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+--- Thread: Rheumatoid Arthritis? (/showthread.php?tid=171079)
Rheumatoid Arthritis? - Numo - 09-12-2014
My middle finger joints on both hands have been sore and stiff since last spring. Saw a Rheumatologist Wednesday, and was diagnosed. Luckily, I have good indicators: late onset, and I flunked a blood test that indicates the condition in most people (apparently this indicates a better prognosis).
My doctor didn't seem aghast or anything , so I'm not too alarmed. However, I'm curious to know if anyone here has had this diagnosis, and how it's been for them.
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - davemchine - 09-12-2014
My mother has rheumatoid arthritis. She works very hard every day and stays active once she is home. I can tell the price is high though. She has a lot of pain on her high activity days. She has also had several joints replaced. From what I can observe moderate activity seems to help while vigorous activity hurts.
Best wishes.
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - Black - 09-12-2014
The 2 main things to help you at this point will be:
1) Learning to use your hands in a way that doesn't wear them down quickly
(search term= "joint protection")
2) Using positioning splints at nightime to protect your joints from various involuntary stresses while you sleep. Ideally with an "ulnar deviation" insert.
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - Octave Doctor - 09-12-2014
I've been diagnosed with RA since 2001, mostly in my legs, but being laid up last year didn't help much. Basically keep active as much as you can. If you can find a good hand therapist, they can help a lot.
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - cbelt3 - 09-12-2014
Mrs. cbelt3's is pervasive and relatively untreatable. She reacts rather badly to all the standard anti inflammatory treatments. Good luck to you.
There are schools of thought that relate potential dietary / environmental conditions. It is, after all, an auto-immune disorder.
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - GuyGene - 09-12-2014
I have it in back and neck, maybe arms, in pain right now in left arm… Fibromyalgia too - don't get me started:oldfogey:
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - pdq - 09-12-2014
Just curious - Which blood test? Rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP? (CCP standing for the mouthful: cyclic citrullinated peptides, AKA anti–citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs)).
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - Numo - 09-12-2014
pdq wrote:
Just curious - Which blood test? Rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP? (CCP standing for the mouthful: cyclic citrullinated peptides, AKA anti–citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs)).
I believe it was Rheumatoid Factor.
Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis? - Black - 09-13-2014
FYI your overall condition may be chronic, but you can get your middle fingers to stop aching if you lay off them for a while.
Assuming you're talking about the last joints towards the end of your fingers-- you can try wearing Oval 8 splints on them for a while., or whenever they bother you.
http://www.amazon.com/Oval-8-Finger-Splints-Combo-Pack/dp/B00D62HGM4/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_img_y
http://www.amazon.com/Oval-8-Finger-Splints-Combo-Pack/dp/B00D62GGBG/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_text_z