Is this Rheumatoid arthritis?

[pukkaplant]

I had my dd eight months ago and still got lots of joint aches. Feet are sore and stiff in mornings but doesn't last long but this week a finger on my left hand feels sore and my wrist feel sore, although neck also feels really tense. There doesn't seem to be any inflammation or redness but I worry it's rheumatoid arthritis and I'm too scared to go to the doctor!

Hi I doubt it's rheumatoid if it just achey and stiff, my dh has rheumatoid and it is disableing with chronic inflammation and pain so bad that he literally can't move. Sorry can't offer advice as to what it is but to rule out rheumatoid it's just a simple blood test which might be worth having just to put your mind at rest.

rheumatoid arthritis affects both sides of the body similtaneously, so if youhave pain in one hand, you should have it in the other. It is a simple blood test can dx it most of the time, although you can get false positives. Go to the gp if you can, go through the symptoms, there may be something simple they pick up opn, or you may need a referral for tests or xrays. Hope you feel better soon.

I have sero-negative inflammatory arthritis, doesn't sound like inflammatory arthritis. When I have a flair, the joints are very red, hot and swollen and extremely painful. I also feel very ill. I would advise a trip to the GP, a simple blood test would pick up inflammation. If inflammation is picked up, more detailed bloods can be done for various joint conditions. For a pointer, morning stiffness from inflammatory arthritis lasts over an hour. Hope you feel better soon.

have you been near any children with slapped cheek. its normally found in the under 10yrs age group

Go to your GP, don't be scared, it doesn't sound like RA. The GP will probably be able to help.

I had lots of aching joints after giving birth, including tennis elbow in my wrist and shoulder pains.

when you have had a baby the progesterone makes your cartilage very soft and it can take months to become 'normal' again. That why you shouldnt do alot of vigorous exercise just after giving birth as all your ligaments are a bit sloppy

I have very mild RA. So mild I don't take any meds for it. I just often feel at bit achey and it came on in my first pregnancy. One thing which has really helped is having a blood test for food intolerances - giving up eggs and dairy has made it a lot better. I also take loads of fish oil, starflower oil and rosehip extract. As I say, mine is mild and occasionally painful but generally I don't even think about it.

I've had these symptoms for months. Finally discovered I am hyper-mobile and the progesterone effect that alypaly mentioned has slackened the joints futher and the stress on the joints has caused them to ache.

I'm just doing strengthening physio to help and I've been told it will settle down.

Can you bend your thumb down to touch your arm? When you pull your little finger back can you get it to 90 degrees? Do your elbows and knees hyper-extend? If your answer to these questions is "yes" you may join the hyper-mobile club!

Very interesting replies - thanks. I do, in my heart, and away from my neurosis, think it is post partum and hormone related - I am 41 and peri-menopausal (was told from hormone levels I was unlikely to get pregnant, more likely to have an early menopause first and I happily proved them wrong)

Actually, Gwinkofchocolate, I do have a little degree of hypermobility, so I've been told. My mum is same. I have checked myself previously against the Brighton criteria and I can only do the thumb to wrist. My little finger doesn't go all the way to 90%, maybe half. From the pictures, I don't think I've got hyperextension in knees etc. But a physio said I have more 'range' in my joints... and I have wondered if that made a difference. What would you suggest I do now?

I'm so sorry, Shitmagnet, that you're suffering as you are.

As it goes, I went to a very good yoga class last night and my feet this morning feel better. Far less stiff. Maybe that's what I need to do instead of more punishing cardio workouts that I've been doing. I'm a bit of a fit freak like that. Obviously the wrong time for it. Fingers crossed that my body is just working its way back to relative normality, though probably never the same as it was

Thanks all for your help and support

Gwinkofchocolate - how long ago did you have your baby? Have you seen any improvement? Are your signs really that similar to mine?

magnet - that is interesting. My RF was positive, but very marginally so apparently. On a recent test my CRP result was very high but the consultant put that down to a concurrent bout of tonsilitis. I'm ringing for the results of a repeat test this afternoon.

Will report back.

Sorry Pukka somehow I missed your last posts .

I had my second DD 3 years ago! The consultant did say she would have hoped that it would have settled more by now, but there was perhaps a cumulative effect of having 2 babies in 2 years.

I have pain in my right ankle/foot (stiff and worse in morning), pain in one knee on going up the stairs, weakness and pain in one wrist and stiffness and pain in one shoulder/side of neck.

magnet I guess my anti-ccp was negative as RA has been ruled out. Thanks for explaining .

Pukka I understand why you are worried, but there are lots of possibilities and often with these sorts of things, the sooner you start treatment the better.

Hi Gwinkofchocolate,

I saw a mysio fascial (sp?) massage/yoga practitoner today who I saw just after labour. She'd pointed out then that I have more range in my joints, like a physio did during pregnancy.

She did a wonderful job examining body, and although not a doctor, said she couldn't find anything that gave her thoughts that I had RA. No swelling, tenderness, redness etc. But she did find the joints loose in the places where I've pinpointed. She said, as you said, that it's hypermobility getting worse as a result of loosening during pregnancy, and I've probably stressed them through poor exercise, and relentless childcaring routines, since childbirth.

Anyway - I wanted to ask. What sort of strengthening exercises do you do? I will go a physio, but I do a lot of pilates and I wondered if that might be just as good. Did you find a physio who had a specialism in hypermobility? And do you take any drugs or other medications, natural or otherwise?

Thanks very much - any advice from you, or anyone else, would be really helpful.

x