Hello fromanother RA sufferer.

Is this the place to post a quick note about myself?

I have been recently diagnosed with RA by my GP but am scheduled to see a rheumatologist for further testing next month which is the earliest I can get an appointment.

I have many questions about RA. so have been doing a lot of reading on the illness.

I'm sure every individual has different pains and symptoms but would like to list some of mine and see if I truly have RA. My GP says at this time I am flying under the radar for the RA blood test. I've been seeing him for my condition for several years but I don't think until my last few visits has he really understood my concern about my pain and discomfort.

What ever I have going in with my body it has been going on for several years but just in the past year things have really started to progress.

I am an auto body and painter tech. and demand a lot from my body and try keep healthy and fit. In the past year I have had surgery on my left knee due to pain and after an MRI was told I had grade iv chondromalacia which I was later told that was a big word for arthritis. I am going in this week for the same surgery on my right knee.

My aches and pains include stiffness, pain and swelling in my hands wrists elbows shoulders chest knees and feet.

the pain isn't all of the time during the day but after a long days work I am miserable with pain in all of my joints which ranges from sharp spiking pain to dull aches and stiffness.

The best way to describe it is my bones and joints are a against me and causing me all kinds of discomfort.

Since I am going in for surgery next week the dr took me off my ibuprofen last friday, I  though I was going to die due to the pain so I was pescribed Norco which I have been taking 4 times a day to keep the pain under control.

When any of you have jaw pain due to RA what is the feeling you experence?

When this joint or joints flare up with me it is a horrible feeling which makes my face and neck feel tight and ache which is hard to describe and when it is joined with shoulder and sternum pain it makes it difficult to breath.

thanks for any input you may have.