Is this the beginnings of rheumatoid arthritis?

[luvflorida]

About three months ago, I could feel tenderness in my toes when I would first wake up. I only felt it if I bent them. For the past three weeks or so, I feel that same tenderness in the middle finger and pinkie of both hands. It is always first thing in the morning, then it disappears as the day wears on. I've felt it in my knees, ankles, and neck, also.

Now, it isn't what I would call painful, just kind of annoying. It hasn't limited me in any way, YET. That is what I'm afraid of. Is this the start of something that will get progressively worse? Gradually or all of a sudden? I have a doctor's appointment next month and I will ask my doctor all these questions, but I'm interested if anyone here has any experience with this.

My mother, 74, has Rheumatoid arthritis and she said it sounds like the beginnings of it to her. I'll be 51 in a few months, and according to the research I've done, it wouldn't be unusual to have arthritis.

Does anyone here have rheumatoid arthritis or any experiences they can share? Did it come on suddenly, or over time? How do you deal with it? Thanks so much for any info.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

My MIL has RF and was diagnosed in her late 30s. She is almost 61 now and looks so much older than her years. She's gone through every treatment imaginable. I think her early symptoms were harder than what you are describing though. You may have another type of arthritis--I wonder if I'm getting some kind of it in a couple fingers since I type a lot (would that be DIS arthritis?) . If it gets more than annoying I would see a doctor, who can send you to a specialist if needed.
Robin M.

 

[golfgal]

Are you sure it is Rheumatoid arthritis and not Osteoarthritis? I would say it sounds more like osteo then rheumatoid. Usually rheumatoid is more acute, bouts of long lasting pain that may be there for 3 weeks, gone for 4 months, back for 10 weeks, etc. Osteo is more chronic where it is always there but hurts more sometimes then other (like when you overdo something or weather changes).

 

[froglady]

Both DM & I have osteoarthritis. We both started getting early symptoms in our 30s. DM was a keypunch operator, then computer programmer, so spent hours every day at a keyboard. She now has deformed fingers due to it. After watching her hands deteriorate, I have been careful to limit my time doing repetitive tasks using my hands. I used to spend hours cross stitching, but now limit my time to no more than 2 hours at a time, and no more frequently than 3 -4 times a week.

I still get flare-ups from time to time where my knuckles get very swollen and painful, but limiting the repetitive motion has helped.

 

[Tinks]

A hallmark of Rheumatoid Arthritis is early morning "stiffness" in the joints that disappears once you are up and moving around. It can be multiple joints or a few, as in your case.

If I were in your shoes, given your family history and your concern, I would insist on bloodwork to rule it in/out. Peace of mind is priceless.

I also highly recommend the book The New Arthritis Breakthrough by Henry Scammel. It's all about Dr. Brown's work with RA patients and his belief that RA and other autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and lupus are caused by cell wall deficient microorganisms. He has had great success with a simple antibiotic. Google the Roadback foundation.

 

[luvwinnie]

I have psoriatic arthritis, which is similar to RA. I was first diagnosed with "lupus like" connective tissue disorder...those symptoms were fever (low grade, almost daily for MONTHS), very achey, rib cage inflammation, chills, severe fatigue, very cold hands and feet...then I got psoriasis and within a month had joint and tendon pain in my toes, ankles, spine, sacroiliac joints and shoulders. It's hard to say if yours is RA or not...everyone is different. Definitely see a rheumatologist. Ivillage has a great RA board that I am on if you wish to post there. Good luck!

By the way, I am on ENbrel and methotrexate and they have kept me functioning.

 

[luvflorida]

Are you sure it is Rheumatoid arthritis and not Osteoarthritis? I would say it sounds more like osteo then rheumatoid. Usually rheumatoid is more acute, bouts of long lasting pain that may be there for 3 weeks, gone for 4 months, back for 10 weeks, etc. Osteo is more chronic where it is always there but hurts more sometimes then other (like when you overdo something or weather changes).

I'm not certain at this point. It isn't anything major, just something I've noticed that wasn't there before. When I researched Rheumatoid as opposed to Osteo, it sounded more like Rheumatoid, but some symptoms can be the same for both types. However, it did mention that Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be noticable in the morning and Osteoarthritis is more noticable toward evening.

The biggest annoyance seems to be in the second joint of both middle fingers. I read where it's common for Rheumatoid arthritis to appear in the same joints on both sides of the body.

 

[luvwinnie]

Wondering how you are feeling.