What Is the First Symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Officially Sanctioned RA: The First Symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis (UPDATED 2016)
Do people with Rheumatoid Disease (PRD) have the symptoms they’re expected to?
From what I’ve read in books and online, the first symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis is supposed to be in the hands. So that it can be diagnosed. Because most diagnosis RA by the hands. (A bit of a circular argument, but that’s how it is). I’ve mentioned to you before that hands are considered central to diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Check these out:
Is There a Typical Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Why Is Diagnosing RA So Difficult
How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed part 1
How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed? Part 2
Many researchers and doctors consider RA to be primarily a disease of the hands and wrists. Other small joints can be affected, they say, but hands are first. According to PRD, many doctors examine hands to diagnose as well as to judge disease activity.
Is that an accurate description of the first symptom of rheumatoid arthritis?
No.
How do I know? I know because I’ve gained a broader perspective by reading many thorough articles on diagnosing RA like this one. Also, I’ve spent even more time reading the accounts of actual people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Many PRD do not experience symptoms in the hands early in the progression of their disease. In some cases, those PRD are not following the pattern which is set forth by those who officially authorize and certify a “definition” of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This is can make diagnosis difficult.
Here is a first symptom of rheumatoid arthritis list that I compiled after talking with real people being treated for RA:
Eye inflammation / uveitis / iritis
Feet pain and / or swelling
Back pain (spine)
Pleurisy (lungs)
Heart (heart disease or inflammation of lining)
Ankles (pain and damage)
Elbow
Hip
Shoulder
Knee
Intestinal inflammation
The unlikely first symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Feet
I am one of those lucky peeps whose Rheumatoid Arthritis struck my feet before my hands. The pain began at age 15. The occasional pain or swelling got worse over the years.
Early in 2006, there was intense swelling and pain which caused deformity literally overnight. One morning, I awoke with a toe that had moved about 45 degrees. I could not walk on it. Within 24 hours, the other foot did the same thing. At least they matched.
Within a few days, RA attacked several joints on both feet so that I could not wear shoes. It felt as if I were standing on rocks all of the time. It took a few doctors to realize that this was actually RA. In fact, I was not diagnosed until it had spread to several other joints. Incidentally, that did not include the hands at that point.
Since I did not realize the seriousness of my fate, I never took pictures of those unbelievably deformed feet. Fortunately for me, the swelling went down and I can walk short distances now with only moderate pain. However, I have a completely different pair of feet. RA feet.
Updating this now in 2016, I’ve had many injections over the years in my feet to bring down the extreme inflammation. I still see the same podiatrist who splinted my feet 10 years ago to help the joints come back in line. He helped diagnose my RA. The lumps beneath the base of the toes are always there, but ice packs help somewhat.
IF YOU ARE a PATIENT –
Please add your comment below to tell us about your first symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. Or you can answer for someone you know who has RA.
IF YOU ARE a DOCTOR or NURSE –
Please read through the hundreds of comments by patients to see the wide variety of first symptoms.
Recommended reading:
- Sympathy and Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
- My Quest for Answers to Questions About Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Weathering Rheumatoid Arthritis
My feet. I was training for an endurance event, but had also started gaining weight. Despite my level of activity & no change in diet.
I started waking up in the morning unable to make it to the bathroom without holding myself up on the bed posts & walls.
I thought it was overuse injuries. Now that I have degeneration in my hands, knees, wrists, ankles & STERNUM, my feet still maintain their discomfort.
Like most of us, I am sure I had signs years before diagnoses that were missed. Some swollen knuckles and my feet have been bad for years. Diagnosed as a neuroma in my right foot which needed surgery but mysteriously went away and has never come back. Then I was sure there was a golf ball in my left shoe but it was something to do with the metatarsal bones and inserts would take care of that so they said. That pain went away but my toes look like they are clinched all the time. Another doc said those were from a pinched nerve in may back (?). Have had OA in my knees from a skiing accident, have had surgry and I guess the meds have helped those because they don’t hurt anymore :). And last year was in therapy for a bad shoulder. All these docs knew the RA ran heavily in my family. First major flare this October, could not get out of bed, and now take a myriad of meds. But my heels have huge bumps/knots on them and I can hardly walk. Hope the Enbrel takes hold quickly.
Yes, I hope it does too, Beth!
