Questions about Swelling | Arthritis Information

 

I have lots of questions about RA.  I am wondering why I am still so achy and stiff if there is no visible swelling now and the blood labs don’t show any either?  If there is no swelling that is currently obvious can joints still be getting progressively worse?  Does swelling have to be present in order for joint destruction to occur?  Can joint destruction occur during a recession?  If I am taking NSAIDs that reduce swelling, doesn’t that confuse the dx in the mind of the RD (especially in light of the fact that my labs are not astronomically high for RA)? — “No swelling”, the RD thinks, “Humm, maybe it’s some other kind of arthritis, let’s wait and see!”  No wonder this is so frustrating trying to get a definitive dx for so many of us newbies.   I'm incredibly astonished that my lab work is normal (except that anemia shows up)when my pain is so significant and rampant throughout almost all of my joints.  I have no noticeable swelling either; except for some around my butt (I think that has more to do with the halloween candy).

I'm the same way. No visible swelling or redness and the labwork comes back a-ok, but constantly stiff and in pain.

Kara - the candy!

I met a lady on one of these boards.  She was stationed overseas-her husband was in the service.  The military docs kept telling her nothing was wrong with her because she didn't have any swelling and her tests were o.k.  They even went so far as to say she was depressed about being overseas.  When she got back to the states, an RD here ran a bone scan and she had erosions everywhere.  Scary, huh?

 

i also dont have a lot of swelling except both index fingers kinda look a little like sausages. I never have markers of inflammation on my bloodwork, even when my rheumatologist manipulates my joints and says "wow, those are swollen"... I think it's just so different from one person to another All of my labs are negative and I rarely swell much but have bone erosion.  It was tough at first to get Dr's to listen to me but I now have a great team.
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