Swollen knuckle - what could it be?

[LittleOldLadies]

I'll start by saying I do have a GP appointment for the end of the month but couldn't get in any sooner than that and wondering if anyone has got any suggestions in the meantime.

About this time last year, I had swelling in my knuckle of my right index finger. I had some other strange skin lesions on the same hand, and the GP was FAR more interested in those than the knuckle. To me, the knuckle was the main issue as it was v swollen and painful and hard to bend and use etc. The GP wasn't sure what it was or if I should be referred to dermatology or rheumatology. She asked for rheumatology advice, but was told that because it was only one joint affected, it didn't warrant a referral to them. So I ended up with a dermatology appointment, they biopsied a lesion on another finger (which didn't show anything so they didn't see me again) and the swelling of my knuckle eventually went down after about 6 months.

But, it's now swollen again. The joint is warm to touch (compared to the rest of my hands/fingers), not red, no broken skin, just swollen and sore and it's difficult to bend the finger (due to a mix of the swelling making it difficult to create a fist type bending motion and it's uncomfortable to do so).

I also have hypothyroid and a family history of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

I'm 42.

Any ideas?

Forgot to add I've had no trauma to the finger/knuckle either.

What were the skin lesions like? I've something that sounds like it could be similar for the last two years - swollen fingers, with chillblain type lesions on them. I was investigated for rheumatoid arthritis but everything came back negative so it's a bit of a mystery.

I have had to google what chillblains look like - what I had didn't look like that. Mine were red and fairly small and on different fingers to the swollen knuckle. I'l try and find a photo I took at the time (they have gone now)

The one on the inside of my ring finger is what the took the biopsy of. The other picture is the swelling (pic from last year). It looks about the same now.

I have exact same thing. For 6 days the knuckle on my middle finger us swollen, stiff and painful. Mine is nt red or warm though. Can't bend my finger without wincing or hold a pen etc.

Can't recall hurting myself.

My mother had RA but I don't have it. As I've grown older I have had little flares of knuckles - pain coming on quite quickly with some heat and swelling, but no lesions. I have taken Ibuprofen and rubbed on Ibuprofen cream and they have calmed down after three or four days. I have supposed I had tendonitis, but I don't know.

Could be RA. Maybe ask your GP for some blood tests for rheumatoid factor, anti ccp, ana to see if you have a connective tissue disease?

You can have seronegative RA which isn't detected in blood. I have seropositive RA.

Has the gp run blood tests for gout?

They look a bit like mine, would love to know what it is. I suspect I might have seronegative RA, the symptoms are definitely the closest fit.

@CherryRipe1

Could be RA. Maybe ask your GP for some blood tests for rheumatoid factor, anti ccp, ana to see if you have a connective tissue disease?

Thanks. Will ask the GP when I see them.

@romdowa

Has the gp run blood tests for gout?

The GP didn’t do any blood tests. The hospital did some but I don’t know what they were testing for and they all apparently came back as normal