Is there anything that causes finger joint pain and swelling apart from some kind of arthritis?

[salamanda]

The middle joints on my fingers are painful and swollen - I'm waiting to see a rheumatologist but worrying a lot about what it could be! I'm only 30 :(

I guess my looseness and possible RA might be related then.

I see Sparkle, and no need to apologise! Thanks for all your help :)

It is possible.....do you know when you are expecting to see the rheumatologist, because your gp could do the rheumatoid factor and other inflamatory markers blood tests before you go, so the rheumie has all the info. hat way you could get more answers faster...just an idea.

I feel very lucky that my hypermobility isn't worse, I know it can be the cause of a lot of pain for others.

The doctor did those tests on me already. I feel a bit silly for not asking her for more details about them, but I was kind of scared and I could see that she wasn't yet able to give me any definite answers - she was gabbling a lot and being rather unclear. She just said she was going to refer me to the rheumatologist and that they can't say that it's definitely RA without further tests being done.

Hmm I wonder what further tests she is referring too...I can';t think of any others. It is possible to get some inconsistent, or borderline results though, so maybe that is it.

Well, I had a blood test and I assume it was for the rheumatoid factor (?), but she said there were further more refined blood tests to be done by the rheumatologist and that I would need some x-rays.

I also read somewhere that in the early stages of RA you don't always have the RF, so maybe I don't have it but she wants me to see rheumatologist anyway.

Apparently not many people are as bendy as me lol - but my hips and shoulders do the same as yours they just hurt too which is annoying. It maybe that you have overused your fingers somehow though if you have underlying hypermobility, obviously can't dx over the internet but definatly worth mentioning to the rhumy.

EEK! sparkle had no idea - though I do think a few other autoimmunes are related too Sarojens (SP?) I have no rhumy though, mine retired so they discharged me, must get rerefered but all they do is give me MRI's that I'm sure are a waste of time.

Sorry for the hijack Salamander

No probs Trickle, hijack away! I only just worked out what dx means

have you been bitten by a tick? swollen joints can be a sign of lyme disease.

Salamander they may well do x-ray, MRI and sometimes they like to do ultrasound, though not sure if they would do the last one for fingers. Also if they think it's hypermobility related some old fashioned Dr's like to bend you - don't let them, the only person bending a hypermobile body should be the person who owns the joints iyswim. You can damage a bendy joing that way.

Sorry I got really used to posting on health boards, I foreget not everyone knows the shorthand

I am tick-free mousy, never been bitten by one.

Ok trickle I will not let anyone bend me!

Is there any chance the Pill (POP) could adversely affect this? I'll come off it if so.

Does celery really help arthritis? Have never heard of this.

I've got some arthritis but am forbidden to take NSAIDs so would love to find an alternative. How much celery are we talking about (I hate it but am prepared to hold my nose and swallow for a bit of relief)?

Try filling the sticks with cream cheese roxy! Yum...

I realise I am de-healthying celery here, but dipping it in baked camembert is also good.

Thanks Salamanda - you sound like my mum when I was six trying to persuade me to eat my greens!

Teehee :) I've done a tiny bit of googling about the anti-inflammatory properties of celery and read that you should eat four sticks a day for it to work as an anti-inflammatory. Seems harmless and doable - I have bought some already! My dad's a toxicologist so I will ask him to look into whether there's any scientific proof for it.

Thanks again - though I'll have to reward myself with a mini Mars Bar for every stick! Or maybe I could dip them in Philadelphia Chocolate Cheese spread .

Don't know if the pill could - I've never been abel to take it, but I do know that your own hormone cycle can effect how loose you are over the month.

books.google.co.uk/books?id=2Lpa1O_q0FIC&pg=PA131&lpg=PA131&dq=the+pill+hypermobility+syndrome&source=bl&ots=Ch1mOCV4Ha&sig=SUTCxGiANSlZvuCHKcBZOyctaAg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Q7uWT7SgIcLA0QXP6OyHDg&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Grrr

books.google.co.uk/books?id=2Lpa1O_q0FIC&pg=PA131&lpg=PA131&dq=the+pill+hypermobility+syndrome&source=bl&ots=Ch1mOCV4Ha&sig=SUTCxGiANSlZvuCHKcBZOyctaAg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Q7uWT7SgIcLA0QXP6OyHDg&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Seems like a progesterone heavy pill can exacerbate HMS in susceptable women - maybe worth talking to the rhumy about?

Wow, interesting, thank you Trickle. I only started taking the progesterone-only pill about six months ago (wasn't on any Pill before that) so it's interesting that my arthritis symptoms have started in conjunction with that. Could easily be a coincidence but will seriously consider coming off it just to be safe. Gives me worse period pain anyway!

I'm on a low-dose pill but most drugs have a strong and fast effect on me. Could be because I'm on the small side - that would be my unscientific guess.