Rheumy appt

littlemissmai

I had another appointment today with the rheumatologist. They still don't know the cause of my joint pain... Basically I'm describing the symptoms of RA but the tests aren't showing up any inflammation. They want to do an ultrasound scan on my hands to look for inflammation that might have been missed on the X-rays. They also want to give me 1 steroid injection to see if that helps.... They said if it does help its likly I have RA and if it makes no difference I'm more likly to have a mechanical problem that's causing the joint pain. They also requested more blood tests.

I just have a few questions I'd like to ask,

Has anyone here had an ultrasound scan on the finger joints? Or any other joints? Did it show anything up?

Does anyone have or had steroid injections for arthritis, what are the side effects and did you find it helpful?

I'm in so much pain today with my hands and neck and I have an awful headache!! I've booked to have a massage on Friday which I've never had before so I'm hoping it will help!

Thanks

X

Starburst

Hello littlemissmai,

The journey to diagnosis is a frustrating one, especially if you're not displaying classic symptoms. That said, the more I read, the less I think there is a classic case. Anyway, I haven't personally had an ultrasound scan but they're a painless, simple way of seeing what's going on inside and tend to be fairly accurate. I'm sure someone will come along shortly and tell you their experience of it.

I've had several steroid injections and found instant relief, as in within a few days. I had no side effects or if I did, they weren't noticeable! The jabs give me relief for a good few weeks and I'd recommend them. The needle isn't bad and it goes into your bottom or thigh.

All the best,
Sophie

littlemissmai

Thanks for your reply starburst.

Your right... Trying to get a diagnosis is a nightmare, it's been going on for years and I don't seem to be getting anywhere.

It's great to hear you find the steroid injections helpful! Do you have to go get it done every few weeks or is it something you can do yourself?

X

charleeh

Hi

I have a type of arthritis called Sero Negative. Mines like RA but doesn't show in the blood. I get all the symptoms of RA though, the cells attack the cartilage around my joints fusing the bones and giving me swelling. My inflammatory markers are normally high though - periodically.

Steroid injections and steroids in general do help greatly with arthritis I find. I am unable to take oral tablets as I get side effects but the IV drips are brilliant for me. Infact I had one today lol! The injections are good too, although I don't have them any more as I had little indentation scars off my last 2 which is really rare I am told and I had had a load before this stated happening. Steroids do give fast relief, and I would recommend them.

I hope you enjoy your massage, it helps me a lot having a massage, especially if they use juniper oil in the massage!! It helps keep the cold out!!!

Best wishes,
Charleeh

As5567

littlemissmai wrote:

I had another appointment today with the rheumatologist. They still don't know the cause of my joint pain... Basically I'm describing the symptoms of RA but the tests aren't showing up any inflammation. They want to do an ultrasound scan on my hands to look for inflammation that might have been missed on the X-rays. They also want to give me 1 steroid injection to see if that helps.... They said if it does help its likly I have RA and if it makes no difference I'm more likly to have a mechanical problem that's causing the joint pain. They also requested more blood tests.

I just have a few questions I'd like to ask,

Has anyone here had an ultrasound scan on the finger joints? Or any other joints? Did it show anything up?

Does anyone have or had steroid injections for arthritis, what are the side effects and did you find it helpful?

I'm in so much pain today with my hands and neck and I have an awful headache!! I've booked to have a massage on Friday which I've never had before so I'm hoping it will help!

Thanks

X

I have had 2 ultrasound scans, one on my knee area and one in my groin/hip area. This was probably over 5 years ago, the scan itself doesn’t usually hurt but if your joints are tender to the touch like mine then it might be abit uncountable. As for steroid injections they are always worth a shot...sometimes they can hurt but the pain only lasts second from the ones I have had. They put some sort of numbing liquid with the steroid to help it be as painless as possible. I hope the scan will clear things up for you and the injection helps!

littlemissmai

Thanks for your replies. I'll definitely look into the zero negative arthritis, It sounds like it could be that.

In a way I'm hoping the ultrasound shows something because I'm beginning to feel like they think I'm making it up. I have that in a few weeks and then I'm having the injection in 8 weeks.

I'm really looking forward to my massage too x

bubbadog

Hi, I've had ultra-sound scan on my hands, along with the blood tests showed up inflammatory Arthritis. I had a Steroid injection at the end of last year and it only really lasted just over a month before I started to feel pain and the symptoms again. The side effects of different for everybody so it's pointless saying what they are. Hope it helps you.

dreamdaisy

I cannot remember if I've ever had an ultrasound for my psoriatic arthritis but I do remember having the steroid injections and them doing nothing (like all meds they work for some and not for others). The oral steroids though? Yum-yum, in fact so yummy I weaned myself off them because they are not a long-term solution. Steroid injections are not self-administered and there should be a gap of about three months in between each one. They work by thinning all tissue in the body so that's why I stopped mine.

RA can be a sero-positive (rheumatoid factor is positive in the blood) or a sero-negative type (no rheumatoid factor). From what I've read on here I think that some rheumatologists don't accept that RA can be sero-neg so they term it an 'inflammatory arthritis'. I had that label for some years but then my skin helpfully obliged with a bout of psoriasis; nothing changed meds-wise. DD

lizzy100

i had an ultrasound of my hands, and it didnt show anything.
are you rheum factor positive?

Bioluminescence

I'm sero negative inflammatory arthritis (my rhummy doctor seems to just use all of them) During my diagnosis they took the bloods and then did an xray and ultrasound of my hands. The xray and ultrasound where quite good tests (nicer than blood tests anyway). The xray showed nothing (which was expected as I had only had symptoms for a few months) but the ultrasound did show inflammation and I think that helped with the diagnosis a lot. Also various levels in the bloods (but not the rhumatoid factor so much).

Quick question: my knee is a lot worse than my hands should I ask for another xray / ultrasound of my knee as well? My mum mentioned it could be possible I have knee injury on top of arthriis.

I haven't taken up the steroid injections yet but I think I will book for one at least to try because I feel I'd do anything for some pain relief. The nurse gave a big warning saying they only want to as a last resort because of side effects and me being young. Not sure what side effects there are though?!