RA??? PLEAS HELP NEW TO THIS

dinkidi

Hello i'm very new to anything like this. Please be gentle with me lol. I haven't been officially diagnosed with RA but i'm really just after some advice and to see if my symptoms are alike any ones. I'm 32 yrs of age and for the last 6 months have been experiencing stiff finger joints along with wrist joints and elbows and warmth from the knees. No visible swelling. Night times are my worst and early mornings which I suffer, most pain and stiffness coming from my fingers. I get very tired through out the day but manage to cope reasonably well although I have noticed every day tasks like hovering is starting to hurt my wrists. My GP has refered me to a RA specialist and carried out blood work revealing my RA test to be negative, a slight vitamin D deficiency and a positive to some auto immune test. I'm currently on a number of medication and the only other medical problem I have is that I have suffered with lower back pain for quite some years. My symptoms seem to be getting worse each day and I am worried this could be in the early stages of something. So is it possible I could have RA with no visible swelling and these symptoms, i'm worried I will get to my appointment and having no swelling will not believe my pain. What also am I to expect from my first visit?? Any help would be much appreciated and i'm sorry if this is in the wrong section. Many thanks

stickywicket

Hello dinkidi. It’s good to meet you though I’m sorry you had to find us. We are not doctors and can’t do diagnoses: our area of expertise is offering information and sympathy as we do understand arthritis and the difficulties it brings.

Your GP clearly thinks there is something wrong because he has referred you to a rheumatologist. I don’t know what the auto-immune test was but there are loads of auto-immune diseases, some forms of arthritis included. Your RA test came back negative but there are sero-negative forms of arthritis. So I guess it all means that you might or might not have arthritis.

A rheumatologist won’t only judge by swelling. It’s so long since I was diagnosed that I can’t tell you what will happen on a first visit but you can help yourself by keeping a ‘pain diary’ in the meantime. Record what hurts and when; what makes things worse or better; if you do get any swelling, take a photo.

This is in the right section. This is where people introduce themselves. However, if you’ve other questions you might find it more helpful to post them on the Living With Arthritis forum (even though you’re not sure ) as more people look in there.

barbara12

Hello dinkidi and a warm welcome from me
Sorry I cant help with your diagnosis I have OA, but you have come to the right place,you will get lots of information on here...and loads of support, like SW says post any questions in LWA...and if you want a laugh chitchat is the place...
I do hope to see you posting more very soon x

dinkidi

hi again, thank you for your lovely replies. My appointment is a few weeks off so I think I'm just trying to get some idea of what to expect. A pain diary seems a good idea and at least I could go to my app with a bit of help for them. There seems to be a few types of arthritis. I have a wonderful husband but sometimes I feel he doesn't quite understand what pain i'm in as its not something that's really visible. The last 3 nights i've had warmth coming from my knees, hot to touch but no pain or swelling. Anyone else experience this? As I say I've experienced no swelling, it just feels the skin on fingers is so tight they can not bend. After having a busy weekend i'm suffering today, so I guess the more I do, the more I hurt after. Thank you for any advice :?

stickywicket

If you want to know what happens at a first appt. I suggest you post on Living With Arthritis under that header. Far more people look on there and I’m sure someone who’s relatively new to it all – well, new enough to remember their first appt – will come on and tell you.

Husbands, families etc don’t really understand. It’s hard for them. It’s important to get the balance right so that they are on board with everything but not dragged down by our moaning. That’s where the forum is very useful – we can moan on here to people who do understand but don’t have to live with us

Yes, the more you do the more it’ll hurt. Learning to pace ourselves is very important and so, so hard :roll:

dinkidi

thank you for the advice, I have re posted in the living with arthritis forum.

dreamdaisy

Hello, I've answered your post on LWA but hadn't realised you'd posted here too :oops: - I apologise. I hope I haven't waffled on too much about stuff you already know! DD

Bydand1980

Hi Dinkidi

Nice to meet you here even if it's not so nice that you've had to join us.
I'm new on the forum but not new to Arthritis which I was diagnosed with waaaay to many years ago!!! So for first appointment info I can't really help since I was only about 5 years old at the time although I do remember the Dr was called Dr Chalmers and the nurse was an old (at least compared to me at the time!) Jamaican lady who was really nice!

Like Stickywicket said we can't do diagnosis but can listen and make sure you know that you are not alone. What I can say though is that when you feel the pain and stiffness there has to be something that causes it and the Rheumatology doctors will know what to look for beyond the stereotypical image of swollen joints and walking funny. I can also say that understanding of arthritis has moved on a massive, huge amount since I was diagnosed and I'm sure doctors will keep learning new things that might even eventually make us all better!

A lot of what you mention sounds familliar but best wait untill the doctor lets you know what's up. Besides you'd have to be mad to trust to internet diagnosis, if I'd done that I would have said I had a serious, terminal case of life!!! Once the doctors know how to treat you, things might improve, I managed to do quite a few things that people said I would never be able to do when I was younger but everybody is different and you just have to take each day as it comes, find your own comfort level, how much you can do and if one of those days happens to be a bad day then you can come hear and talk about it.

dinkidi

Hello, dreamdaisy you haven't waffled on, I really don't know to much. I posted here first and think someone mentioned posting it on LWA to. All info has been of big help. Suppose all I can do is sit and wait for my appointment and see what comes of it. Its nice to be able to see how other people deal with their conditions. And also listen to what advice they give. I'm sure the professionals will get to the bottom of my aches and pains. xx