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Original poster

Could people charge how their Rhuematoid Athritus started please

82 replies

stifffingers · 17/01/2023 01:36

I'm 15 weeks post partum and towards the end of pregnancy my fingers would kill in the morning, really stiff and would take a good 30 mins to warm up properly. Was told it was just the swelling etc it'll stop when baby is born. It hasn't stopped just got worse and worse. Now it's affecting me in the day, any kind of pressure on my wrists and fingers is painful. Yesterday I slid open the car door and my hand was really painful after for ages.
The Cold sets it off too.

The gp thinks we're looking at joint disease.
I'll be having bloods to check for RA. He said if that comes back normal then it's probably osteoarthritis ! I'm 33!!!

I guess I'm just asking for any stories of how both these conditions started for people, those first signs ?

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
stifffingers · 20/01/2023 07:54

Seems like I need to push for gp for a referral then if the result comes back negative. It's useful being able to go in armed with information ! Thank you everyone.

What kind of pain does RA cause ? My fingers go stiff and it's like an achey pain, but when my elbow hurts it's like a sharp pain, the same for my ankle

OP posts:
Original poster
stifffingers · 20/01/2023 07:55

And no I'm not flexible in the slightest 😆
I've had a bad back for years, doing anything 'strenuous' especially hoovering really aggrevates it, it's my lower back. And It really hurts to straighten back up when I've been bending over. Wondering now if it could be related ?

OP posts:
PenelopeTitsDrop3121 · 20/01/2023 09:36

stifffingers · 19/01/2023 20:25

Another question - does RA usually affect both joints (like elbows) on both sides at the same time ? I keep seeing this and can't say that's happening (other than my hands and wrists) it's more like my elbow will hurt, then the next day my ankle etc

Yes RA mirrors joints ie both joints on opposite sides. I do believe my RA started after I had my son. I was getting symptoms when he was around 3 but he was 10 before I got any answers.

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Antenatal & postnatal General health
LittleBoPeepHasLostHerShit · 20/01/2023 09:38

Yes RA mirrors joints ie both joints on opposite sides.

True, although definitely not always. Personally, I've probably had an equal number of one-sided flare-ups. E.g. both feet, both knees. One wrist, one shoulder.

LittleBoPeepHasLostHerShit · 20/01/2023 09:41

Then again my diagnosis had changed over the years from psoriatic arthritis to ankylosing spondylitis to RA and now they tend to say "seronegative inflammatory arthritis". I don't have many erosions (as with RA) but I don't have any psoriasis skin symptoms.

LittleBoPeepHasLostHerShit · 20/01/2023 09:42

What I meant to say above is that I am not a typical case. Sorry if my posts are a bit muddled, I have a headache at the moment!

LadyOfTheFliessssss · 20/01/2023 21:41

stifffingers · 20/01/2023 07:54

Seems like I need to push for gp for a referral then if the result comes back negative. It's useful being able to go in armed with information ! Thank you everyone.

What kind of pain does RA cause ? My fingers go stiff and it's like an achey pain, but when my elbow hurts it's like a sharp pain, the same for my ankle

The pain in my elbow feels like I've just been stabbed with a needle right in the pointy bit. The pain in my fingers is more of a throbbing dull ache.

I also get a lot of stiffness in my back, but that depends on what I'm doing.

The GP should be referring you to rheumatology. Have they not done this already?

Original poster
stifffingers · 21/01/2023 12:12

The gp said I need blood tests and to be referred to rheumatology for their opinion, but he did say if there is no inflammation markers then it could be osteo, but either way he said he thinks it's joint disease.
So I'm not sure if I'll be referred regardless of the results, he wasn't very clear 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
stifffingers · 21/01/2023 12:14

Does the tenderness on joints need to be when you press down directly on top of the finger joints? This is how the gp felt them and they didn't hurt. But I do feel tenderness when they're pressed from the sides, so if I pinch them lightly between my thumb and index finger

OP posts:
LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 21/01/2023 16:17

stifffingers · 21/01/2023 12:12

The gp said I need blood tests and to be referred to rheumatology for their opinion, but he did say if there is no inflammation markers then it could be osteo, but either way he said he thinks it's joint disease.
So I'm not sure if I'll be referred regardless of the results, he wasn't very clear 🤷🏼‍♀️

So, the way that reads to me is his working diagnosis of joint disease of some form; likely RA or OA. To confirm or rule out you need

  1. blood tests (which may, or may not, come back positive)
  2. referral to rheumatology for their opinion

In that case I would expect bloods to be done via GP surgery, referral to be sent to hospital ad they will make the diagnosis not the surgery.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 21/01/2023 16:22

stifffingers · 21/01/2023 12:14

Does the tenderness on joints need to be when you press down directly on top of the finger joints? This is how the gp felt them and they didn't hurt. But I do feel tenderness when they're pressed from the sides, so if I pinch them lightly between my thumb and index finger

Whenever I have my joints checked by the hospital they press each joint from above/below and from the sides and they do it for all fingers, thumbs, elbows & shoulders; ankles & knees. When my shoulders or hips have been in a flare they’ve done X-rays.

