Hi all, I have a Dr appt tomorrow, but just wanted to know some obvious symptoms.
I have had constant pain in all of the joints of my hands for a couple of months now. They feel stiff almost all of the time, but more so if I have been active in carrying heavy objects etc, I suffer the next day. Each joint painfully aches all the time, even with paracetamol and ibuprofen.
RA is in my family, grandma and aunts, but not my mum (hers is osteo).
What are your thoughts?
Oh blimey that's a big question..I really hope you don't! It could be many things but that's how mine started, have you had any swelling? It's good you've got a doctors appointment and hopefully they won't fob you off especially as you have a family history of RA. Good luck and hopefully for you it won't be RA.
No one person is the same so it's a difficult ask. When I went to my GP I only had foot involvement, very painful, I was walking/hobbling on the side of my feet as that was the only part of my foot that I could walk on. Fortunately she had a special interest in rheumatoid diseases so suspected from my symptoms & recognised when examining them. She took bloods.... rheumatoid factor, inflammation (ESR & CRP) & anti-CCP. A couple of days later my results were back & she told me her suspicions were correct. She prescribed an NSAID & pain relief, asking me to stop them a couple of days prior to my appointment that receptionist gave me for the Diagnostic Clinic for a fortnight later. This was so the inflammation & pain wasn't suppressed for when I was examined & further bloods & imaging taken. They confirmed I had seropositive RD & OA, this I was 9 years ago.
I do hope it's not RD (RA) or indeed OA though rheumatoid diseases are thought to run in families & RD is an autoimmune disease. Not so much OA which tends to be age related, though not exclusively, & is the more common wear & tear arthritis. Both are very painful left untreated though so I hope your GP if he suspects either will prescribe an NSAID (more effective than ibuprofen) & pain relief if it's thought it would help.
Maybe having a read of this will help nras.org.uk/what-is-ra-, maybe the rest of the site too. Keep in touch & let us know how you get on at your GP appointment.
thank you nomoreheals. I do have osteoarthritis in my knee so I know how that feels. This is a completely different feeling. I'm hoping its not RA either as I see what my family goes through. I just can't get my head round the amount of constant pain I'm getting. I read the link earlier today, as I've been all over this site today, it was very helpful.
Will let you know how it goes with my GP.
If it's a different feeling to your OA then it might be best to be prepared for referral. Still, I hope not but nowadays there are plenty of options to treat, we don't tend to see the disfigurement so much nowadays as while there's still no cure (yet) Rheumy's can prescribe a variety of DMARDs & the earlier it's diagnosed the better the prognosis usually. The pain is hellish, I'm sorry, but hopefully your GP will prescribe something more appropriate for the interim for you. One of my pain relief meds that I use for breakthrough pain is co-codamol 30/500mg, maybe something along those lines plus an anti inflammatory is worth asking about?
I hope so as paracetamol and ibuprofen just don't cut it.
I know, I'm sorry it's misery making, but your GP should prescribe something which will ease the pain better.
Have you tried bathing your hands in the basin with a sprinkling of Epsom Salts? That may ease the pain a little.
Yes the GP gave me Naproxen and I've got another appointment on Monday for bloods.
One step closer!
I hope that works better for you. He did give you a PPI too didn't he, a tum protector, something like omeprazole? They're necessary with NSAIDs.
No, just told me to make sure I take them with food.
Mmm, they're not supposed to prescribed NSAIDs without one. Well see how you go but if you have any problems do ask for one.
Be aware of tummy upsets and if you do get heartburn or tummy pain tell your doctor at your very next appointment. So that they can prescribe stomach protecting tablets
Know how u feeling unfortunately my hands are in constant pain and I'm a cleaner so use my hands all the time, also started getting in worse in feet recently.
Me too!
I've been given Naproxen. It's great. I can still feel the stiffness, but not half as much pain. Going to combine it with Paracetamol and see how that goes.
I take mine with cocodamol it does ease it somewhat I have to admit.
Hi Mandy, RA doesn't always give you joint pain, I have been in and out of hospital with a lot of weird illnesses the last six years. I had inflammation in my head and was on steroids for a year, then I had pneumonitis which is inflammation in my lungs and cudnt breathe. I was referred to a good rheumy dr in the hospital, I was tested for everything, lupus, sjogrens, etc but all negative. Only positive I had was a very high RA factor but I had no joint pain. Unfortunately I had another flare up, this time, I feel as if I've been run over with a steam roller, bad flu symptoms, want to sleep all day and finally I have pain all over, can't lift a kettle, even driving is sore, when I asked the dr if this is mystery illness number 4, she said no, my illnesses are all linked it's just they can't find the link so I have MCTD, I also have dry eyes and mouth. She gave me a steroid injection and has put me on hydroxychloroquine to try and suppress my immune system. I lost my job due to these illnesses , I'm 63 and because I've never been labelled with an illness I can't really claim any benefits but who will employ me at my age. I hope you get a good diagnosis, it's awful not knowing what's wrong with you and worrying what the next illness will be. Good luck
Oh Lizard28, you sound as though you have been through a hellish time. I really do hope you get it sorted. I am fully fit and able in all other respects, it's just the pain in my hands that is constant and brings me to tears. I'm at the stage that I don't care what it is as long as it is diagnosed and can be treated. It's not often I look forward to going to the Doctors! I'm only 46 and can not afford for this to get out of hand (excuse the pun) and lose my job (Civil Servant, so on a computer all day), and with two small (ish) kids, I need to be functional.
Hi Mandy,
I hope it isn't RA but if you do get a diagnosis then you are protected at work under the 2010 equality act. Your employer is not allowed to discriminate against you on the basis of your disability and they are required under this act to make reasonable adjustments so that you can carry on with your job and not be at a disadvantage compared to your non-disabled colleagues:
gov.uk/guidance/equality-ac...
Beverley (NRAS helpline)
Will keep my fingers crossed for you, getting them to diagnose you would be great. I was actually looking forward to seeing mine as she holds the key to my mystery illnesses, but at least this time I'm on different meds which might stop the flare ups. Keep in touch xx
Will do. I'm actually looking forward to this appointment. Whether its a yey, or ney, I don't care. It's the first step to getting sorted.
i had my GP appt yesterday after 2 months of similar symptoms to you. She prescribed naproxen and said it was presenting as RA! Xray today and radiologist said it looked like it to him. He also said that I should ask my GP to refer to a rheumy - I had thought this would be standard but is maybe dependent on blood test results? Anyway i look forward to hearing how you got on 
Doc has also given me Naproxen and I'm having bloods on Monday, so will know a little more next week.
I have to wait 2 weeks for my bloods results! Let me know how you get on
Had bloods taken yesterday and will hopefully get results this afternoon. But I've just had a call from the Dr's booking me in for a bone profile blood test - PTH Vit D? Does anyone know what this means?
Just being thorough and checking that basic levels of calcium, vit D, albumin, etc are all in order. For example low Vit D can give you symptoms of fatigue, and low calcium can be an early warning sign of osteoporosis.
A couple of the distinct symptoms of RA... there is almost a perfect symmetry to where the pain and inflammation lands in both hands, wrists, fingers, toes. Also, there is persistant swelling all of the time. It is not uncommon though to have OA going on with some messed up module growths as well. RA is very distinct with a terrible fatigue that hits. No matter what you must stay positive and fight back. Do not just give in to these symptoms. Get in agreement with your physician to treat aggressively so you can maintain your quality of life and NOT become debilitated. Good luck dear.
Thank you. I was officially diagnosed and have been on MTX for 3 weeks now. Still waiting for it to kick in. Hopefully before Christmas.
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