Inflammation / Swelling Question | Arthritis Information

LinB... stated in another post on there, that swelling does not always mean inflammation.

Well... how do you know if you have inflammation with your swelling?

Is it that if it is inflammation, that the joint will be warm to the touch?

Hi Joonie, you don't have to have physical signs of inflammation (swelling, warmth) to have inflammation (synovial fluid) at the joint. If you have yearly xrays it will show the progress or the stopping of damage. Your lab will show if you have inflammation.

If the doctor considers you're in clinical remission then an MRI should be ordered of the worst joint. Many times an xray will show synovial fluid but to be in clinical remission one part of the criteria is NO inflammation and that means no synovial fluid. The criteria used for clinical remission is normal labs, less than 15 minutes of stiffness in mornings, no physical findings, and a negative MRI.

I'll be posting later this evening about my wrists and hand MRIs. Lindy

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/47/1/13Thanks for the link, Lin.

Some of my swelling confuses me. Like the worst swell of my knees will not hurt as bad as the least swelled knee as it will will be the most painful and warm. Same with elbows.

Joonie, RA is very confusing and everyone is different. I've never had warmth. Even the latest golf ball size swelling at my wrist isn't warm. Just lots of synovial fluid/inflammation. It seems like each of us has different symptom combinations. LindyYeah... this stuff sure is confusing and then to throw fibro on top of it all, just really makes ya nuts! LOL!

Sorry to hear about your wrists. Not too much longer until you get to start your meds again. But I know it will be way too long for you.