To be so scared?

[Totho]

I have sore knuckles on both hands, and I’ve convinced myself that I have rheumatoid arthritis.
When I google my symptoms that’s the only thing that fits.

I do have a doctors appointment booked but I couldn’t get one for a few days.

I’m terrified.

Anyone?

What other symptoms do you have? I have RA and sore knuckles wouldn’t be the only thing that would suggest RA.
How long have you had this?

I think you’re probably adding 1 and zero and getting 56. Do you have other symptoms making you consider RA? There are lots of causes of hand pain.

About 6 weeks I think. Not much pain but knuckles are slightly swollen and sore to the touch. It comes and goes but it’s always symmetrical and I can’t find anything other than RA that would do that.

I know I’m probably overreacting. DH thinking I’m panicking about nothing. I’ve just had my implant out and my hormones are all over the place so I’m a bit delicate emotionally at the moment.

I’ve managed to get a cancellation doctors appointment for this afternoon. Hopefully the dr will tell me that I’m overreacting too.

When did you have the implant taken out?

Maybe repetetive strain injury?

Funny you mention about hormones. I had sore joints to the point of going to doctors where I discovered I was going through menopause. Seemed to be temporary, joints are fine now.

Gout?

My implant was taken out about 4 weeks ago. We are ttc but I’m not pregnant (took a test a couple of days ago)

@starzig I originally thought it was a side effect of the implant but it’s been out for weeks now and it hasn’t gone away

Anxiety and stress? Are you clenching your hands?

My RA pain doesn’t come and go so it’s not the experience I have had with RA.
Could be palindromic rheumatism but unlikely as you are only feeling it in your knuckles.

I would also suggest keeping a pain diary just in case they do refer you to a rheumatologist. Be warned, depending on your area there is quite a wait for seeing rheumatologist.
GP would blood test you before referring you today

What time of day do you notice the pain most?

@Hidillyho it seems to come and go randomly throughout the day.

After giving birth (both times) I had severe knee pain which was caused by hormone imbalances. It lasted ages; months and months.

What did the dr say?
Palindromic rheumatism does come and go but I wouldn’t say it came and went in the same place daily

@Hidillyho the doctor has organised blood tests to check various things but said that she isn’t particularly worried about RA and it’s more likely to be either a hormonal thing or reactive following a virus. So I’m feeling a bit less stressed now.