Hi…I am thankful to have found your website! I am new to RA. I was having pain and trouble walking for a few years and finally went to a foot doctor…OsteoArthritis…but he did an RF test and it was positive but he didn’t see any deformity in my feet. So, I asked my GP to redo the RF just to be sure and that came back positive as well. She referred me to a RA doctor. This all happened beteen May to August 2011. In September-October my hands felt very tight, like I was wearing gloves that were too small, all day. That was uncomfortable but not too painful. By November, my pain in my hands had increased but still not bad. The RA doctor ordered all sorts of lab work and checked me over and said she suspedted RA, but wasn’t sure and gave me material to read on a couple of medications she was thinking about putting me on for November. By then I had moved to another state and found a new RA doctor who felt I had a mild case of RA and suggested methotrexate. I asked for an MRI of my hands to before starting the drug because he seemed hesitate about the diagnosis..I had pain but the inflammation seemed less. By then, my fingertips became very sensitive and painful, but still tolerable. MRI showed some inflammation. So have been on methotrexate for two weeks at a low dose with Folic acid (prescription level). I am hoping to feel a lot better in a few months…
I am seronegative and my CRP is never over an 8,oh joy!I must be fine. Hips at 12 years for months, then hips and shoulders at 15. The hips stopped after a few months but not my shoulders. At 27 my knees gave me a lot of pain and lasted for 4 years. At 35 my hands started to fall asleep very easily,and then- Everything went down hill fast. Important to tell everyone that I had almost always been so tired I couldnt make it the whole day without a nap,and was starting to be very worried about that, but as always the doctors said that nothing was wrong. Never give up or give in! WE KNOW OUR BODIES! WE KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG!
Pray and in time someone will listen.
My first symptoms of RA was in my hands… I thought I had gout since I had severe swelling of my finger joints. I would apply heat and that would loosen the stiffness I was experiencing. I would feel stiffness in getting out of bed prior to that now that I think of it… my ankles would not bend and I walked as if I had lead feet… it would loosen up in a couple of hours and return in the evening if I was not as active, in walking or doing things… relaxing made me stiffen up faster for some reason. The only reason I remember this is because my daughter came to visit in July and she asked me if I was okay, I told her it would all go away in a few hours. She was concerned since I live alone and live over 2500 miles from my family.
My arthritis first hit my hands, during the night I woke up and they felt as if they were being run over buy a steam roller.
OMG! The post about RA starting in her feet is exactly what happened to me. I have just been diagnosed with RA but it all started in my feet about 6 months ago. It started feeling like I was walking on balls. And then the swelling and sharp pains in my toes. Then 2 of my toes just separated on my left foot and I now have a big gap between them. I had to give up wearing all the shoes I love so much. But I refuse to get rid of them. They are all in my closet but I know I can no longer wear heals or not even my favorites…flip flops! I stopped going bare foot at home. The hard wood floors were killing me. I have to keep shoes on my feet all the time. Then about 4 months later it spread to every joint in my body in a week’s time. My family doctor has put me on prednison until I go to my first appointment with Rheumy next month. I have no idea what is ahead for me.
People probably will not believe me but I can pinpoint the incident that led to the beginning of Rheumatoid Arthritis for me. And it started in my toes. By the time it was in my hands and fingers I was walking with a walker.
Diane, I would believe you and I’d like to hear more if you feel like telling me. You can email me if you don’t want to share here. kelly@www.rawarrior.com
Mine started out as JRA when I was 16. fingers were stiff one morning and soon nodules in both wrists. This was in 1988. Went into remission two years later and I had thought no more about it until last year (2011) my right shoulder and knee started swelling and painful. Had MRI of shoulder and rice bodies were revealed.
My RA first presented itself in my feet too! All of a sudden I could hardly stand the pain to stand on my feet. The pain hung around for a couple of weeks, I went to the Doctor and he prescribed orthotics (did not help one bit). It disappeared again for about 5 months and then I had a full blown flare, was diagnosed with RA as it had taken hold of almost all joints including my hands.
I am a 51 year old woman recently diagnosed with RA–presumptive, as my symptoms match but labs are all negative. I experienced progressive joint pain with eventual swelling beginning in fingers and wrists…..but since I have had bunions and chronically painful feet did not recognize that my increasing foot pain was due to other joint involvement in my feet basically at the same time. Since I am also a physician (pediatrician), I was aggressive about seeking a diagnosis, knowing that having no pain to increasing multiple joint pain—–by my second rheumatology visit I could no longer stand for more than a few minutes at work and had to navigate stairs at home one at a time in the morning due to the stiffness and pain in my feet, ankles, and knees—was not something to be dismissed as just getting older. Luckily I saw a differrent doc on that visit……who immediately started prednisone with quick improvement. She also remarked that she has many patients with aggressive RA that have initial or persisitent negative labs tests with active disease. I have just added methotrexate. I am better—- but now living with daily pain and its limitations. Coincidentally, about 2 years before this I was diagnosed with episcleritis after a week or more of eye pain and redness which resolved with steroid drops. It never occured to me my diagnosis that it might have been a first symptom. Please encourage your readers to seek early care for unusual and persistent pain. Early treatment is the only way to preserve joint mobility.
