I have not been dx yet, waiting for my RD appt (May 3). I wondered if you'd mind sharing how it started (RA) with you. What your symptoms were and how long have you had them... Hi Lisa, Well it has been a journey I must say to finally narrow it down to RA. My very first symptoms started around October last year. I noticed that my lower legs and feet were swelling. I also noticed that my right ring finger started hurting and was swollen also. I know I read in another post on here...Ari something...that it had started with him/her in the same finger on the same hand which I thought was very odd. Anyway, being a typical guy...I just chalked it up to "old man pain" and ignored it. In November, the swelling in my legs/feet starting getting worse and I was also getting extremely fatigued...wanting to sleep all the time. I then made an appointment with an urgent care clinic to find out what the problem was. I didn't have a PCP at that time. Well the 1st thing she said was I have edema and that I needed to take an ECG. So I took that, and they found that I had a slight ischemia so I immediately was sent to the ER thinking I was having a silent heart attack. I then had to go to a cardiologist who put me through a stress test, echocardiogram, sonogram, sleep study,...blah blah blah...all to find out that I have high blood pressure and sleep apnea which was causing my slight murmur and what they believed my swelling. I thought great...my heart is fine. They put me on blood pressure meds and diuretics and I have to sleep with a CPAP machine. Well during the last couple of weeks of December, I noticed that my right ring finger...along with the knuckles in my left hand and both wrists started hurting. On New Years Eve...I had to leave work early cuz I was in so much pain in my wrists and fingers that it felt like knives cutting into the nerves. I then thought I had carpal tunnel. So I then went to an orthopedic surgeon. All this guy was interested in was cutting me open even though I had a negative EMG test for carpal. During this time I also noticed that I had developed what I called a "mass" on my right ring finger and that the joint sometimes would catch. He gave me cortisone shot in my wrist and wanted an MRI done, but since I went to him under workers comp thinking it was carpal tunnel...my stupid insurance company didn't want to pay for one because neither I, nor the doctor, could prove that this mass was caused by a work related injury. This went back and forth for over a month to no avail. During this time, the morning stiffnes really started setting in my hands. I couldn't make a fist until a cpl of hours had passed. I also started developing pain in my shoulders and elbows. Oh and I spent half of February in bed...one week with the worse sinus infection I have ever had...and then when that started clearing up I got the full blown flu. It was during this time that they put me on Pred for the sinus infection. After a day, my pain was 80-90% gone during that week I was on it. Finally, the ortho says well there is nothing more I can do...but you might want to go to your PCP and get you blood tested for RA. I had told him about what the Pred had done for the pain. So, I got my new PCP and did exactly that. They called me 2 days after getting my blood drawn telling me to get to a Rheumatologist...that my Rheumatoid factor in my blood was extremely high...its 498 btw. So that's what I did and finally was diagnosed with RA. I do have to go back for my follow-up in a couple of weeks to get the official results from the bloodwork and xrays he took on my initial visit...but he pretty much said...yeah I have it. He immediately put me on a MethylPred pack and then now 10mg of Pred daily. It was great the 1st few days...pain was almost all but gone, but I have noticed that past couple of days that I am hurting...not as bad as before though. Anyway, when I go back for my follow-up I have to turn in my consent packet to get on the MTX/Humira trial he wants to put me on. And that is pretty much it. After alot of guessing at other problems, they didn't come up with RA until the end. I am glad that I now know so I can get treated for it...but it does irk me that it took so long for any of these other specialists I went to to not come up with RA as a possibility. Anyway, let me know how it goes with your appointment. I live in Fort Worth btw so if you ever want to talk sometime I am not too far. Scott It was during this time that they put me on Pred for the sinus infection. After a day, my pain was 80-90% gone during that week I was on it. Finally, the ortho says well there is nothing more I can do...but you might want to go to your PCP and get you blood tested for RA. I had told him about what the Pred had done for the pain. Mine came back the same as it was before I was on it back in February. I wasn't on that high of a dosage though and like I said now I am only on 10mg a day. Yeah Naproxen has never done anything for me and Tramadol just makes me sleepy...but yet still in pain. I wish they would bring Vioxx back. I had tendonitis in my knee when I was younger and Vioxx was the only thing that completely made the pain go away. I don't know how well it would do with the RA pain now though. I wish they would bring Vioxx back too ghost hunter. It was the best thing for my pain. I take celebrex and it helps but its not as good as vioxx. Are you on Celebrex, it would probably help quite a bit with the pain. I take 200 mg celebrex daily and boy do I know if I have missed a couple of days the pain and swelling and stiffness are really bad and remind me of the bad old days before I had my knee replacements. I wondered what was wrong with my knees and hands last week then remembered that I had my celebrex script in my bag and hadn't had it filled when I ran out. I took it that night and by morning my pain level was about a quarter of what it had been. If you aren't taking it I would ask your Rheumy about Celebrex, it could make a huge difference. Hi Pam, Yeah I have tried celebrex and unfortunately it did nothing for me. I can't remember what the mg was though that they had given me. I need something today though with this cold weather...my freakin hands are killing me and the Pred is not really doing much to subside it.
I noticed you mentioned the DFW area in one of your posts, I live in Burleson. I have an appt with a RD in Denton, not sure how good he is, was referred by my PCP.
Thanks!
Thanks for telling your story.
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