Flare Question | Arthritis Information

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Hello All...posted in February for information related to having a positive RA factor and mild joint pain. I'm feeling about the same and have yet to start any medication at this point. I keep looking for the sign that "this thing is finally here" and keep thinking a flare could be that sign (don't belive I've ever had a flare...from what i have read, you will know when it is here). I have just a few questions:

 
- In your case, was a flare the single event that led to the start of meds and the diagnosis?
 
- If a flare was not the event leading to diagnosis, how long after diagnosis and did your first flare occur?
 
- Has anyone ever been diagnosed and never had a flare?
 
- My wife and I had a couple of late nights this weekend partying it up for her 30th bday, she noticed my hands fingers were all shiny Friday night....is this a sign or symptom?
 
Thanks again for your help,
 
TechZit
Shiney hands could mean you have some inflammation.  Mine get shiney when they're swollen.  I guess it's cuz the skin stretches.
 
My first flare was a big one and it is what led to my dx.  Looking back, in the months leading to that flare I had been concerned because I was always so tired, which is not like me at all.  Also, I had been having some minor pain in some of the joints in my fingers and big toes.  Nothing big though, I didn't really pay much attention to that.  Now I think that those were actually the first symptoms and I blew just them off.  When that first flare hit, their was no blowing it off.  Knocked me off my feet and left me sitting in a chair for almost 4 months.
 
Do you have any plans for starting meds?
My first symptoms were mild - swollen middle finger, aching thumb and toes but aches were bilateral.  Saw several physicians and went to Stanford Arthritis Clinic and all tests were negative and stayed negative for about 13 years.  This was back in the dark ages and mild symptoms with negative tests weren't really treated with meds.  Come to find out that damage was occuring all those years and by the time the "flare from hell" hit I had damage in hands and feet.  Flare left me bedridden with an RF of over 1000. 
 
Now 23 years later I'm still battling this disease with damage to many joints, heart and pulmonary issues related to RA.  If you have positive labs don't hesitate to start taking meds.  The medications started early in the disease process will help keep you from damage and complications.  Lindy
No plans for starting meds yet. My rheumy "left it up to me" and suggested, if I did want to start, to start with Planquenil. I went and got a second opinion and he said he would wait until some more definite signs show up (i.e. treat the clinical signs..not the bloodwork). I had no inflammation in my last blood work which led me to hold off because both docs said they have never seen damage occur without inflammation.
 
 

My RD said the same thing, that it's the inflammation that causes the erosion.  I wonder if LinB had any inflammation during those years her joints were being damaged. 

I guess you'll stay on top of it, knowing what you do know.   I'd hate to see it get out of hand right under your nose, ya know?

Great Question LinnCn...

LinB...did you have any inflammation during those years? My CRP was <4 (out of 5) and my Sedimentation was 7 out of 15. (both within "Normal" range). My CCP Anitbodies was also < 1 and normal.
 
It is so difficult to decide what to do at this stage.
 

I have absolutely no idea........this all started in 1984 and I'm not sure what tests were done 25 years ago.  Was a CRP and CCP part of the testing then?  I know that CRP. CCP and Sed have been positive since 1998 when I flared.  My ANA titer was also positive and it's since been negative and none of my doctors feel that I have Lupus. 

Whatever testing was done in 1984 was all negative and RA was ruled out due to labs being normal.  I assume that presentation of physical symptoms didn't enter into the equation if labs were normal.  I was just told to take Tylenol for pain. 
 
As an added note, I just got the results of the mri of my hands and wrist.  They showed  increased damage to hands and wrist.   Even though my labs have been normal for a year,  physical presentation appeared negative (no swelling)  I was told by my RD that I was in clinical remission.  Because I still had inflammation with no symptoms, damage was occuring at a fast rate.   Only an MRI can tell if inflammation is present.  Swelling doesn't always equal inflammation.  Lindy 
Well for 2 years I had mild symptoms.  Not much sewlling or pain.  bone scan did show mild to moderate inflamation.  I am sero neagative.  I MADE THE MISTAKE OF NOT GOING ON MED EARLY.  DO NOT DO THAT.  all the tests were normal.  I wish doctor started me earlier on the DMARD. Now all hell is breaking loose.  LOL THEY STILL have not figured it out what is going on because she thinks it should be bilateral.
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