OMG! My feet did almost the same thing but it was 5 years +/- into my RA journey. I thought that it was the arches falling that led to the deformed feet but it was the deforming(is that a word)that caused the arches to fall? I also had steroid induced osteoporosis that led to 8 broken bones in my feet. But, It’s like the age old question…what came first…the chicken or the egg? Does it really matter? Something else that was interesting. My bone density tests came back normal. But the bones in my feet were a mess. I’ve been on Actonel since 2001 and the pociatrist feels like surgery to correct the bunions/deformity can be performed. I’ve had to postpone the surgery due to illness in family for a while though. Love you work, Karen
I was diagnosed with RA when I was in my 20’s. I was told that by the time I was 30 I would be in a wheelchair. I am 51, and have had total joint replacement in my right hand. I am now trying to save money so I can have surgery on my feet. My left foot is severe, the big to goes under the toe next to it, and feels like i am walking on rocks. I take embril, prednisone, and tramadol for pain. Nothing works, still have to work, if anyone has suggestions as to what to do to help, please let me know.
Hi,
Mine started in my wrist and quickly spread to all fingers and both hands, then knees, feet and hips. I never had any pain in shoulders or elbows. They thought I had tendentious and didn’t treat me for a while, which of course made it that much worse and out of control. I am much better now. I take enbrel and prednisone. MTX didn’t work for me thank goodness because it has nasty side effects.
Kristen
That would be a lot of tendonitis! LOL. I hope your elbows and shoulders continue to be spared!
The symptom that led to my diagnosis was a swollen forefoot and ankle, it felt like a book had dropped on top of my foot one morning. However, that foot had been swollen 15 months before that, and I’d been aware of a strange feeling in my hands for a few years. Also, I’d had problems with my shoulders over the previous 5 years. So… I don’t know where it started, but once my foot caused the doctors concern (May 2010) it was 6 weeks to being diagnosed and then more and more joints started falling so now my shoulders, hands, knees and feet are involved.
I started off with TMJ and plantar fasciitis, then diagnosed over the years for osteoarthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibro, then a few years later they added psoriatic arthritis, then reactive arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, sjogren’s syndrome, bursitis of my hips, tendonitis of my hands and feet, osteoporosis, carpal tunnel, tarsal tunnel, arthritis of Ulcerative Colitis, and the list kept growing. But alas you say where is your RA? Well, I was blessed with stage 2 anal cancer in 2009 and I had radiation and chemotherapy, wait for it, you are blessed for a short time with REMISSION during treatment, but what they don’t tell you is that a lot of people after treatment test positive for RA. Yes, cancer the gift that keeps on giving, at least I am alive to suffer day after day…some days it is not so bad so I don’t want to sound like a Debbie-Downer. My rheumy says at least I had arthritis so I know what I am dealing with whereas those who didn’t aren’t ready for the hell that is autoimmune disease.
So,I am then diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica arthritis. I am 55 and have started to fracture my bones because they are so weak. In June ’11 I fractured my foot, still in a boot on Thanksgiving day and I fainted, snapped my ankle in all 3 bones. Still in a boot but I am finally out of the wheelchair. Now I can add post-traumatic arthritis to my list. As with so many other autoimmune patients I deal with ancillary medical conditions, right now I am still trying to get over my ankle and I am in testing for intestinal issues due to the ulcerative colitis+constipation. So, this is where I will end my ramblings, oh one last little gem, my husband has psoriatic arthritis and he has been home on disability for the last 6 months. I get really annoyed some days when he goes on and on about how bad he feels, really I think to myself, let’s swapped and let me just have to deal with PA just for one day I would like to know what it would be like to have NO PAIN. I don’t even remember…
My shoulders hurt me first. My left shoulder actually froze on me and I woke up one morning and it felt like my right arm and shoulder had a 50 lb. bag pulling down on it. My feet hurt me before my hands with stiffness and swelling, then my ankles.
My first symptom of RA was sudden, severe swelling and pain in my feet. Overnight I could no longer wear my normal shoes to work (moderate, wide heels) and shifted to athletic shoes. The only ones that I could wear – after trying on about 20 pairs – were bright yellow. As I was working in a professional consultative position for the state health department, I got many nasty comments, and was “written up” more than once. But seeing me “cripping and limping” along the halls of state government convinced my immediate boss, and I was “protected” by my team of professionals from further harassment.