LadyOfTheFliessssss · 21/01/2023 22:53

stifffingers · 21/01/2023 12:12

The gp said I need blood tests and to be referred to rheumatology for their opinion, but he did say if there is no inflammation markers then it could be osteo, but either way he said he thinks it's joint disease.
So I'm not sure if I'll be referred regardless of the results, he wasn't very clear 🤷🏼‍♀️

You definitely need to be referred. You can't pick up all types of arthritis on a blood test for one thing. And only rheumatology is going to be able to appropriately treat you.

The waiting list for referrals is so long, I'd be tempted to speak to the receptionist at your GPs and make sure they have definitely done it.

Original poster
stifffingers · 22/01/2023 00:30

Don't worry I will make sure it's definitely done.

I keep getting nightsweats, starting to convince myself it's early peri !!

OP posts:
MissSmiley · 22/01/2023 00:55

@stifffingers the nightsweats can be from your hormones returning to normal after giving birth, I had them while breastfeeding

MissSmiley · 22/01/2023 00:59

I'm following with interest though as I'm being investigated for the same thing, waiting for all the blood tests to come back, my GP contacted the rheumatologist for advice and the hospital called me in for an appointment two days later, I think they were worried my sarcoidosis might have returned.

Also does anyone know if you're diagnosed with one sero negative autoimmune disease (my coeliac disease is sero negative) am I more likely to be sero negative for others eg RA?

Cluckycluck · 22/01/2023 06:34

Are you breastfeeding?

Low oestrogen which can just happen post partum and during breastfeeding can cause joint problems. Sometimes permanent but most of the time temporary. The sheer number of medical professionals who are unaware of this is shocking.
I went through all of this and had trigger finger which is highly unusual at 26. I was told I likely RA, that I'd need to have carpal tunnel surgery and that they thought I had nerve damage too. When I stopped breastfeeding and started taking the combined pill again all my joint issues magically disappeared.

It has since come to light that I am likely going through early menopause (I'm in my early 30s). My oestrogen levels are very low and I have lots of symptoms but I manage them all by taking Yasmin at the moment. It has taken trying almost every combined pill there is to get to one that works. Due to certain symptoms I am unable to stop taking the pill to have menopause properly diagnosed.

Original poster
stifffingers · 22/01/2023 07:11

No I'm not breastfeeding, I stopped at 6 weeks post partum and have been bottle feeding ever since. I'm 16 weeks post partum now.

I do wonder about the hormones though. I went through ivf before I conceived my baby naturally after an ivf miscarriage and the amount of hormones I had pumped into me for a year was unreal, so because of that I do not want to go onto any form of contraception, it really messed with my skin to the point I now have keloid scars on my face. But it makes me wonder if all of that could play a part...

Hormones are definitely abit all over the place still though as I've come on my period 4 days early for the second time now...

OP posts:
Cluckycluck · 22/01/2023 08:19

I would discuss the possibility of it being hormone related with your gp and request hormone tests.

It's interesting that you say about keloid scarring as I have keloid scarring and I've never linked it to hormone issues until now!

cantthinkattheminute · 22/01/2023 08:31

There is lots of rheumatology conditions that cause joint pain not just RA. What you need is a referral once you have had the pain for 6 weeks continuously. There could be long waiting list - where I am it's over 2 years so may need to think about going private if you can. It may take some time for the rheumatologist to get a concrete diagnosis - some of the symptoms overlap. I have symptoms from multiple rheum conditions with 1 confirmed and 2 possible diagnosis. The positive is that a lot of treatment is the same for all the conditions. The hardest thing is waiting but try not to worry or stress about it as that will make it so much worse!

Original poster
stifffingers · 22/01/2023 10:06

Thanks again for everyone's helpful advice and information. I've just checked my local trusts waiting times for rheumatology and it's saying 18 weeks from first referral.
I've definitely had continuous pain for more than 6 weeks, it started from about week 36 in pregnancy

OP posts:
Original poster
stifffingers · 27/01/2023 14:47

So blood results come back normal. They tested my inflammation markers and they aren't raised at all. So who knows what's going on 🤷🏼‍♀️ still in pain with my hands and wrists. My shoulders and elbows also feel weak when I put any kind of pressure on my hands, I know something isn't right but according to my bloods I'm fine lol

OP posts:
Original poster
stifffingers · 27/01/2023 14:53

They also checked c protein or something and that was normal too

OP posts:
Original poster
stifffingers · 27/01/2023 14:54

The nurse said if it was indicative of RA then my inflammation markers would've been through the roof

OP posts:
Sidge · 27/01/2023 16:06

Still push for that referral.

I was diagnosed ten years ago, I have seronegative RA (which they now refer to as inflammatory arthritis) but my CRP (inflammatory marker) is rarely raised, even when I’m flaring. My rheumatologist diagnosed me by ultrasound and was astounded at my normal bloods as I had so much inflammation. He wondered if my body was good at compensating as I was relatively young, and otherwise fit and healthy. Even now my CRP rarely goes up, however I’m on methotrexate and a biologic (adalimumab). I was also on sulphasalazine.

Mine was morning stiffness, constant pain and some joint swelling. I don’t necessarily get mirror symptoms, my joints seem to take turns lol.

Sidge · 27/01/2023 16:08

Oh and they only finally referred me when I told the GP I couldn’t grip a toothbrush to brush my teeth and hated the children holding my hands when walking as it hurt so much. I dreaded any situation where I might be expected to shake hands, and struggled at work with most stuff as I use my hands a lot.