Umm, swollen thumb joint?

[KatyMac]

It hasn't been knocked or injured

It's probably arthritis, but is there any other nice easy diagnosis?

It's the bottom joint by the wrist, it's warm to touch & about 3 times the size of the one on my other hand

Infection.

Do you have veins tracking up your wrist?

You probably need some antibiotics if it's that swollen.

Yup, sounds like an infection. I'd pop to the out of hours or A&E, it needs treating ASAP (tonight) if it's in the bone.

No veins
It's been like it a while now (weeks at least) I just haven't noticed how swollen it was as it's a fleshy bit

I was thinking texters thumb or RSI or something?

It wouldn't be hot if it was something like this, it shouldn't be hot at all. It needs looking at.

Unlikely. You could have dislocated the joint and that's why it's swollen, either way it does need medical attention.

Any flu like symptoms?

No Sciatica & fluey-cold/virus when it started maybe 3 weeks ago

My reflexologist noticed it earlier in the week & I don't remember when it wasn't like that (iyswim)

I guess it could be the sciatica (always thought that went down not up)

gout ?

Maybe, that sounds possible

It is half the size it was yesterday, still a little warm but much more a normal colour

Mind you I spent the last 3 days massaging it

I've had this twice in different joints, once in my big toe and once in my ankle. Both times I went to see the doctor. They didn't make a diagnosis in the toe but when I had it in my ankle I was sent to hospital.
It was red, swollen and hot. They thought I had an infection, but turned out to be inflammatory arthritis. I'd go and get it checked out, they can do blood tests to rule things out. Hope it gets better.

Thanks; it is definitely getting better

Now this is getting silly - my little finger middle joint has gone like this now

Get checked - could also be something called reactive arthritis. You will need blood tests. You must go to GP for emergency appt tomorrow, if not A&E before.

I have an appointment I don't want to go to tomorrow [coward]

Sorry I meant to say thanks for replying; I'm sure it's something "autoimmune" iykwim

KatyMac how did it go ?>

Well, I explained that there wasn?t a day since Christmas when I hadn?t taken a pain killer (either paracetamol ? 4/5 days with diclofenic or co-codamol) & while I didn?t feel it was very positive taking them I didn?t think just stopping was a good idea.

& that I didn?t think it was likely that I had 3 or 4 separate things.

He is happy with me taking the pain-killers and that my attitude to them is a bit contrary, he is also quite happy that the co-codamol ?cures? my IBS. We discussed how to take the diclofenic with me asking questions and suggesting how I feel it works best, without him offering any information, just confirming my impressions.

He accepted that I had had blood tests for all of the things before but that he would like to do them again, before referring me to a CFS consultant.

Which is more information than you really needed but I'm basically having blood tests