Does this sound like RA? | Arthritis Information

I've been to the dr. several times now trying to get to the reason for my elbow pain. Just all of a sudden both of my elbows starting hurting. Some other joints are stiff in the morning but don't hurt so much after I've been moving around for a while. But my elbows that's another story. The dr. wanted me to stop taking Lipitor for 2 weeks to see if that was causing joint pain. That didn't help. Restarted Lipitor and took an prescription antiflammatory for 30 days. That helped but didn't totally remove the pain. No longer on the antiflammatory and the joint pain is back to where it was. Squeezing a tube of toothpaste is very painful. That's the type of movement that causes pain. Certainly not the only movement that causes pain but an example.

From reading on the internet things point to RA due to symmetrical pain in both elbows. I also was reading about a rheumatoid nodule as an indicator. I have a small knot of my thumb joint that has been there about 6 months. Does that sound like RA?

The dr. has not mentioned RA. I talked to him on the phone tonight and he suggested coming in for some kind of shot in the elbow. I'm not really sure what he is talking about. I'm so confused but just want to figure out what is causing this elbow pain.

The shot the doctor is talking about might be a shot of Cortisone.
I would be of the mind to ask the doctor to run some blood testing for RA.
Ann, about "I have a small knot of my thumb joint that has been there about 6 months. " I don't think anybody can say for sure over the Internet, but... I have about 3-4 of these on my fingers. The first one appeared about 12 months before I had pain in any joints. In my case the pain from RA started in the fingers and toes. But then pretty quickly it moved to knees and elbows. The pain in the knees and elbows is not as severe as fingers and toes.

If I understand correctly the diagnosis for RA includes a number of factors including blood tests, pain testimony, swelling, pressure tests for pain in the joints (the Dr. presses on joints and checks the pain level), Xrays, the presences of nodules. I think the pros can tell from experience if a nodule is related to RA or something else. Funny thing is it was difficult for me to understand what the factors were in my case that caused them to diagnose RA, I'll have to ask more about that.

Roland
Here is some reading on how RA is diagnosed:
http://rawarrior.com/new-criteria-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/
http://rawarrior.com/american-college-of-rheumatology-redefines-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/
In short, if I read this correctly, the blood tests are essential to diagnosis.

Roland

Roland, that is what I was told as well, you have to have blood tests.
If you have doubts as to what your doctor is telling you, you have to see a RHEUMATOLOGIST. These doctors specialize in the field of arthritis,,,, and many other related diseases. You will not know until then. This is a complicated disease and having the correct medical expertise is required. It is a procedure of having a tube of blood drawn and analyzed., by people who specialize in this field. I hope the best for you.

Thanks for everyone's response. The little knot on my thumb joint is about the size of maybe a popcorn kernel ( not very big).

I read the links above with great interest. I was looking at the info about inflamation in the eye. For about a month now I've been having issues with my left eye. It will look like I have pink eye then it looks a little better. Sometimes the edge of the eyelid feels irritated.

I think I just need to go back to the dr and tell him all the symptoms and perhaps ask for the blood test in addition to whatever shot he is talking about.