Re: Do any of you ever have joint pain and stiffness without swelling?

[Guest guest]

That would be me. All I ever get, visibly that is, is slightly pink skin on my

knuckles. No visible swelling. My Rheumy doc finally took another set of xrays

to compare and my joints were spread out. My joints are loose and the swelling

that had taken place had slightly lengthened my fingers instead of swelling up

and out like normal people. He didn't believe me regardiny my pain and stiffness

until he took the set of xrays.

Dalanne

Central Illinois

>

> I was on DMARDS for arthritis and Sjogren's for 12 years. I have been on

Plaquenil all that time, on long term low dose steroids for five years until

this last January, and was on Methotrexate from June 08 to late July 09 when I

was hospitalized with an antibiotic resistant orbital and facial cellulitis.

Then I went off the MTX and have just been on the plaquenil until now. I

suddenly last week got the worse arthritis sympotms that I have had ever since I

started DMARDS. I have been having very bad joint pain not well controlled by

my Lortab and also bad stiffness lasting until 1-3 pm. My rheumatologist seemed

like he really didn't believe me about how bad is has suddenly become because my

hands weren't swollen and I guess my feet weren't either. Now I know that

sometimes in the past, I have had swollen and stiff joints but other times they

are just stiff and painful without swelling. I have had short periods of like a

day when I have had severe pain but this time I am having it for almost a week.

He did prescribe a short course of Medrol and told me to come back earlier than

my 6 week appointment if I didn't get better or if it came back again after the

Medrol course. Do any of you ever get joint pain and stiffness without swelling?

>

> In Northern VA

>

[Guest guest]

I am new to this post, so hello everyone, I am so glad to be involved in this

group!

I have pain (many times severe) without swelling much of the time. When I went

to my Rheumy this last time, I told her I was in severe pain and very fatigued

and felt like I had the flu all of the time. She said there was no swelling or

active inflammation in my hands and feet. I was also just getting over a

bacterial infection with 104 fever that I had to go the the ER for, and was also

on 20mg of prednisone/day. The Rheumy said that the prednisone could hide the

inflammation, and it could still be present. But, she still sounded doubtful.

So, she took blood tests, and my C Reactive Protein was 80.1, it should be less

than 3! My ESR was also elevated, and I think the doctor was very surprised

when she called me with the results. Some of these levels could have been due

to the inflammation, but I think it was also due to the RA. So yes, I am in the

same boat, and I will be glad to see if I have any differences in my x-rays next

time they are taken. I am presently on Arava, Humira, and prenisone (10mg/day),

Mobic, and Ultram, and still have episodes of pain, stiffness, and fatigue.

Does anyone else have these issues after being on all of these drugs? Thanks!

.

>

> That would be me. All I ever get, visibly that is, is slightly pink skin on my

knuckles. No visible swelling. My Rheumy doc finally took another set of xrays

to compare and my joints were spread out. My joints are loose and the swelling

that had taken place had slightly lengthened my fingers instead of swelling up

and out like normal people. He didn't believe me regardiny my pain and stiffness

until he took the set of xrays.

>

> Dalanne

> Central Illinois

[Guest guest]

christina,

I am the same way..I have never had visable joint swelling..I ask my rheumy

about that and he said I had enough showing up in my sedrate...Just because you

cant see the sweelling it doesnt mean you dont have it..Oh,I have been to two

rheumy one from the cleveland clinic and one I see now..both of them diagnosed

me with ra. neither one them made any remarks about there not being any

swelling...because I question myself....

diane in ohio