new to forum lots of ??????'s | Arthritis Information

I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with RA at time my rf was only 13 since then has gone down and a new md says then it is probably not RA. gave me diagnosis such as tendonitis and bursitis some thing different for every joint. when this started I woke up 3weeks in a row unable to move due to stiffness and pain. now I have flare ups that are not as bad but still hurt. my hands and feet go numb and it feels as though the muscles in my fingers are tightening. when I first wake up my fingers are stiff and clenched in a fist. my hips and fingers are the worst and no md seems to concerned have only had blood work. now I no longer have health insurance so I only take darvocet and have not yet received any treatment. any advice? I have more questions but i'll stop here 4 now. but anyhow is this all normal?So sorry we have to meet under these circumstances, but glad you came here to this forum. There's a lot of good experiemce here.

There are a number of things that could make the hands and feet go numb, so you really need to rule out a number of things. The first thing that I thought of was some form of vaculitis, but I am not an MD. Are the fingers swollen? Any history of diabetes? Does the "numbness" go away after you get up and move about for a bit? Do the fingers turn colors? Do you have the results of your bloodwork?

I had those same pains and numbness.......... the same.

I have a DX of RA...... there are other ways to diagnose RA than just blood tests..... My tests are normal.. luckily I have an RD who tested my fluid in the joint..

I hope you find yourself with insurance soon and see another RD....... Not all will dismiss you easily.

Good luck.

Babs,

She doesn't necessarily have arthritis with the complaints she has listed. Important to rule out the more critical things first, which might show up in the bloodwork.

Babs didn't issue a diagnosis, and rheumatologists don't just diagnose and treat rheumatoid arthritis. She's talking about symptoms she's having NOW, which may not be part of what the rheumadoc saw initially.

Diabetes, MS, and a slew of other vascular and circulatory diseases can cause similar symptoms.

All I'm saying is that they need to rule out some of the other possibilities. She might have several things going on simultaneously.