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few questions - looking for advice

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 7/4/2013 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
My doc thinks I have RA as my R Factor was high. He's given me a course of pred and I'm waiting on x-rays and Rheumy appointment. I'm new to all this and a bit overwhelmed. I wonder could anyone help me with these questions:

1) I never had much pain, just stiffness in joints. The pred has cleared up any pain and stifness but I noticed I have clicking sounds all over my body. Is this bones coming together or i read somewhere it is air being released? Will the clicking go away?

2) Does RA present in flares and remissions for people? Like say Crohns Disease?

3) I have not had any swelling but I notice if I touch hard on any part of my skin or if I press up against something then my skin reddens very quicky. Does anyone get that or know what it is?

Many thanks for any advice here,

Steve

Posted 7/5/2013 7:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hello there and Welcome!! :)

Hopefully, you do not have RA.

I can't answer your questions fully but....

1. RA symptoms can present differently for many people. I had the opposite of you. I had the bad pain and no stiffness for quite some time. If the Pred cleared up your pain and stiffness, then you most likely have RA but your Rheumy will know best when the results are all in.

I've had that annoying clicking through the years but it goes away for me but I know it will be back. I think it is the deterioration of my joints and debris being cleared away. Just my opinion. I have only heard of the air release in knuckle joints when someone deliberately cracks them when they feel pressure. My cousin does that and she doesn't have Arthritis of any kind. I've also heard that the cracking can be the band that makes the joint lock up. Sorry, I can't think of the name at the moment.

2. I do not know much about Crohns Disease. Before I was dxd., I only had the bad pains 3 times the first year in different joints in my body. The pain usually lasted about 2 weeks to a month and then disappeared for months then the pain reappeared in a different joint.

3. I have also had the redness when pressed hard on the skin or if I lightly scratch my skin a red line remains for quite a while. I read somewhere that this is histamines being released in the body but I am not sure about that. I actually scratched my arm lightly last week and it took some time for it to disappear. I did the same thing just now and there is no red line. We may sometimes have reactions to different foods that contain histamine.
Posted 7/5/2013 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, msOuchie is correct in that we do present differently, and I also hope it's not RA for you.
I do have some clicking I just do not focus so much on it. I also have redness but I do not need to be pressed on for the redness to appear, its just red around some of my joints...
For now I would say, wait until your appointment and see what your doctor says...make a list of what your going thru so you can remember these at your doctors appointment.
Do keep us posted, will be thinking about you, many well wishes...
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