Morning hand pain? | Arthritis Information

HI, this is my first post. Lately when I wake up my hands hurt a lot. I can't even make a fist. I have been reading up on the symptoms of RA and morning pain in both hands is one of the symptoms. My hands aren't swelling any. Now that I look back over the last few years I have had other symptoms like my ankle joints hurting. the ankle pain comes and goes a couple times a year. I have had back problems and had a lumbar fusion two years ago. I seem to be very stiff all over in the mornings and it is hard to go downstairs to the kitchen. I also take strong pain meds for my back problems because I also have arachnoiditis so The pain meds help with the hand pain. I guess I need to see a doctor about this but I recently lost my health insurance.

Ok now my question can you have RA in the hands and your hands or fingers not swell any?

My hands get really hot, but I really don't have a lot of swelling with mine. They get "puffy", but I don't know if that's "swelling" or that I'm retaining water? Those symptoms can be many different things. It would be irresponsible for us to specultae. I understand the difficulties of insurance but you really need to visit a doctor to figure out what is going on

Hi there 'rasincrazy', Welcome to the board. Your concern over your hands is very important. I'm sorry you don't have insurance, so that does make it harder to see a doctor. As the others have mentioned we can't say much except do see your regular or an RA specialist!. I'm glad you found the forum and let us know what you find out. (I have stiff hands, not much swelling and some mild pain as I type this)

Good luck, Lynda

yOU DEF. NEED TO GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM A DOCTOR. YES YOU CAN HAVE HAND AND FINGER PAIN WITH RA AND NO SWELLING.MY HANDS HURT ALL THE TIME AND ARE STIFF AND AT NIGHT TIME THEY UNMOVEABLE

GOOD LUCK WITH SEEING A DOCTOR

I am sorry to hear about your pain and losing your insurance but yes, you do need some testing and to see a doctor. It is possible to have just pain and not swelling though that will likely change over time so best to catch it early! It could also be OA as well. You need to see someone.

It could be a lot of things. The best way to check is though a qualified doctor. It can take quite a while before swelling occurs along with the pain. The redness/inflammation may be lurking below the "radar" so to speak. I know it's difficult without health insurance, but a knowledgable MD might be able to get you started toward diagnosis before going to a costlier rheumatologist.

Welcome to the board.

As everyone else has said...it could be just about anything. You have to see a doc about it.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your insurance. Check with your state and see what programs they offer.

Racincrazy your hands sound like mine with Osteo A, mostly my fingers hurt and i don't swell all that much but i have deformity in my pinkie from it. Wish you could get to Dr. soon. Grammaskittles has a good idea about state help. Good luck to ya and you will get great info here.