My feet continued to be my worst symptom for about 7 years, although I had pain and swelling off and on in other joints. My back joined the fray in 1984, and my knees, hips and shoulders in the years that followed.
Although I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia before my RA diagnosis, one internist I saw regularly for several years believed I had sero-negative RA the whole time.
Although my feet and back continue to be the worst “offenders,” my knees, hips and hands (fingers & wrists) have joined in. But first thing in the morning, when I put my feet on the floor, I’m reminded that it wasn’t all a horrible nightmare – that I’m still living the nightmare of RA.
Severe pain in my right hand. Postly just the ffingers. Ithought it was job related. I have a physical job where I prodominatly use my right hand.
When I look back at my childhood now, after being diagnosed, I realize that I’ve probably had RA my entire life. I remember not being able to keep up with friends on the playground in kindergarten because it hurt my ankles to run. I remember begging for a hot pad for my sore hips and knees every night for months and months due to sore knees and hips, but my pediatrician assured me that it was simply “growing pains.” Years later, I found that in gym class, it was impossible for me to play volleyball because of unbearable wrist pain.
But my “a-ha” RA flare, where I knew something absolutely wasn’t normal, happened very abruptly 5 years ago, with absolutely horrendous sternum/chest pain. Although I was only “officially” diagnosed on March 3, 2012, I can count the number of hours that I’ve had without pain on one hand. My diagnosis was suggested within months of the onset of chest pain, but was then shelved due to my “borderline” ESR and CRP, and due to my young age. I was told multiple times by my local rheumatologist that giving a teenager the “label” (and subsequent treatment) of RA would cause me to develop neurosis surrounding it.
I have yet to be officially diagnosed, because like this, I havent any problems with my hands. Lack of cartilage in my wrist due to a childhood injury, but not in my hands, that I have noticed. In reading this article, a lot of my first pains started with many of these, knee pain, back pain, swollen ankles (also injured many times as a teen), Pleurisy, and occasional hip pain. I am only 28 and all of this is relatively new to me other than the pain (14-16yrs). It is kind of scary to think that so young there is so much wrong. It is more than kind of scary, this scares me to death. How many more meds will I be put on, how much more limited in things I do will I become, so many questions and my kids are still so young. Officially… terrified.
I’m sorry you’re terrified Meshelle – I think a lot of us have been there. it will probably get easier – and there will be good days. Hard days too, but there is always hope. Just try to deal with one question at a time.And take one day at a time. That’s all we can do. It helps to have others to talk to who have been there or even just read through the comments to know you’re not alone – there are so many who have faced this and come through it. And there is NO way to know for sure how it will affect your future or how you will respond to meds. It is hard. But we also do find a way through. Sending you my best wishes.
I haven’t felt normal since I had surgery in 2005. I started feeling fatigued all the time and my lovely doctors felt that I had worsening depression. I would swell in one ankle, or one shoulder here and there, get my steroid injection and move on. I often thought about when I just didn’t feel like myself and I can take it back to 2005. I guess I just thought that was what turning 30 did to you. The night of my daughters Jr. High graduation (Spring of 2010) I put on a beautiful pair of heels and ended up standing for an hour for the ceremony. By the time we got to the celebratory dinner, I could barely walk. By the time we got home, we almost had to cut my shoes off my swollen feet. From there, it went to one knee, then the other, one shoulder then the other. My back has been injured since 2009 and the doc’s feel this injury was the catalyst that really kicked my RA into high gear. Since then, my face (jaws) have flared, my hands and neck. Some days I feel like I have MS–I don’t know what deficit I will wake up to. Touche to the doctors–my depression is worse now BECAUSE I feel like I have the longest case of the flu known to man. It’s not just joint pain….It’s systematic and it affects me everywhere. The damage in my feet was instantaneous and I have these bizarre funky feet that continue to swell and grow worse.
I’m seeing a lot of posts from 2010. Are people still posting? I’m just finding out I have RA. I’ve had fibromyalgia for 20 years. Over the past year the pain has worsened and now the middle finger of my right hand is trying to bend in the wrong direction and my wrist and right arm hurt up to my elbow. My left shoulder began hurting so bad a few months ago, I could hardly lift it. It’s better now. Seems these flair ups come and go in weird places but nothing is symetrical on me. I have a lateral tear and cyst in my right hip and I’m getting a hip arthroscopy in a few weeks. Anyone have problems with surgery recovery?
