Newbie.. scared.

[Macca74]

Hi all. I have had pain in both hands and feet for a couple of weeks, with no strength and bad stiffness. Had blood tests yesterday. No diagnosis obvs yet but do others remember early signs. Is no visible swelling but pain an indicator?

Thanks

[Hidden]

My first symptoms were feeling as though I was walking barefoot on a pebbly beach. Painful ankles and hands and fingers like bunches of bananas. I was 36 years old with 5 children and one grandson. This was in 1987. I'm now 66 and have 5 more grandchildren.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Macca74, welcome. I'm sorry you've had need to seek us out. I was diagnosed back in 2008, though not in the UK at that time. My first joint involvement was my feet. Typically symptoms are joint tenderness at the base of toes, painful heels & inflammation & redness on the top of the foot/ankles. I was walking on the sides of my feet, the only way I could walk with less pain. I put up with it for about a month then the pain hit another level so I saw my GP who examined them & having a special interest in Rheumatology recognised it could be RD so took my RF & anti-CCP. I had my results the next day, on my way out the Receptionist gave me an appointment for the Diagnostic Clinic, a fortnight later I had my seropositive diagnosis.

Hand involvement is similar, usually affecting the middle joints & base of fingers plus redness & inflammation.

Bear in mind even when your blood results come back they're not definitive, they only form part of the jigsaw. That said symptoms you mention are typical of RD, symmetrical joint pain. It could be you've no visible inflammation yet, particularly as you've see your GP promptly after first having symptoms. So well done to both you & your GP, if it does turn out to be RD!

It's quite normal to have flu-like symptoms as well, being unusually tired & sometimes a high temp are all additional symptoms.

I hope you don't turn out to be another member of the creaky joints club but if you are then you've found a good place for help, advice & experience from many who go before you! 😊

[Gnarli]

Hi Macca and welcome. Over 20 years ago my wrists felt really sore and there were episodes of some fingers suddenly going white. Following blood tests the GP told me that I had the rheumatoid factor in my blood, prescribed mild painkillers and told me to go live my life. Various joints have become sore and then recovered since then until there were signs that something was wrong. A heavy, flu-like feeling and tiredness. Then my hands and wrists started to get sore. Then really sore. Then last October nearly a year after the initial symptoms it all flared up quickly and dramatically with my hands swelling to twice their normal size, red and so painful I could not bear the feeling of the breeze blowing on them. I am not medically trained so could not say what it is that's giving you trouble. I sincerely hope that your dianosis is not RA, or Rheumatoid Disease as many prefer to call it. If it is you have found a lovely, informed, friendly and supportive community which I have found to be a lifesaver. Wishing you the best

Jan

[LyndaKenny]

Mine began in my hands and I thought I had carpel tunnel - the blood tests proved otherwise. I was only diagnosed a week ago so I'm a newbie too.

[Blythegirl in reply to LyndaKenny]

Did they give you an emg to diagnose carpal tunnel?

[LyndaKenny in reply to LyndaKenny]

I had extensive blood tests that confirmed it was RA

[Ali_H]

Hi Macca and welcome,

I won't try and guess if it is or isn't but now you've had your bloods done there are a couple of things you can do that might ease things a little. Drink plenty of water, add turmeric to your diet (powder, fresh in soups salad dressings etc or as a supplement), eat as clean as is reasonable cos sugars create inflammation and keep moving. Get plenty of sleep if possible - I take a piriteze hay fever tablet at night on week nights because they make me drowsy and thus I get to sleep quicker (on weekends I don't cos I can lie in the next day).

I hope things pan out for you soon and that it's something easily resolvable

All the best

Ali

[helenlw7]

I was diagnosed in 2004 and my first symptoms came on overnight. It was the last Thursday in October 2004. We were on holiday in northern France with friends, and had visited the Thiepval Memorial. We got back to the gite we were staying in and sat down for a cuppa, as you do. After sitting for about half an hour I tried to get up and moving was almost impossible, my body was stiff in every joint. After that I felt pain in my joints.

[Elmo333]

Hi. I hope it doesn't turn out to be RA but if it does, remember that it is a spectrum and it's not definitely going to be horrendous.

I never got any swelling for the first few years and now recently, I get more swelling. In my experience, the pain can be just as severe even if it's not swollen.

Good luck!

[Macca74]

Thank you for all your advice and lovely replies.

I keep hoping it is nothing and that I will wake up and it goes as sudden as it came on...but it doesn't 😔.

Today I have also had problems with my right ankle along with hands and feet as normal.

I am going to remain open minded as to a diagnosis until blood tests come back, and will see what they show.

I may be back....

Wishing you all the best, and I can't tell you how much finding you all here has helped in many ways.

[Sueh121268]

My first signs were in both hands and both feet, I was terrified but after the blood tests and the lovely staff at the rheumy clinic with the meds and some steroid injections along the way I've gone from a CRP reading of 237 to today's results of 7..... I know how scared you must be but with the right meds, excersize, the right diet for you, ( I have found the clean diet has worked wonders for me), plenty of water and rest when you need it I can do as much or sometimes more than I did before the diagnosis.... I hope you don't need this site but if you do were all in the same boat to different degrees and we are always here for a natter..... Good luck hun xx

[Laura_dilcock]

I had swollen hands for months before the pain started but the docs believed that was post-pregnancy swelling but I was never convinced by this explanation. My blood tests were also RA negative for 6 months after symptoms started so don't let them give up on you if you feel you're not happy with results. I think it can start differently for everybody. Wishing you luck for results xx