A question for all of you RA experts but first, a little background. A couple of years ago, or so, after being hit with both knees in pain then with pain in both feet combined with the knee pain, I was diagnosed RA. Nothing since then. Then, in December my left shoulder was in excruciating pain. I went to my chiropractor who said "torn rotator cuff" even though there was no precipitating injury. Anyway, AFTER ABOUT FOUR DAYS, the pain was practically gone except for occasional achiness. Then a couple of weeks later, the exact same pain in my right shoulder. No way would I believe two torn rotator cuffs without an injury. Anyway this shoulder's pain lasted about 4-5 days. A week or so later, the fingers in my left hand could not come close to making a fist - again substantial pain. After a few days it went away and the pain started up in my right hand fingers. --- So I question whether the shoulder and finger pain could be RA because of such a short duration. I'm not on meds of any kind (just over the counter pain relievers). Does it sound like RA to you guys? Could sure use some opinions.That sounds like it could be RA. The coming and going as well as the
migratory pattern are typical of it. But it could be a lot of other things, too,
so please see a Rheumatologist ASAP (please don't procrastinate. If it is RA,
the sooner you get on the case the better your long term prognosis will be).
Could be but sounds more like Polymyalgia Rheumatica(PMR), one of Arthur's Wrecking Crew buddies.
Lotza info to be found on any number of websites, such as: MedLine, Medscape, PDR Health, Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, etc. etc. etc.
My initial dx was PMR but after that issue was controlled and actually went into remission I still had other issues. This is when seronegative RA was added to my dx.
I would suggest making an appt. with your gp/or a rheumy asap.
Please, keep the board posted for we all care.
Check out www.palindromic.org. You sound like one of us. When you see the rheumy, DEMAND X-Rays ASAP. No damage in all this time than you are probably Palindromic. You need to RUN with this diagnosis - Palindromic is the only AI disease where up to 50% of us can get into a natural, non-mediine induced remission.
Pip
Thanks, I do have a call in to the Rheumatologist office and will follow up with them.
I will continue to monitor the site and look forward to others' responses. As well as reading up on other posts.
The Rheumatologist nurse returned my call and after my description, she said it didn't sound like RA symptoms to her - the duration as well as one joint at a time. She said I should see my GP and he may refer me back to the Rheumatologist. Fortunately I have a GP appointment next week and will discuss with him.Last year I started to swell in the wrist's, fingers, knees and at one time or another every where else. Most last four to five days while I wait for the next round. After spending little over a year with my RA Doc. he now wants to start me on Remacade. As I type this I look at my left hand is now twice the size of my right. I also had chrons so bad, that they removed my large colon. The side-affects for Remacade could be Limpfoma which is far worse then RA. Everyone tells me that this drug will be great for me. I don't know??? The nurse also stated that I might want to try Orencia. I hope some one can advise me on which infusion would be better.Here is the list of drugs I take to make it thru the day,Propoxy-n/apap, Oxycodone hcl, Prednisone, Methotrezate, Folic acid, Ambien, Gabapentin, Diovan, Leflunomide. Thank You
laketrash, I just wanted you know know that you do not have to have a injury in your shoulder to have a ((torn rotator cluff)) I know because I have a large tear in my right shoulder. I was surpose to have surgery a week ago but I ended up with the flu really bad so that took care of that. I stated with RA when i was 29 years old I took gold shots and I went into remission for a very long time. I am now 58 and I got hit very hard with the worse flare you can stand. I am now going to start with the gold again to see if it will help. But now that I am so much older they don't know if it will help. But it is worth it if they do. I had my first shot last week. It takes awhile for it to work once they can start uping the dose I should feel better I hope. I had to wait 2 1/2 months for the shots because they don't get used much anymore because there are so much other things he try now. But I insited they use the gold for me to see if they would do wonders again. Well got to go. JoanLaketrash,
My onset of RA was pretty much like yours - a few days of wicked pain to the point of immobilization - which rotated around from left to right, in my case in the wrist, ankle, and fingers. I was 34 years old at the time. The doc said it wasn't likely RA, but the blood tests came back off the scale for RA! So, here I am 30 years later still fighting the good fight, having progressed from Aspirin, to Naprosyn, to Cupramine, to Methotrexate, and now to Sulfasalizine and Plaquinil. Next stop will be Enbrel, hopefully a few years off. I am lucky, having been diagnosed as a 'robust rheumatoid', meaning that the disease, while deforming my hands and feet, never stopped me from playing all the sports I did before onset (hockey, squash, golf, etc). The disease has worsened quite a bit over the past five years or so and has slowed me down a lot. What I've learned in this forum is that females outnumber the males by about 10 to 1 it seems. What this means to me is that the disease is much more serious for women than for men in general. I just can't imagine how painful and difficult it is for many of the women in this forum, and my heart just goes out to them all after reading the many posts here, such courage and stoicism. It's not possible for me to feel as sorry for myself as I once did.
Glen