Kate, you may need to go to the next comment page. Go up to the top of the page to see the links where you can switch to older or newer comments. There are 416 comments and yes, some are pretty new. And people read the old ones also.
RA is not always symmetrical & it can end up that way eventually, but it can take a while. Many are diagnosed after the string of “coincidences” gets too long. I hope your surgery goes well.
i was first told i had RA at the age of 21 but nothing was done i was just told about it, my fingers and wrists hurt that was the first symptoms for me now 22 yrs later at the age of 43 ive been told again by doc its RA and he has put me on meds. ive had lung probs but its never been connected i had very bad pain in my lungs i couldnt breath i went the hospital only to be give tow parecetamols xx
Hi Simone,
Obviously 2 acetaminphen / paracetamol is not sufficient for RA and lung issues. I hope you have found better care. That happens with RA and it’s so hard to keep trying when they don’t do anything, but we have to keep trying.
my first symptoms of ra was my knuckles were red and when i would squeeze a rag out my hands went numb. it kept happening and thats when someone suggested i see a ra doctor.
My hands were not involved for a long time(thankfully adit let me continue my career as a violinist longer). My feet came first and I also had deformities like you described and felt like I was walking on rocks. I remember feeling for several years that something must be wrong with me like cancer because I just felt unwell all the time. It wasnt until I had some other joint pain- knees and a shoulder and morning stiffness( it used to be just in the morning..sigh) that I asked the doctor to test me for RA(DUH). Even after a positive ANA
and RA factor ( which he didn’t tell me about) he told me I didn’t have RA becaUse my ESR was not elevated. Luckily I hacks the sense to seek out a rheumatologist who was shocked that I had not been diagnosed.Forefoot reconstruction has done wonders for the pain in my feet and I can now wear something besides a men’s EEEEEE width! Enbrel gave me about a 50% improvement but has stopped working. I am a tower of doom like you. I was so resolved to hear you say that you have a hard time explaining that EVERY day is bad. I have lied to so many people, including myself which has caused a lot of guilt. Keep writing… You are really helping your fellow warriors!!!
I was diagnosed when I couldn’t walk because of knee pain & the X-ray showed my left knee had no cartilage & arthritis was in the bones of my left leg at the age of 37, which is way too young for a knee to be like that. However, for the few years before my knee pain I started to get sick all of the time and was told it’s because I had small children bringing germs home & I had fatigue with aches & pains but my doctor basically told me it was all in my head by diagnosing me with depression because I was a busy mom. It feels horrible to be told you’re just depressed when you ask a doctor if something could be wrong with your immune system when you have legitimate reasons for concern. I will always believe that had it been taken seriously & discovered before my knee pain happened that I would be much healthier today and able to walk. Now I believe it’s eroded the cartilage in my cervical spine and is currently destroying my shoulders.
I’ve had severe pain in my hips the past 7 months. (Started in left hip, then right began a few months later). Left foot turns outward significantly. Range of motion is decreased.
Had no major difference between morning and night stiffness. Any time I’m still, my legs burn. Range of motion is bad all day. Had no problems with hands or feet.
My orthopedist took x-rays, MRIs and finally an arthrogram of left hip. It showed minor cartilage degeneration, but I still had no diagnosis. He said he’d refer me for arthroscopic surgery next because he was out of ideas.
Got a second opinion. On the first visit, new ortho tested me for RA (unlikely, he said, but just in case). Both RF and Anti-CCP were low titer positive. SED rate was normal.
I’m not certain I have RF yet (he told me a Rheumatologist would have to make the diagnosis and referred me). But if so, it presented with zero hand involvement until the last day or so (I’ve noticed some mild hand swelling in the mornings that lasts several hours).
Thank you for posting. I do think it helps others to have the facts laid out here by real patients.
Many do not have hand or even feet involvement for several years as we can see by reading the comments on this site.
My first symptom of RA occured in March 2011 and was located in my shoulders and the deltoid muscles. The pain was so bad that even touching my skin on my arm was painful.
Over the course of a year, the pain has moved to my hands, feet, and ankles. I was just diagnosed March 9th 2012 with Rheumatoid Arthritis. From the time of initial onset to diagnosis, I have been through 2 EMG’s, numerous MRI’s, a spinal tap, etc. So the docs are certain I do not have a neurological disorder. After I was finished with the Neurologists, then I went back to my Rheumatologist and he noticed the swelling in my hands. He got me immediately in for an ultrasound where he and another Rheumatologist could see the inflamation in my synovial sacs and fluid. FINALLY a diagnosis. I have started on Methotrexate (may have spelled that wrong). I just took my second dose. Now I am trying to learn everything I can possibly learn about RA.
