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first symptoms of RA -- swollen, stiff fingers in morning?

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 9/3/2014 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
I made the original post. I just had another round of nerve tests, just to satisfy the rheum. Everything was negative -- no ulnar trouble. Fingers are rigid, swollen, burning, aching. Then the neuro.who had been certain it was carpal tunnel thought about HLAB27 gene and other joint disorders, and that came back positive, but no X-ray findings. Then some sort of polyclonal gammopathy came back elevated. There's still no diagnosis, though. Anybody on this thread have the other type of arthritis - ankylosing spond. in addition to the RA, or as an initial diagnosis before RA?
Posted 9/4/2014 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
Just last night I tried to not sleep with my arm bent at elbow, kept waking up and noticed it not yet stiff. But when I woke about 2 hours before I usually do, I just rolled over in my fav fetal position to get my last bit of good sleep, and woke with the stiff wrist and fingers. I noticed on the article about ulna nerve that it goes down in the last 2 fingers, but my stiffness was in the 2 fingers next to the thumb, and the thumb as well. So maybe for me it's NOT the nerve, but RA after all. I dont' have the burning, but when I touch my hand it does feel feverish. Also, the skin on my arm on top of my wrist area hurts when I rub anything on it. Feels like the hurting sensation I've always felt when I have a fever, my skin hurts. I sure wish I knew what this was, but don't want to pay a dr to tell me he doesn't know either, ya know?
I hate it that you still haven't found the real problem with all your searching and dr bills you've obviously had to pay these years...

That's good that you've already had your nerves checked too though. That carpal tunnel seems to be related to the nerve I referred to though, so I think that neuro is the one on the right track... but what do I know.;) ...also I think that article said an x-ray wouldn't show the nerves? so if it came back positive, that's getting warm, close to right? eh?

I just know that a few months ago I moved my laptop from my kitchen bar stools and bar table because it was really uncomfortable on my back and my posture seemed to be suffering, but now that it's so low that I'm elbowing it, it could very well be related. I just woke up a few months ago and my hands were stiff as concrete, what a strange sensation. And it hasn't gone away yet. I think I'll wrap the towel around my arm tonight and tape it to keep it straight, just to test it out good..
Do you sleep on your side too? Just curious about that...

So glad I found your thread. Thanks for starting it! Just Can't believe there is no name for this crazy condition, and no doctors have any knowledge of it? strange....
Posted 9/5/2014 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
U2, a neuro. who thought it was ulnar nerve entrapment said to try a non restricting brace on the elbow to keep it straight during the night. He also said that any time you have burning/hot/cold/odd sensations, it's nerve related in some way. Swelling for whatever reason can press on the nerves and make the odd sensations. My hands sometimes feel the way they do after being in very cold, freezing temperatures, and then coming in and warming them in water -- it burns. It doesn't matter what the position is when I sleep -- what matters is the lack of motion -- the longer I don't use them, the more rigid they get. It's not like crackling knees when standing up from a chair -- it's like having bandages put on the fingers and not being able to bend them. Cold temperatures -- from air conditioning, for example -- improve this. 70 degrees causes swelling. Good luck.
Posted 1/15/2015 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
So you don't have a good diagnosis for the hands?
Posted 1/22/2015 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Dara78
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Just wanted to reply to your post. I don't live in Utah.. sorry.. Idaho.. My CRP has come back high when I have a flare up. I have been diagnosed with RA and Fibromyalgia.
You need to find another Rheumatologist for sure.. Especially if he suggested that it's weight that is causing your problems. Wow I'm sitting here amazed that they would even say that. Diet is important when you have an immunosuppressant disease but that's not the end all, save all. Please check around and find a Rheumatologist that you can trust and that treats you better.
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