any idea what's wrong with my fingers?

[tricolore]

I had a video consultation with the GP who referred me for blood tests (she suspected rheumatoid arthritis) and to see a consultant, who I saw yesterday. He said the blood tests rule out rheumatoid arthritis and he thinks I need to see someone in Dermatology.

I wake in the morning and my fingers are very swollen, puffy and throbbing. The swelling does down a little but not entirely and I have areas on various fingers that are swollen, sometimes rock hard, red, very sore to touch. These areas are predominately by the knuckle nearest to the finger nail although on one or two fingers, they are also at the middle knuckle.
At rest, there is no pain, only a gentle throbbing but when the areas are touched, knocked or caught on something, the pain is sharp.

Any ideas please?

TIA

No idea and wouldn't want to speculate. Hope it resolves soon.

Thank you
Does anyone recognise these symptoms?

I have seropositive RA which means it's detected in blood. It's possible you have seronegative RA which isn't. I'd keep pushing for a rheumatologist referal. My very first symptoms were finger pain and sore jaw.

I wake up with swollen fingers - not all of them and not every day. And not all joints. The swelling does go down sometimes and different fingers are affected.
This was the start of other symptoms and joints being affected. I have psoriatic arthritis. It's an autoimmune disease. Not detectable by blood test as such - but I do have auto immune antibodies in my blood. I didn't think I had psoriasis but apparently I do.

Auto immune disease is tricky to diagnose. People with other auto immune diseases such as lupus or Sjogrens also can have joint pain and swelling. It took me over a year to get diagnosed - I went to a private rheumatologist in the end.

I did keep a good log of photos of hands etc looking normal and first thing in the morning.

Did you see a rheumatologist yesterday? If so, was it a generalist one? They are not all clued up on all aspects of all diseases. I have known people get dismissed by consultant A and then diagnosed by consultant B. Especially with my condition which is much rarer than rheumatoid arthritis.

Thank you for the posts.

I’m back at the GP right now as they’ve asked to see me in person (or rather see my fingers/hands).
When the GP spoke to me on the phone this morning, he mentioned that just because the blood test was negative didn’t mean to say it wasn’t some sort of RA.
I can’t fault the care and attention that I’m getting at all.

Sounds like they're doing a good job tricolore 🙂👍

Have you had covidcrecently? Apparently, vivid can cause red, swollen fingers and toes (similar to chilblains) in some individuals.

• covid, not vivid! Stupid autocorrect.

As far as I know, I haven't had Covid at all.

GP said that although the blood tests showed l didn't have RA, one of the tests was too high or too low and I foolishly didn't write down what he told me and now can't remember .

Interestingly, Garysmum, he did mention psoriasis a couple of times.

He took some photos and is going to liaise with the dermatology team and see where we go from here.

Could it be psoriatic arthritis? It presents very, very similarly to RA but has a different cause. It is associated with psoriasis.

I think that might be what the GP is thinking.

It sounds like psoriatic arthritis, which I have.

When the NHS does blood tests 'for arthritis' the laboratory carries out simple tests for basic inflammatory markers. Something like 98% of patients with psoriatic arthritis test 'sero-negative', and up to 30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

On a positive note, looking ahead, I am now on a biologic medication that has transformed my life; so there are good treatments out there.

I have this, particularly in the mornings. A medical friend recommended magnesium and I bought the spray (oil) and rub it in my fingers at night and the soles of my feet (for quicker absorption). It has helped a lot!

That’s really good to hear SpinningTheSeedsOfLove. I’m glad you’ve finally got a treatment that’s working for you.

I take magnesium orally (for another condition) but I will keep the spray in mind. Thanks for the heads up.

I’ll wait and see what the GP comes back with; I have a telephone appt booked for Friday.

@tricolore

Thank you Does anyone recognise these symptoms?

Me. Possible chilblains. I have the same. Never diagnosed but blood tests ruled out arthritis. Never been seen face to face.