Has anyone taken pictures of bad joints to show Rheumy Doc or friends/rels?Rheumy said they were really helpful. She kept them for my file.

[lifebeginstoday]

Found that she couldn't see as clearly as me, the swelling around my wrist and lower hand, as she was looking from other direction. (My wrists are thin so look semi-normal when inflamed.) Why oh why is there awful pain in joints yet xrays of hands n feet/ankles are normal apart from leak of synovial fluid in left hand's small bones/wrist? I don't understand it? I feel like it would be better if the obvious signs of RA surface - This is shocking me because it's an awful thing to think!!!

Soooooo I took some standard printed off photos of all my painful joints to Rheumy Doc which sadly show up the redness/inflam and swelling much better than just looking with naked eye.

Tend to take pics when a joint is particularly painful now. I sent same photos to DLA as part of my application which I believe helped.

Also showed couple of friends the photos and they couldn't believe they were MY joints, especially my knees and ankle. They've been texting me a little more since!!! LOL!!!

Maybe this might help others, I don't know?

J x

[Hidden]

I don't have cause to do this now J but prior to my diagnosis I found that the visible swelling and redness I did have would usually show most at the end of the day when GP wasn't around to show this to so I photographed the various swollen joints and like you, mine showed up much more in photos than it did to the naked eye. So I showed my GP at my husband's insistence - feeling a bit silly - and he studied them and said they showed very clear evidence of synovial swelling and told me to show my rheumy. So I sent them to the physio here who acts as rheumy nurse and she forwarded them to my rheumy - who had almost decided that it was too soon to diagnose me on the basis that my rheum factor was only a low positive and my anti-ccp was negative.

On the strength of my photos he changed his mind and then when I saw him in November he could see for himself how swollen my knuckles and fingers were and put me on MTX. So I agree photos have their uses and on the rare occasion when I do have visible swelling or redness now I photograph it. Shame I can't photograph the sickness and fatigue I'm experiencing just now too though! Tilda xx

[lifebeginstoday]

Hi TildaT, Yer I agree re photograph of Fatigue - It could have a title something like 'The Invisible One' LOL!

J x

[asasmum]

Hi J! Great idea. My GP suggested it a few months ago, before I was going down the IHR route. I now take photos of my joints whenever they are swollen, and when I can think about it amongst all the pain etc. It does show the redness etc far better and yes I will send off to DLA etc if needed in future, thanks. I have to say it is amazing that due to the length of time between rheumy apts I believe most of us are not seen in our usual flared ill health state, and so med profession dont always see the worst of our pain and suffering, with photos they can see the visual at the times they are not reviewing us. It does help enormously so all you guys take your phones/camera photos on your bad days, it will pay dividends in ways you had not even thought of. I will show members of my family when they next visit and see me "normal". So here's clicking!!! ha ha ha

Have a good day Asa's mum xx