It seems that each of us are told different things regarding how joints can be affected. Some of us have even been dismissed by doctors since that joint "isn't affected by RA"
I am just curious as to where you guys have issues. My RA has always been "atypical". My hands look pretty good-just two joints inflammed. I have had RA for over 10yrs so you would think that they would look pretty bad. But, my jaw is shot(as you all know by now). My other hotspots are knees, elbows, and shoulders. Sternum is also pretty bad. My jaw and chest were both assumed not to be RA until I had an MRI. Luckily, my RD believed me when I said they were really bothering me.
In all sincerity, I must say all of them....
All joints in my feet and hands...shoulders, elbows....wrists....jaw....throat...hips (outer and in the groin area as well)...knees....collarbone...ankles
I've had every joint flare up save my jaw. But I don't have any joint damage so if I'm not flaring, I feel pretty normal. My inflammation is well controled by my meds too, so again, if I'm not flaring I don't have inflammation either.It's hard to determine which joints are hurting and inflammed - is it RA, PsA, OA? Xrays show that my fingers are PsA &OA; R. wrist is RA.; elbows are PsA; shoulders are PsA and RA; knees are RA, PsA, OA; R. ankle RA; toes are RA and back is RA (diagnosed when I had back surgery) My L. knee has been replaced and second one will be done next year and at some point my ankle will have surgery. LindyI would say that the most damage I have had has been to my lungs, that started in '03. The major damage to my hands and feet just started about 2-3 years ago. Up until then, no one could tell I had RA by looking at my x-rays. I have had RA for appx. 12 years. My shoulders are now also effected, (also the last 2-3 years) though I do not know how they appear on x-ray.For me it is not the pain but stiffness which is a problem. dx 2 years ago. suspect had way before 2 years. In 2000 had knee problems, walking was fine, lying down killed me. Went to India got homeopathy medication.
OOps hit the button accidentally. Knee problems became Ok in two months. it came with vengenance in 2006 only in left hand. then my feet left only. 2008 Ra said more than hello and crippled my feet with achille tendonitis and plantar fascitis. I really do not see it bilaterally and I do not have overall body pains. I took homeopathic medicine uptill now or as rheumy prescribed naproxyn during flares up. Now it looks like neck is a problem.Mine are fingers/wrist and feet/ankles - once in awhile knees and shoulders. I thought hips as well, but I have pain and stiffness along the hip bone and not groin area. Is it true that if RA is in your hip, it's groin only?
No Cathy, it is not true. I have hip pain in my back area and on my side. My thumbs, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, hip, knees, ankles, feet, toes. I was having back pain and my old rd said ra doesn't affect your back but alot of peeps on this site have told me different. He is no longer my ra. I saw him 3 years and he never even did an xray. My new rd; that was the first thing she did was xray me. Mostly now my hands, feet, and hips bother me the most and are more stiff and painful then the rest of my body.I just think it's nuts how doctors will just dismiss some areas of pain as not ra related. I think if there is one thing we all know about this disease is that you never know what the next joint will be. I honestly don't think my RD would have been totally convinced about the jaw if the surgeon hadn't told him what he found. Before the surgery, he would say that my jaw might be affected-but it was highly unsual. He thought it was more from me clenching/grinding. Now he says-"It is surprising how much your jaw is affected". I too have heard about the shoulders not often being affected. Well, mine have been-evidenced by xray. Obviously, many of us here as well. I think another big joint of question is the neck.Wow! We ARE all so different. For me, it is hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles and feet (bilateral) on all. I think what scares me is the fact that it attacks organs too. As if the joints weren't bad enough! PhatsForgot about that. My eyes have had major issues. The last two years I have spent more time at the eye dr. than the RD. This was another reason for moving up the drug ladder to Rituxan. Keratitis, Scleritis, Iritis....pick and itis.....The RA motor runs every day in just about every thing.