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What is this burning/red/swelling??

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 1/23/2007 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Why am I having this guys?  I am one of those left out in oblivion as far as a diagnosis goes...my RF never has come back positive, only my Sed Rate (inflammation marker)...and my ANA's keep going up and up.  But the drs have been content with the following diagnosis:

1.  Systemic Inflammatory Arthritis

2.  Fibromyalgia

3.  Tietze's Syndrome (swelling and pain in the intercostal rib spaces)

4.  Endometriosis

5.  Herniated disc/pinched nerve L5-S1 with DDD.

The story this time around is that I went to a very small, local country ER Sunday night for the swelling in the ribs, knowing I needed a steroid shot.  So they gave me a solu-medrol shot and a toradol pain shot for the inflammation.

I wake up Monday and today with red, hot, swollen joints in my knees are the worst, feet and fingers....I've never had that reaction to the steroid shots before...

I'm wondering if I'm FINALLY in the 'flare' that they've been waiting on and maybe they could give me a definitive diagnosis today!  I'm going to see a Pain Mgmt doctor today as a work-in patient...so wish me some luck!

And give me your feedback - you guys are the smart ones when it comes to figuring us all out!  I dont know if its truly a Rheumatoid Arthritis thing now or what!!!  HELP!

Thanks everyone in advance,

Beth

Posted 1/24/2007 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
hey Beth,
right now might be a good time to actually get bloodwork done just to see what's going on at this acute period. it's a good idea.
actually, a positive ANA and sed rate are pretty solid evidence. an RF might not even be a necessary factor if you display objective, physical joint symptoms. that can be enough to DX RA.
all of these AI diseases are so vague and fall into each other and mimick one another. it's frustrating, i know.
funny thing?.....after all of these years, my RA is at it's WORST and ya know what??? my RF titer went away! LOL. rheumatics is clearly an art...not a science. oy!
take good care & do if you can get blood work & checked out soon while you have this swelling.
sincerely,
erin
Posted 1/24/2007 7:28 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Erin~

I remember you too from when I was part of the boards a few years ago!  I hope this finds you well and doing okay, despite your pain!! 

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.  I really appreciate that.  And yes, I agree about doing the blood work while I'm actively flaring.  So, they took 5 vials yesterday!  Whoo!  If something doesn't show outta that I dont know what to do! 

Now, the ortho/PM appt I have is another story.  It's not until the 29th and I'm so afraid I'll be asymptomatic by then!  It sounds crazy, but I want to stay swollen until the doctor can see it!  So I've been calling their office everyday to check for openings just in case.  Wish me luck!

Also, wanted to ask you with your RA, does your swelling seem to be much worse, and I'm talking full force burning and hot and swollen, in the evening hours?  I got it again last night...my knees just ached so badly all day long, then around 9pm, sure enough, there came the swelling and the burn!  Ugh.  I did my best to sleep with my legs elevated...that seemed to help because today, I'm not near as bad at all.

So, just a question for you there.  Again, thank you so much for replying and taking the time with me!

Hugs,

Beth

Posted 1/24/2007 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
just jumping in to say hi and good luck with the blood work results. not that i hope it shows anything but i guess u do want an answer so ...... i think the blood work will show ur symptoms regardless if they are present for the visit later this month as they took it while u were hot, no pun intended. lol when i am in a bad spot it is all day and night no real relief swelling lasts what can seem like forever. treat ur self to a nice tub soak i use peppermint and epson salt not sure if it soes much but i so relax! good luck yalinda
Posted 1/25/2007 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hiya Beth.. glad to see you around these parts again!!
I had to jump in with a question for you. Does your Tietze's Syndrome cause "visible" swelling in your chest? This is driving me nuts, it's not a "sharp" pain very much... but a constant pressure pain and if I rub it, woo doggy does it get worse. ( I can hear you now "then don't rub it, dimwit...lol). It's annoying tho, and I always seem to find my hand drifting up to "rub it out" or massage it.
But EVERYtime I feel the pain increase a bit, I can go find a mirror, and sure enough, my upper chest is red, and will indent and turn white when pressed. My lovely doc blew it off, said nothing important, but that costo does NOT cause visible swelling. Hmph.

I'm wondering if because I'm thin through my rib area (not so thin in the behind tho...) could be why the swelling is so evident?

Geesh.. I need sleeeeep.

Sarah
Posted 1/25/2007 7:54 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Sarah ~

Every single word in your post could very well have been written by me!  Incredible!  YES!  It causes redness and swelling that is visible and felt on palpation, that is the very distinguishing factor against general Costo.  That's when they call it Tietze's syndrome.  It is the only distinguishing characteristic as far as I have been told.  Some folks can get Chronic Costo, where they have "flares" off and on of the "pain" of the inflammation, but NO visible swelling or redness.

I'm not really yelling when I make a word all caps, I'm just emphasizing it!  LOL

Mine is at an ALL TIME HIGH as far as pain goes this week.  I'm flaring fibro side and tietze's side...it totally sux, all because of a little bit of stress late last week.

I sure hope you get some relief hon.  I am using the heck outta my BioFreeze rub and yepper, my hand is nearly always on my chest (in public and in private! LOL) because of how cold my hands are and how good that feels on the inflamed area!  The areas of swelling have increased (meaning how far they puff up off the chest wall) to about an inch, inch and a half maybe.  It feels like 2 grapefruits are being crushed into my chest, one on the right, one on the left, which is rare for me to be flaring on both sides at the same time...it's usually only one side.  Lucky me. 

Anyway, that's what started all this posting again, as I had gone to the ER to get the steroid injection because of the swelling and it had just the opposite affect on me and I ended up swelling worse in more joints.

Hope all that made sense, I'm pooped too!

Let me know how you are and please remember you're in my prayers for God to take this away!!!!

Love,

Beth

 

Posted 1/25/2007 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
I love my biofreeze. Doesn't totally love me tho. Gotta watch the amount or you are jumping around going YIKES. As soon as I get back to the doc.. I'm going to ask what the heck he can do to help me with this. Can't get comfy at all. And it's not pretty if I wear anything with a "real" neckline... my chest matches my red hair!!!

It's only the upper part though, no swelling below the bra line area. Is this typical with you also?

And geez, like you needed any other problems. Good luck with those joints!!
Posted 1/25/2007 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, same spot for me as well. Mine tends to swell much more towards the outer parts of the upper ribs (like towards the heart and the armpit area)...lol l ARMPIT!

Anyway, I'm feeling goofy, it's been a day from hades here work-wise and I'm ready to call it "FINISHED!"

The only thing that has helped me the most so far is ice therapy (frozen peas in a bag work wonders for 20 minutes) and the Iontophoresis where they give you the steroid cream and pulsate it into you through the skin without using needles. My PT does this. It helps.

I'm with you tho girl, I can't take much more! Period!
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