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How long before joint damage showed up?

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 6/29/2013 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
How long was it before joint damage showed up for you on an x-ray or MRI after your symptoms first started?

I've had joint pain, swollen hands and bad fatigue for the past 2 years and am trying to decide if I want to get an MRI on my hands at this point. I really think it will be negative. A doc at Mayo clinic thinks I have early seronegative RA. My fatigue, pain in hands and feet get much better on prednisone. I guess I should go get the darn MRI. I am just so tired of tests. I recently had to get an MRI b/c of some tremors and that was negative. I am beginning to feel like a hypochondriac even though I have a high sed rate, ANA and CRP. Also, recently one of my liver values, the AST is creeping up a little bit. And, it's so cyclic. I have periods where I feel better but the stuff always comes back, like a bad rash. LOL...

It's actually frustrating when the confirmatory tests are negative. I guess I am going to take a deep breath and go get the darn MRI next week.
Posted 6/29/2013 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
I went to a foot doctor years ago after my daughter was born my feet got swollen, at that time mri's were just coming out and my foot doc treated me like I was crazy and only would do injections of steroids in my feet, but he should've referred me out right away to an RA doctor...So for years I've mentioned it to different doctor's with no one saying anything, so I just dropped it until about 4 years ago when my eye doctor thought I had sjogren's got me in with an RA doctor and a years after being with this RA doctor, he finally did a hand MRI and something showed up, 3 nodules on my right hand. If the swelling in my feet after my pregnancy had been taken more seriously then maybe I'd have no damage in my right hand.(Waited 19yrs to get a dx)
But that is all second guessing now and I finally have a caring doctor that is trying to help me get stable on methotrexate. It's good that you have a doctor helping you trying to get a diagnosis...
I hope you can get a dx soon as to avoid any joint damage! do keep us posted as we do care...keep us posted on what your mri's reveal, okay, will be thinking of you...
Posted 6/29/2013 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
To Quote a Good Doctor when i was early diagnosed his response to a simular Question from me was

" How Long is a Piece of String"

 ? what ? well he said it depends on the string dosn't it.

and this is So True of RA it really Depends on the string - on each individual

it would be a good idea to get MRI of hands if you can that way you'll have a Baseline for any future changes

Posted 6/29/2013 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Very good anology BadDay!
Jeanneac, keep us posted on what the hand mri reveals and many well wishes, hope you have a good weekend planned!
Posted 6/29/2013 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Well, it's some kind of auto immune thing but what exactly, we don't know. I know in the past 2 years, I've had 100 vials of blood drawn from me, lots of x rays and two MRI's. One of my foot was fine. I'm just sick of tests and want to feel better. Tired of going on prednisone when I have a really bad flare, etc....... whiney, whine, whine....

Thanks for all your responses. It really means a lot. I get tired of whining to friends and my husband and it's such good support here.
Posted 7/2/2013 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Don't worry about the whining we all do it here and none of us minds! Thats what so great about this site. Look as far as how long goes, it really depends on the severity of your condition. I have a severe form of RA and my damage despite all the meds imaginable being thrown at me turned up within 2 years.

My rheumy's whole aim is to minimise it. But now I seem to be levelling out a bit. We have had the best summer in Sydney and my joints have for once in their RA life been quite happy, as long as I didn't over do it I had a pretty good run. My first ever.

Now the weather is cold and damp and I am back to my early morning stiffness and aches and pains of elbows, wrists, feet etc. But I still seem to be ok. I haven't flared for at least 6 months.

So I guess what I'm saying is with good care its very possible to get your condition under some sort of control. Some people respond faster than others, it all depends on your med cocktail and what works for you.

So keep your head up, take a day at a time and believe that eventually your rheumy will find that magic mix that works for you.

Best wishes, golitho

Posted 7/2/2013 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again golitho. It's a journey, what else can we say? I just want to know what it is. Glad your symptoms are finally under control and that the weather is cooperating. We're having a very wet few weeks here in the east coast of the US. Not helping the joint pain. I live in the South East so winter is usually a good time for me here b/c it's not cold and fairly dry.
Posted 10/23/2013 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone I am soreNswollen,
I am not sure what I have yet, but my symptoms are severe joint pain that moves. Started with me waking up and my feet were so sore I could barely bare weight on them, like walking on glass. within afew days my feet and ankles started swelling bad. Now my ankles felt like they both were broken. I used a cane to take some weight off for about 3-4days. Then the joints in my knees hurt to get up or down, they continue to hurt its been 19 days since start of this.2 weeks into this pain my left hand swelled up, making me take my rings off in middle of night. I get small headaches that go away fast maybe 30 secs at least 3xs aday unusual for me. I have also got positional vertigo when I lay down or turn, it stops quick 2 secs maybe. Now I have pink flushed cheeks,but dosnt look like my Rosea.
I currently am diabetic II take metformin 1000mg x2 aday, enapril,Lantus, B-complex, ibuprophenx3 daily due to pain.
Does anyone have ideas what this could be? I am waiting test results, and Rheumatology appt.
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