Comments on: Rheumatoid Arthritis Swelling: My Confession http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/ Bringing information & encouragement to fight RA Thu, 24 May 2012 14:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-216545 Kelly Young Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:41 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-216545 If you would like to email her name to me, we are working on a list of good docs. Kelly AT rawarrior.com If you would like to email her name to me, we are working on a list of good docs. Kelly AT rawarrior.com

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-216544 Kelly Young Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:29 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-216544 She sounds like a well-educated doc, Debra. I'm sorry you needed a rheum doc, but I'm glad she takes your symptoms seriously. Hopefully, treatment will slow the progression for you! She sounds like a well-educated doc, Debra. I’m sorry you needed a rheum doc, but I’m glad she takes your symptoms seriously. Hopefully, treatment will slow the progression for you!

]]> By: Debra http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-216527 Debra Fri, 18 May 2012 19:55:17 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-216527 I don't have nor have ever had any visible swelling or have any blood test that reveal RA. My doctor noticed subluxed tendons in my fingers which led her to take hand x-rays. That's when she noticed the bone loss, joint damage and fluid swell in the joints. She placed me on methotrexate and recently started me on Orencia injections. No swelling still have pain throughout my body. My doctor is great. I have been afraid because of her aggressivness... upon reading your info on this site I am glad she is. I don’t have nor have ever had any visible swelling or have any blood test that reveal RA. My doctor noticed subluxed tendons in my fingers which led her to take hand x-rays. That’s when she noticed the bone loss, joint damage and fluid swell in the joints. She placed me on methotrexate and recently started me on Orencia injections. No swelling still have pain throughout my body. My doctor is great. I have been afraid because of her aggressivness… upon reading your info on this site I am glad she is.

]]> By: Nancy C http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-188442 Nancy C Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:37:25 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-188442 My rheumatologist says the swelling in my ankles wouldn't be coming from my RA. When I responded, I have never had any swelling prior to the RA, she stated she didn't know what was causing it. The amount of swelling varies but has never gone away since the initial onset last June. I am on MTX injections 1.0 and prednisone 10 mg daily. My rheumatologist says the swelling in my ankles wouldn’t be coming from my RA. When I responded, I have never had any swelling prior to the RA, she stated she didn’t know what was causing it. The amount of swelling varies but has never gone away since the initial onset last June. I am on MTX injections 1.0 and prednisone 10 mg daily.

]]> By: sue http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-174881 sue Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:00:17 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-174881 I have stiffness and pain everyday..but only have swelling ocasionally.My new rhummy made comment on this on my first visit.felt as thou he felt i was a fake..like why would you!! I have stiffness and pain everyday..but only have swelling ocasionally.My new rhummy made comment on this on my first visit.felt as thou he felt i was a fake..like why would you!!

]]> By: Andrea Pappalardo http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-174424 Andrea Pappalardo Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:24:37 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-174424 I have next to no external swelling. My joints are never hot and red. A little swelling in ankles and knees on occasion but i always have some level of pain in the majority of my joints. The difference now after 10 years is the visible change in hands and feet due the joints becoming deformed and ligaments becoming lax. I've always been RF- and my SED rate has been normal since starting biologicals. I've been lucky however with my Rheums. I've had 3 and they always believe me and do blood work after the office visit, not before. I was even treated aggressively even while I was considered undifferentiated. I have next to no external swelling. My joints are never hot and red. A little swelling in ankles and knees on occasion but i always have some level of pain in the majority of my joints. The difference now after 10 years is the visible change in hands and feet due the joints becoming deformed and ligaments becoming lax.

I’ve always been RF- and my SED rate has been normal since starting biologicals.

I’ve been lucky however with my Rheums. I’ve had 3 and they always believe me and do blood work after the office visit, not before. I was even treated aggressively even while I was considered undifferentiated.

