Testing for other rheumatic conditions besides PMR?

[Bennijax]

My one diagnosis, September 2019, was PMR. At no time has any rheumatologist suggested I be examined to see if I have Rheumatic arthritis as well, and if so what that may mean for treatments, if any.

Until this spring I've had few symptoms of what I think may be classified as arthritis - my fingers remained fairly straight and functioning. In the last few months the fingers on the right hand have all become deformed with loss of some sensation and with slightly swollen, slightly reddened, first joints below the nails.

The left hand has only one deformed finger yet all the fingers have a degree of loss of sensation, and several of the first joints, on and off, have red areas . On both hands it's becoming harder and harder to tap and have the tap picked up by the devises we use.

I have struggled to taper and deal with fatigue and aching every day. Is this just aging? I'm 78 now. I look to you for some feedback and perhaps some advise.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If you mean rheumatoid arthritis have a look at this -

versusarthritis.org/about-a...

if you are diagnosed with it or want more info on treatments etc there is a HU forum -

healthunlocked.com/search/c...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think that whatever it is, it needs bringing to the attention of your medical team.

I have one index finger with prominent Heberden's nodes on the distal joint - nowhere else. It started in my 30s but has become more obvious and twisted in the last few years. It occasionally gets red and painful.

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

There is an illustration on p10 of this:

uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/about/do...

These are due to osteoarthritis, but similar swellings and deformity can occur with an inflammatory arthritis and may be accompanied by more general swelling and heat and pain.

[AtopicGuy]

When you say "the fingers on the right hand have all become deformed", do you mean they curl towards the palm and will not straighten fully? Or are they crooked from side-to-side when you look towards the back of the hand, zig-zagging at the knuckles?

[Bennijax in reply to AtopicGuy]

crooked from side to side, zigzagging at the knuckles, yes. Osteoarthritis most likely according to the nurse I saw today at the local doctors surgery.

I think she said that inflammatory arthitis is confiremd through blood tests.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bennijax]

There are different types of inflammatory arthritis -

healthline.com/health/infla...