Does swelling come and go?

purpleunicorn

Hello everyone

I wanted to ask if the swelling of arthritis comes and goes?

My GP diagnosed fibromyalgia, which I agree with given the widespread random pain and other symptoms, but I am also convinced that something else is going on as well.

My low back, hip and knee on one side are a big problem, and in the mornings (every morning) the pain also affects my thigh. Mt left thumb right at the base is incredibly painful and stiff all the time and then last night my right wrist swelled up having been sore all day. As the swelling came on it felt like my joint was being attacked by 'something'...it was a horrible nauseating ache/pain and extended up my arm into my shoulder. My son said it felt like there was fluid under the skin around my wrist. This morning the swelling has gone down, but when I run my hand across the top of the wrist there seems to be a swelling under the skin if that makes sense, as if my joint has 'grown' if that makes sense?

I have a GP appt this evening for meds, how can I persuade the dr to refer me to rheumatologist? I am worried that I am doing harm to my joints by not being examined. I have asked 3 times for a referral but every time I get told it's not necessary.

Thanks

x

Shooter

purpleunicorn wrote:

Hello everyone

I wanted to ask if the swelling of arthritis comes and goes?

My GP diagnosed fibromyalgia, which I agree with given the widespread random pain and other symptoms, but I am also convinced that something else is going on as well.

My low back, hip and knee on one side are a big problem, and in the mornings (every morning) the pain also affects my thigh. Mt left thumb right at the base is incredibly painful and stiff all the time and then last night my right wrist swelled up having been sore all day. As the swelling came on it felt like my joint was being attacked by 'something'...it was a horrible nauseating ache/pain and extended up my arm into my shoulder. My son said it felt like there was fluid under the skin around my wrist. This morning the swelling has gone down, but when I run my hand across the top of the wrist there seems to be a swelling under the skin if that makes sense, as if my joint has 'grown' if that makes sense?

I have a GP appt this evening for meds, how can I persuade the dr to refer me to rheumatologist? I am worried that I am doing harm to my joints by not being examined. I have asked 3 times for a referral but every time I get told it's not necessary.

Thanks

x

Hi purple unicorn yes just same but my useless rummy diagnosed oa after one visit to check me over and a very quick follow up (even the nurse was surprised how fast it was ) her attitude was don't bother me with this and signed me off eg leave it to my doctor and not her so this may be why your doctor as not sent you just a thought and a winge of course good luck Steve.b

CJHunter

Hi Purple, just popped in and sa ya post so thought would reply cos ive notbeen about.

Your doc , with all respect etc etc is not a bone or joint specialist, maybe tha is what is needed to get the doc to look at this differently. Tell him/her that you need a definitive answer and want to be treated for it appropriatly and your concern is something is a miss.

It is effecting your whole life and you need answers. I believe that that is part of the maintaining as you know what you are daling with. I know others who will disagree but this is only my opinion.
May be if that doesnt work you could talk to the practice manager.

Am off now,(nasty cold), hope at least it bumps this up and you may get some more opinions.

Take care hun, mail me if u want.xx

barbara12

I have been diagnosed with OA and my hands swell and then go down again, like shooter I had a rubbish appointment with a rheumy that just wanted to leave early.
I hope you get some half very soon, just knowing what is going on is half the battle. x

purpleunicorn

Hi again

Yes, I know all about useless rheummies...my eldest has hypermobility syndrome and her last appt with one was a farce.

The swelling hasn't gone down actually, I thought it had this morning but although the pain has gone the wrist looks almost misshapen, and is a lot fatter than the other one.

CJ, sorry you're not feeling great; will mail you a bit later.

X

suzygirl

Purple, swelling can come and go especially in the early stages. I would take photos of the swellings to show the doc and or rheumy if you ever get an appt. It helps them to see what is going on.

purpleunicorn

Well, again no referral to rheummy :roll:

Dr has kept me on diclofenac, upped my amitriptyline to 50mg, kept me on cocodamol 30/500 and has prescribed me Buprenorphine for the severe hip and thigh pain in the mornings.

He has, however, said that the swelling in my wrist and pain and stiffness in my thumb is down to "wear and tear" or osteoarthritis. I asked what could be done about it and he said "stop wearing and tearing it", and to lose weight...I countered this by telling him that losing weight will not impact on my thumb joint but he said "you never know".

So, now, fibromyalgia AND osteo...all without ever seeing a rheumatologist...hmm....

x

dotty123

Sending you gentle hugs, I have OA and mostly in my hands, my middle left hand finger is quite swollen at the mo and have contracture I am still waiting to see if it will go down. My fingers look like twig-lets

I have had to take off my engagement and eternity rings off, but can't get my band off and I won't take it off either

so I am rather down at the mo

43 going on 93

mig

SWelling on my hands nearly all the time and it never goes down completely,fingers are now pointing to one side,both wrists are painful and swollen but that does seem to go for a few days and then its back again,i have ra so it seems swelling happens with ra and oa,it just another of the things we have to put up with.sorry if this sounds negetive.Hope you feel better soon.(((()))) Mig

frogmorton

Oh Purpleunicorn

Poor you

l am so sorry that you still don't have your referral.

I am thinking that the photo idea might help you you know....some 'evidence' at least.

Some folks have saved up and paid to see a rheumatologist privately l don't know if you could consider doing that :?

Other than that it has to be - collect more evidence (photos etc) and go with someone some support. I took my brother to see the GP after l had seen mine twice :oops: .

Love

Toni xxx

Ldyalb

He has, however, said that the swelling in my wrist and pain and stiffness in my thumb is down to "wear and tear" or osteoarthritis. I asked what could be done about it and he said "stop wearing and tearing it", and to lose weight...I countered this by telling him that losing weight will not impact on my thumb joint but he said "you never know".

So, now, fibromyalgia AND osteo...all without ever seeing a rheumatologist...hmm....

Is there another GP at your practice you could see? Fibro doesn't cause swelling. I have Fibro and HMS, have had Fibro since June 2010. It's been about 9-10 months since my Arthur symptoms started and it's taken this long to get a Dr to take me seriously about it 'oh it's just Fibro' 'hmm let's wait and see'. Really he should have done an xray/MRI scan to confirm the OA was present.

How on earth will losing weight help your thumb joint? Obv it's best to be a healthy weight but some people do have a mindset of 'losing weight cures everything' - my Dad's the same. It drives me crazy as I'm the thinnest person in my family, and he's the fattest by a long mile. Plus - you can't exactly stop using your thumb!