Appt. with Rheum.

[Guest guest]

Please see below for background:

So, my Rheum. says he does not think all of the pain in my hands is RA, it is

tendonitis, as

the nodules are around my tendons and not my joints. The disturbing things are I

don't do

anything repetitive to have tendonitis and I am in a great deal of pain. My

rheum. did not

seem to think this is a big deal.

I was so frustrated I yelled, " This is not a big deal? Today I took 30 mg. of

Opana and one

Perc (325/10) (and it's only 10:30) and I am still in pain! I can't take care of

my child, I

cannot dress or diaper my child! I cannot work! I am exhausted! "

So, now he wants me to see a hand specialist and get the nodules biopsied, which

sounds

really scary but at this point I would cut one of my hands off if I could get

the proper

treatment so I could get on with my life! He also ordered all new BW for

everything under

the sun.

I have no choice but to apply for SSDI. I cannot work and I don't know when I

will be able

to. I am just in too much pain and too exhausted and undependable. But of

course, that

takes forever, and now that this Rheum. thinks I don't have RA, I am going to

have a hard

time without a diagnosis, I would think. My original RA diagnois dates back to

2003 but

that Rheum. has died and no one can supposedly read his notes, and this Rheum.

has not

seen me when I had very clear RA symptoms!

Sigh. I have a 3rd opinion set for July 3rd but will go ahead with the biopsy

which sounds

logical.

Your thoughts and opinions, please?

Thanks so much,

--- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " " <catdelouise@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi All,

>

> I just had MRIs done of the right and left hand and I could really use your

help in

> translating:

>

> Left Hand:

>

> " ....However, at the level of the fourth metacarpal head in the anterior soft

tissues

anterior

> to the flexor tendon, there 7 mm nodule within the subcutaneous fat which is

> hypointense on Tq, hyperintense on T2...this abuts the flexor tendon.

>

> ...There is some enhancement of the soft tissues of the distal aspect of the

thumb and

> fifth digit more so than the other fingers and I am not certain whether this

is real or

> artifactual. There is an additional enhancing nodule approx. 6 mm in size on

the volar

> surface of the hand at the level of the fifth metacarpal head, within the

subcutaneous

fat. "

>

> Right Hand:

>

> " ...At the distal hypothenar eminence anteriorly, within the subcutaneous

tissue, there is

> increased T2 and STIR signal present in an amorphous, ill defined region which

measures

> approximately 2 cm transverslely X 3 mm deep...Similarly, at the distal left

fifth digit, at

> the site of a vitamin E marker, there is an area of increased T2 signal seen

within the

soft

> tissue surrounding the bone...Findings are nonspecific and could certainly be

due to

areas

> of focal soft tissue inflammation or infection. Correlation with clinical

symptoms is

> suggested as well as physical exam. A low-grade vascular malformation can

appear

> similar. These do not appear to be related to the joint space. Histologic

evaluation may

> ultimately be warranted. "

>

> Google is not helping me, I need a layman's interpretation. Please help me if

you can!

>

> Thank you,

>

>

>