Good luck with your treatment Dottie. Nope you spelled that fine. Patients & drs often write mtx because its easier.
I’m glad you were able to get an ultrasound to help w/diagnosis. US for musculoskelatal are still not in common use in the U.S. One thing that could speed up the ususally long diagnosis process.
My feet started hurting when I was about 23, I went to a podiatrist who gave me cortizone shot in the foot. Two years later I went to another podiatrist who surgically removed a “neuroma” from my foot. During those two years I started having random problems with my hips and shoulders. They would feel like I had injured them and I couldn’t lift my leg or my arm. I thought maybe I had injured them in some way. After 3 years of sore feet and the other problems my hands finally started to hurt. I went to yet another podiatrist who took one look at my feet and asked if I had pain and swelling in other joints. When I affirmed that I did, he said “You need to see a rheumatologist, you might have RA.” I was shocked, I had no idea that someone my age could have such a disease. Now of course, I know better.
unfortunately so, Lisa. My own realization that I had RA was VERY similar to yours. I hope that all podiatrists are being trained to recognize – mine did when others didn’t.
My feet. My poor, ugly, RA ravaged feet. I was recently diagnosed with RA, actually only 2 months ago, but the foot pain began in February. I would wake up in the morning and the balls of my feet hurt to walk on. At first it wasn’t that bad and I chalked it off to the bit of weight I gained when I had quit smoking the month before, but no matter how much I worked out or how much weight I lost, they just hurt more. Then the swelling and I’m on of the rare lucky ones who present with erythema nodosums when I flare, so I had those large bruised, nodules covering my legs and knees, and then my hands swelled into claws before my doctor realized he was dealing with some sort of inflammatory arthritis and needed to refer me to a Rheumatologist. Unfortunately, the damage to my feet is done. Though we’re still working to try to get my RA under control, my feet are a mess. I always thought RA was a disease in the hands or knees. I never thought about the feet. Now I know… All too well.
Hi Georgette.
Most people do think it’s a hand disease & it’s a misperception that we are battling here. One reason this post is here! As you may see on the comments here, feet are at least as common as hands to be affected early on – probably more so. I’m so sorry yours are a mess. I hope they can help you get this under control.
First my hip – ONE hip! while running, and it got so bad I had to quit. Then the feet! While hiking my toes felt like they’d been stung by 100 bees! No doctor could tell me why either and it was very frustrating because I loved hiking and had to stop.
Years later I woke up completely stiff, couldn’t even open my jaw, move my shoulders, neck, knees, everything. Even after this proof and the fact that prednisone made it all go away, the doctor told me to stop saying I had RA, because I didn’t.
This post is going to be one of the most valuable for new readers, because this is the REAL information we all need when we are first struck with this demon. I have a great rheumy now, but OMG there are so many inadequate ones! It’s like a mine field trying to find one.
Mine began in my right wrist. Out of the blue, I woke every morning with it aching beyond description.
Thanks for sharing. So glad for your 5 year remission, Kathleen!
I was just diagnosed with sero-negative RA this past month (I was lucky enough to find a rheumatologist who put more stock in my symptoms and physical exam findings than in the lab results!). I used to think that my first symptoms appeared in my fingers/hands, but looking back, I realize that even before the pain and stiffness started, my lungs were already under attack. I’ve always been a relatively fit person, and I run regularly. I went from running a half-marathon in October, to barely being able to run a mile in January, to not being able to climb a flight of stairs without being out of breath in February. I (foolishly) chalked it up to being too sedentary over the winter months and a lack of physical conditioning. It wasn’t until after my first dose of prednisone that I realized how bad it had been. The second day after starting the pred last month, I was able to go out and run 5 miles! Since January, the RA has spread from fingers/hands to wrists, elbows, shoulders, jaw, and neck, but has thankfully spared my hips, knees, and feet so far.
Kelly, thank you so much for this site! It was a God send having this as a source of information and comfort while waiting for my diagnosis, and I’m certain I will continue to be inspired by all the amazing RA warriors on this site!
