Back again... Hello! Ultrasound advice?

[BlackNov]

So I have now had my 1st appointment with my Rheumatologist. She seemed very nice and I was grateful to be listened to. 😊

She mentioned that it might be a mixed connective tissue disease as she said that my symptoms don't clearly belong to one condition. Since then she has sent me for a number of tests. My next test is for a MRI of my pelvis.

Yesterday I had a ultrasound of my hands and feet.

The sonographer said there was no active inflammation. He said there was thickening around my joints- Particular in my fore and middle fingers and big toes. He said he thought the inflammation was active around a month ago.

This ties in with when I lasted visited my GP because I was feel quite unwell and my rib cage was very sore. My GP thought my rib cage cartilage was inflamed. So I was wondering whether that could mean that I had experienced a flare then?

I was hoping that someone could explain what "the thickening" means as well? 🤔

So far I have had visual swelling, but my blood tests have come back fine.

Does the fact that there has been inflammation at some point- rule out conditions like fibromyalgia. Does this make it look likely that it might be a specific condition? Sorry for all the questions! I just don't know who to ask.

The sonographer thought that my condition was viral arthritis. He asked when it first started (6 months ago) if I had a chest infection or anything? I said that I didn't have anything like that, but I was a bit stressed at the time. He said that he thought it would be that and suggested that it would sort itself out.

Has this been the case for any one out there?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

Best wishes 👍- BlackNov.

[helixhelix]

Viral arthritis is also called reactive arthritis, here's some information about it.

arthritisresearchuk.org/sho...

When you have inflammation from the type of conditions that fall under the heading of mixed connective tissue disease it causes the synovium, or the lining of your joints, to thicken. I don't know if there are ther condition that cause that same type of thickening.

[BlackNov in reply to helixhelix]

Hello Helixhelix, thank you for the reply and for clarifying 're the thickening. I will ask my Rheumatologist more when I see them next 😊 hope you are well.