Saturday, May 05, 2012 Carol asks

Q: I have a suspision, does this sound common???

So I have suspected I have an arthritis of one type or another. My knees are of course in rough shape, Ortho says I will need new knee within a few years, that was when i was 38, im now 42. I have more pain and stiffness and bouts of fatique i wouldnt be able to shake for a week at a time, i call it my body flu!! But literally since Easter weekend, my fingers have these small marble type lumps on the joints nearest to my nail, they are so painful to touch. I actually thought i had burnt myself, its a burning pain. same fingers both hands in less than a month. does this sound familiar to how RA might start. I had my rf done a few years back, i dont exactly know what it was but my gp sent me to a rhuemy. He didnt seem concerned. but now this finger thing is new.

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Answers (1)

V, Health Guide

5/13/12 8:54pm

Hi, Carol,

Welcome to HC. RA can present in many ways and is so unpredictable. The literature you read always mentions the small joints of the hands and feet, but many people I know have had their RA start in their larger joints. If your doctor sent you to a rheumy, he must have had some suspicions himself at that time. BTW, you do not have to have a postive RF to have RA. Those of us who do not have a positive RF are said to have "seronegative" RA. I am seronegative, and I had a difficult time getting a diagnosis. So while the RD's I saw Dx me with everything but RA, my joints were permanently damaged. My advice to you is to talk to your PCP and tell him/her about your fatigue and ask for an Arthritis Panel. Even if you do not have a postive RF, please do not think that you might not have RA or some other autoimmune disorder. Generally speaking, RA attacks the MCP anc PCP joints of your fingers. Those are the joints closest to your hands and the middle finger joints respectively. OA usually attacks the joints nearest your finger nails. Hope you get some relief soon. Please let us know how it is going.

Blessings,

Carol

5/20/12 7:47pm

Thank you for the reply. I went to my gp. he just suggested some "aspircream" type stuff. but then i recieved a call from his office. Bloodwork ordered. after looking back at my history. i will be hoping for the best, and will update when i get the results. thanks again. :)

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Q: I have a suspision, does this sound common???

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