I had what I thought was a “Taylor’s bunion” on my small toe and the pain and swelling/reddness made it difficult to wear shoes. Then I had pain in my neck radiating down my arm(s) into my hand, which intermittently was swollen and there was difficulty in using it. Went to a neurologist and he dxt it as carpel tunnel and sent me to a hand specialist. She said she didn’t see that and sent me on my way. I did do some P.T. w/o alot of relief. The pain got worse over time and I had poor sleep at night. This went on for about a year and a half to two years then became better. Last Fall I was seeing a doctor for “manipulation” (he’s a D.O.) and I mentioned some of these and told him about some of these symptoms. I’m thankful he was observant and listened as he then sent me for tests to r/o a bunch of things (Lyme’s, Lupus etc) and it was found I have R.A. I think I could have had the beginning symptoms for 4 to 5 years b/4 dxt! I’m now on methotrexate and some other meds for inflammation and seem to be doing well. My rheumy told me the blood tests she ordered shows I have an aggressive form but it’s now “dormant”. I know things could change quickly so I’m thankful for each day that is good! I won’t say I don’t have pain but it’s liveable!
My first symptom was that I awoke one morning to my heels hurting – it reminded me of as if I had jumped down from a great height landing on my heels. Within the next 6 months, it moved up to swelling in my ankles and into my knees. During that time, I had constant laryngitis. In the last month or so, I was feeling exhausted, ill and “float-y”. It was finally a horrible pain in my elbow/shoulder one evening that had me in tears that sent me to the doctor. The exam barely began when she looked down (I was wearing shorts) and noticed that my knees were swollen. That’s when she uttered the word Rheumatoid Arthritis and took a blood sample. I didn’t have any pain in my hands until the very day I had an appointment with a rheumatologist.
fever that lasted 9 months.
My first symptons were my feet, then my knees, elbows and eventually my hands
My first symptoms of RA were way out there. Number one was fever between 100.0 and 102.8 for about 4 weeks. Joint pain was masked by the misery of the fever. With the diagnosis of RA and the start of the prednisone I then began to notice the joint pain. First in my hands and feet. I was swollen and didn’t even know it until my rheumatologist pointed it out. The fever literally distracted me from every symptom. I am now on my first week of methotrexate and my second week of prednisone. I am very grateful to have expert healthcare and now a fabulous place to connect with other RA folks
I WAS TREATED FOR RA FOR 2 YRS WITH METHOTREXATE, CIMZIA, PREDNISONE, CELEBREX. MY SYMPTOMS HAVE ALWAYS INCLUDED SEVERE PAIN IN LEFT FOOT, LEFT KNEE, LEFT WRIST. I WENT TO ORTHO, THEY SENT ME TO RHEUMATOLOGIST WHO DX RA. I AM NOW SEEING ANOTHER DOCTOR AS MY DOC MOVED AND I HAVE ONLY BEEN GETTING WORSE, NOT BETTER. HE SAYS I DO NOT HAVE RA BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS. I HAVE HAD X RAYS AND MRIS. THE LAST MRI OF MY WRIST SHOWS SUGGESTIVE OF RA. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I HAVE BUT IT IS DEBILITATING, PAINFUL, AND HARD TO DEAL WITH. THE FATIGUE IS UNBEARABLE. I CAN’T WALK OR DO ANYTHING WITHOUT BEING SHORT OF BREATH AND EXHAUSTED. LUNG TESTS WERE NORMAL. I AM NOW GOING TO BE SENT TO AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON BECAUSE MY KNEE X RAY SHOWS AVASCULAR NECROSIS. I HAVE BEEN TO ORTHOS BEFORE. HOPEFULLY THIS ONE CAN FIGURE ME OUT. I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT DANG IT, I HURT EVERYWHERE FROM TOP OF HEAD TO TOES, THE SYMPTOMS I MENTIONED EARLIER ARE JUST THE WORST. AND I EITHER CAN’T SLEEP OR CAN’T STAY OUT OF THE BED.
I have bone erosion and constant pain in my feet. The bone erosion was how the initially began diagnosing me. One of the biggest barriers to my getting the care I need is my inability to determine what is a symptom. I have too often put up with pain or fatigue for a long time before figuring out that it is my RA causing it. However I have been complaining of foot pain for several year, have seen my primary, an orthopod, and the rheumy. I like all 3 and I think they’re good docs but a combination of me not being clear, and them not listening resulted in a delay in changing my treatment that was much too long. I have now gone from Enbrel to Humira and after the first does felt better. I do notice it wears off though so we’ll see what comes after more doses. I tell my story to prompt others who may be suffering in silence to do a good job of communicating.
Thanks, Teresa.
My first symptoms began in my knees around the age of 6 or 7. I’m now 26, just finally got diagnosed!!!! And it finally spread to my hands when I was about 20 years old. So I guess I’m the opposite of what is “supposed” to happen.
Thanks, Nikki. I hope doctors will take note!
