Gout or RA

[HappyD34]

Hi all, long time no post and hope everyone is as safe and well as can be.

Looks like mine has decided to aggravate me, now fingers tad painful just below nail bed , whatever that joint is as well as my knuckles. So trying to get appointment as looks like I may start with meds for the first time. However , has anyone experienced gout? My reason for asking is the doctors who treated my 94 year old aunt for a stroke and who sadly passed away, told us she had gout. Her one index finger was always troublesome, often swelling like a red sausage and very painful would come and go. Both my mum and I have the same finger and with same symptoms. I also noticed under my big toe , when massaged, it felt like crystals moving, very weird but additionally I had severe pain in my big toe which was worse but seems to have settled. So I’m kind of wondering is it RA or Gout? I have a high RF count at 264 so am being monitored, had xrays, ultrasound of feet and hands over a year ago with some inflammation but at the mo they think it’s inflammatory arthritis and offered DMARDs over a telephone consult. So am a bit confused and want to ensure I get treated for the right arthritis- any thoughts anyone? Between acid reflux kicking off again and Covid life’s bloody hard, as I know it is for all us folks , cheers

[Summerrain14]

Have you had the blood tests for gout? This would show if you do have gout. Your RF is very high so suspect you may have some kind of inflammatory arthritis too. Was it your rheumatology team who offered the DMARDS? Some people have both types of arthritis so may be worth seeing if the DMARDS help. Good luck and do let us know how you are won’t you?

[HappyD34 in reply to Summerrain14]

Hi Summerrain14, thanks for replying. It was indeed my Rhumy consultant who offered it but over a phone consultation and not sure that’s the right way for my first go at meds. I don’t recall seeing any blood test for gout, suspect as you say, I’ve inflammatory arthritis which likely to result in R.A.Ah well, life’s a weird one . Take good care and all the best

[Summerrain14 in reply to HappyD34]

You take good care too. Worth trying the DMARD and see if it helps. Of course it always take time usually around 3 months but definitely better to be on treatment to reduce any further damage to your joints. Keep in touch.

[HappyD34]

Hi Louise-a thanks so much for replying. There are some many arthritis’s out there, guess it’s a case of which one I have , hopefully not more than one 🤪🤗

[sylvi]

Sounds like a call to your rheumy, it could be either. I have the same in my middle finger on my right hand. It comes and goes as well. It gets very hot and burns as well. xxx

[HappyD34 in reply to sylvi]

Hi Sylvi , thanks for replying. Yes, I’ve also noticed that either my hands or feet burn, even my thighs sometimes and I thought it was the menopause until I read on here that one symptom of inflammation are your thighs burning. Anyway I’ve called Rheumy nurses and left message for them to call me. Have a good day and stay safe

[Leics]

Might be an idea if you suspect you have gout that they add a uric acid blood test (UA) this will determine if you have gout. I think if you’ve had X-ray’s and other tests and have a high RF that it’s not an autoimmune disease of one variety or another. Hopefully you’ll get a definitive diagnosis soon and can start treatment very soon. Most of the DMARDs treat a lot of the types of autoimmune arthritis so no worries there. Your rheumy team will have looked at your bloods and scans or X-ray’s and hopefully have determined which ones would suit you best can take a while months sooner than days or weeks for treatment to start working but sometimes they alleviate the inflammation quickly. Ensure you tell them about the acid reflux though.

[HappyD34]

Brilliant thanks Leics much appreciated 👍