]]> By: Catherine http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-174099 Catherine Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:16:38 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-174099 I have had RA for 20 years. I have never had any swelling to speak of but have had huge amounts of pain and stiffness. The RA specialist I first saw said that most young RA doctors would not see any signs of RA in me. However I test positive for RA and do have significant polyarthritic pain. Generally people think there is nothing wrong with me and don't understand when I am fatigued or feel too much pain to go out. It is frustrating at times. I have had RA for 20 years. I have never had any swelling to speak of but have had huge amounts of pain and stiffness. The RA specialist I first saw said that most young RA doctors would not see any signs of RA in me. However I test positive for RA and do have significant polyarthritic pain. Generally people think there is nothing wrong with me and don’t understand when I am fatigued or feel too much pain to go out. It is frustrating at times.

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-174048 Kelly Young Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:02:25 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-174048 Your doctor must be up on current research! That is exactly what has been found in most cases, as shown by MRI or ultrasound studies! (as shown in part 2 of this post) Thanks for posting, Jen. Your doctor must be up on current research! That is exactly what has been found in most cases, as shown by MRI or ultrasound studies! (as shown in part 2 of this post)
Thanks for posting, Jen.

]]> By: Jen Cochenour http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-174016 Jen Cochenour Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:07:59 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-174016 I do not have swelling all the time - not anymore at least. It seems like at first the swelling and pain went hand in hand. Now that I am on more intense meds, the visible swelling is less common. I do notice it here and there in random joints though. Since my diagnosis in April 2011 my CRP has ranged between 0.6-1.2 (<0.5 is normal) and my sed rate has ranged 11-20 (all in normal range <21). When I was 1st diagnosed my Dr indicated I was basically swollen from head to toe- obviously my numbers didn't reflect the swelling but the pain was very overwhelming. I think I am very lucky in the way that my Rheum Dr has never once questioned my pain. In fact, at my last appointment, my Dr mentioned that she did not feel any swelling in my joints anymore and was very excited- yet at the same time she up'd my Humira from bi-weekly dosing to weekly. She offered the explanation that the swelling is more just internal now and would be visible by certain imaging procedures but not by her feeling it. Never once did she say it was in my head now or try to tell me that I am in remission when we both know I am not as pain is still present. I do not have swelling all the time – not anymore at least. It seems like at first the swelling and pain went hand in hand. Now that I am on more intense meds, the visible swelling is less common. I do notice it here and there in random joints though. Since my diagnosis in April 2011 my CRP has ranged between 0.6-1.2 (<0.5 is normal) and my sed rate has ranged 11-20 (all in normal range <21). When I was 1st diagnosed my Dr indicated I was basically swollen from head to toe- obviously my numbers didn't reflect the swelling but the pain was very overwhelming. I think I am very lucky in the way that my Rheum Dr has never once questioned my pain. In fact, at my last appointment, my Dr mentioned that she did not feel any swelling in my joints anymore and was very excited- yet at the same time she up'd my Humira from bi-weekly dosing to weekly. She offered the explanation that the swelling is more just internal now and would be visible by certain imaging procedures but not by her feeling it. Never once did she say it was in my head now or try to tell me that I am in remission when we both know I am not as pain is still present.

]]> By: Cindy http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-swelling-my-confession/comment-page-4/?show=comments-173985 Cindy Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:06:01 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=3505#comment-173985 Oh, I forgot to mention that they found my RA from aspirating my knee before giving me a cortisone shot for pain after my whole body got slammed pretty suddenly. When I have had to stop the mtx due to a surgery or infection within 2 months I can't grip anything, get down to the floor without falling and I have to crawl up on my elbows to get to the couch to crawl my way up off the floor. After being back on mtx for a few months I am back to my "normal" which was a sign that it was RA as well as the joint damage that can be seen on x-ray in my wrists. Oh, I forgot to mention that they found my RA from aspirating my knee before giving me a cortisone shot for pain after my whole body got slammed pretty suddenly. When I have had to stop the mtx due to a surgery or infection within 2 months I can’t grip anything, get down to the floor without falling and I have to crawl up on my elbows to get to the couch to crawl my way up off the floor. After being back on mtx for a few months I am back to my “normal” which was a sign that it was RA as well as the joint damage that can be seen on x-ray in my wrists.

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