Your site is an interesting find. I’m 75, and newly diagnosed with RA. Officially. But my first encounter with it was in kindergarten, when I couldn’t rest my elbows on my desk. Over the years, “Arthur” has visited feet, wrists, ribs, sternum, spine and probably was the cause of numerous bouts of brain fog and catatonic fatigue. Fortunately, it always went away after a time, so after seeing an MD some 50 years ago, who told me what I already knew – that it was “a form of arthritis” – I left. Exercise and NSAIDS have kept me moving in the interim, and I feel lucky that I haven’t had to bother with the medical profession in the interim. Nice to find your site.
Great article on RA and the feet. That is exactly how it started for me. Then went to my shoulder.
It’s now been 15 yrs and spread to my entire body and with deformaties as well.
I started with pain in my feet about 6 weeks after the birth of my 2nd child. (August 2011) In January 2012 it was confirmed but I am still only painful in my feet. My hands have not been affected.
My RA started in my hip. I was at work and I started getting this sharp stabbing pain when I moved around. Over the next few hours the pain started getting worse, which made no sense since I mostly just sat at a computer and didn’t use the joint. By the time work was over, I couldn’t put weight on my hip and I couldn’t lift my leg. I managed to make it to a walk-in-clinic where they thought it was a hernia. They sent me home with nothing for pain and the doctor told me she would send off a request for surgery! I was going to university at the time so I had to hail a cab to get home since I couldn’t walk to the bus stop (the walk-in clinic didn’t seem to concerned about me finding a way home even after I told them I lived alone. Once in my apartment, the pain continued to escalate, to the point where I was drenched in sweat and panting heavily from it. I called my mom crying who immediately drove to my university to take me home (it’s a 3 and a half hour drive one way) The next day she took me to a hospital where they ran a few tests and decided I had tendonitis (weird since I didn’t do any physical activity the day before to strain it) but they did give me a general corticosteroid injection. Guess what? My hip joint felt miraculously better over the next couple days. However, things went quickly downhill from there. Over the next month I swear it seemed like every joint in my body flared up (like who knew there was a joint attached to your collar bone and that you use it for almost every little movement? I sure do now and I never want that joint flared up ever again!)Anyways, after a month of this I finally got in to see my family doctor. And I was very lucky, my doctor’s wife has RA so he recognized the symptoms immediately and issued the bloodwork. A week later he called me personally to let me know I have a very high rheumatoid factor and he referred me to a rheumatologist. I was 20 when I was diagnosed and 2 years later my RA hasn’t slowed down despite all the treatments being thrown at it. It seems to be progressing much like how it arrived, as an out of control freight train. And yes I have it in my hands and wrists, however, it’s always the large joints that bother me the most and cause the most pain when their flared up. Once my insurance clears it, I’ll be starting Orencia so here’s hoping it’ll stop this train!
First symptoms were nodules on both elbows and swelling of entire arms. It took doctors 5 months living with the pain before the doctors figured out it was rhumatoid arthritis.
Sore elbow took me the family doc who diagnosed Tennis Elbow. Never touched a tennis racket, nor any sports or super strenuous activity, so that was confusing! Thus began my journey with a disease that uses poor labels!
My history started a long time ago, when I was in college. I would sign up for a full load of classes and get a part time job, then have what I now know is a flare, and miss days of school and work and lose all my progress. My first symptoms were episodes of fever with all over body aches concentrated in the knees, feet, hands, and hips. I kept being told I must be catching the flu or colds and I should boost my immune system with vitamin C and things like echinacea, which probably made it worse. I would see a doctor, then it would pass and I would try to get back to my normal life and stop seeing the doctor and never get a proper diagnosis. I went five years before I got a diagnosis of RA with a rheumatologist which happened after I had already had two orthopedic surgeries and the surgeon finally recommended that I might need to see an rheum doc since I was having unexplainable joint injuries and pain. All that wasted time makes me so sad.
My FIRSTsymptoms of RA were 18 years ago at age 40. I was a mom with kids and very active. I developed a high fever and joint pain. The fever left the joint pain stayed. The FIRST joints affected were at the time my hands, elbows and feet. Then my RA seemed to fizzle out for 4 years…they reallly only put me on NSAIDS during this time….Then, after a surgery, my RA symptoms returned, this time my FIRST symptoms were my feet, hands and knees, I was treated with Plaquenil this time around and again my symptoms seemed to fizzle out…then in 2010 after a gall bladder surgery my RA went nuts…my symptoms and swelling were far more severe and this time the FIRST symptoms were in my feet, hands, knees, ankles, shoulders, and wrists…..I am now on methotreaxte, Biologic, and prednisone. They cannot seem to control the rapid advance of my RA this time around