not realize either of these.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Posted 6/24/2013 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
No, I do not think stiffness has to always be present to get an RA dx. I do not always have stiffness, but lately it has been an issue. My RA (Sero) was found with a hand mri, damage in two areas on my right hand, so you might ask your pcp or referring doctor about a hands mri ...Keep us posted...
Posted 6/24/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again and I do not want to beat this to death; however, did you experience any stiffness originally before you received your dx but had joint symptoms? Are affected joints sensitive to pressure in the early stages as well? I keep reading both as a common component of ra and what the doc is looking for.

Thanks again and I apologize for being so inquisitive and troublesome with all the questions.
Posted 6/25/2013 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
My major symptom was swelling and lots of inflammation and red joints. Not sure about the pressure and I had put the stiffness down as related to a car accident in 1997. Plus its very unusual for a sero negative women to have joint damage, yet a hand mri revealed joint damage on my right hand in 3 places...
Anyways try not to worry so much about what your supposed to feel because as individuals we all present differently, many well wishes...
Posted 6/30/2013 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
I am usually stiff in the mornings. Plus that was one of my things that I talked about with my rheumy.. along with inflammation and my joints hurting.
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