This all started around 5 weeks ago, so this might be long, I apologize. The issues started with swelling in my left wrist. No pain, no injury to area, I just couldn't get my watch on one morning when getting ready for work. My watch has always been 2 links to big, and wouldn't fit. There was no pain, but it worried me so I went to a walk in clinic, had blood work, kidney/liver function, thyroid, cbc. All normal. Within the next week or two my right wrist also started to swell, exact areas as the left. Inner wrist bone (thumb side) has lswollen area, lump about one inch long following the bone, and top of my wrist (right below hand) has swollen lump. Following the right wrist swelling, pain began. After sleeping and waking, I can barely move my fingers and can not move my wrists at all. Using the bathroom is a chore because it causes severe pain to bend my wrist in order to wipe and severe pain shooting up my thumb by gripping the toilet paper. Washing my hair hurts and trying to brush my hair is very painful. Within a few hours of using my hands, the pain begins to subside, however, my fingers are VERY stiff, they feel like I need to crack them, however, they won't "bend" the way the used to in order to crack them. Within another week, my ankles began to swell, again this started in the left ankle, no pain, then began in my right also, again no pain, however, within the week, upon waking I can not walk, my toes / feet hurt so bad.

Went to another doc who was "stumped", however gave anti-inflammatory (mobic). Within 2 days the pain was WORSE upon waking, and would even wake me up within the night. I was told to wear wrist splints while sleeping to keep my wrists still, however, my wrists swell so bad the splints were cutting into my arms and cutting off circlulation to my hands, making the pain much worse (if imaginable) and fingers now swelling way worse also. I called the doc back, he called me back in to see the doc,(come to find out, first person I was was a nurse practitioner). This doc also had no idea, was surprised at the amount of swelling in my wrists / ankles / feet / legs. Was surprised the mobic was not working, but told me to keep taking as he was concerned I may swell worse if not taking it. He ordered additonal blood work to include sed-rate, RH or RT (forgot the name, but the rhematoid test) and ANA .....today I could not walk or move my hands for about 30 minutes upon waking and my feet were so swollen that they wouldn't fit in my shoes.

I called him this morning to tell him it was getting worse. Was told the RA (whatever the name) came back fine and the sed-rate was also normal. He now wants me to go have my wrists x-rayed. I asked what about my ankles / legs / feet. He said he is also referring me to a rheaumatodist (spelling?). When I asked why I was seeing the rhem. if my rheum. test came back normal, he stated they handle "joint" issues and my problem was out of his "scope"....huh? He also called in methylprednisolone to help bring down the swelling and get the pain "under control". I just took my first dose, 6 pills (24 mgs) and am supposed to continue to take them for the next 5 days, the dose tappering down each day.

In the mean time, I just sit and wait until the rheum can see me. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? I'm concerned by the way the swelling started in LEFT wrist, no pain, moved to the right, then pain. Same with leg / ankle swelling ..started in the LEFT before moving to the right and then came the pain.

What about the steroids? Will they help when the doc has said my sed rate and Rheum test came back fine? Should I be worried about taking the prednisone? How much weight can I expect to gain during this week?

Does this sound like a type of arthritis? I think the swelling is what has the doc stumped. Also ....why would I be prescriped steriods, when one of the side effects is "bone / joint pain" and "ankle swelling" ???/ This is what I already have. Sorry so long....but I really need some advice !!

Hi,
The second doctor gave you the steriods to reduce the inflammation, if I were you I would ask for a scan of the area where you feel a lump. Going to the rheumatologist is good advice, they can either rule out any autoimmune problem or give these symptoms a name. There are so many things that could be causing these symptoms so don't give up loking for an answer, you know your body and you may have to see a specialist (I would ask the rheum)
for one) or see a good internist, they can run the appropriate tests which should include a scan of your wrist where this problem began. Please keep us posted and I hope you find an answer soon.
Deb

Thank you for responding. Scan on my wrists? Is a "scan" the same thing on as an x-ray? I'll be having an x-ray tomorrow on both wrists.

However, that still leaves the issue of swollen, painful ankles / feet / toes as well.

I took the 6 pills of steroids last night, and woke up this morning able to use my hands !!! Very exciting. The swelling is till in my wrists, and VERY BAD in my ankles but I was able to use my hands and walk first thing this morning without any real pain !!

However, my ankles were swollen worse this morning, I actually had to take my ankle bracelet off as it was cutting in to my leg (usually very big). And of course, can not see my ankle bones at all.

Maybe the wrists / ankles are two seperate issues? Arrgghhh....it's very hard to go from being completely healthy one day to have multiple issues the next !!

Hi,
It is common to have swelling in the ankles with RA, I have had RA for 2 1/2 years with similar symptoms with pain and swelling. my swelling occurs in the ankles and hands with severe reddness. Blood work is tricky because my levels were not elevated with RA, The way it was diagnosed was with an MRI
of my hands and wrists, it showed severe erosion. I would suggest that you ask your doctor to run an MRI of your hands and wrists that will really give
the answer to whether you have RA. An X-Ray isn't enough, make sure you ask for the MRI. Pain with RA can be extreme even with medication I have good days and bad but without the medication I can't function. I take Humeria injections each week with Methotrexate (8 pills) a week. I also do PT
in the water. Keep us posted on your Doctors Appointment, I hope that you find an answer soon and get relief from your pain.
Deb

Thank you again for your response. My legs and ankles stayed swollen ALL day and of course became worse at the end of the day. I am not sitting here with my legs propped up ....I also notice the skin on my shins, are now hot to touch and the swelling is coming up to my thighs.

I'm beginning to wonder if I have two seperate issues happening here. I do take birth control pills, and wonder if this is effecting my legs. My doc said I might want to "think" about not taking them, however, we'd "rule other stuff out first and then think about stopping them".

I see you have leg swelling with your RA, catseyes, I would like to ask if your skin gets hot also?

Hi,

Yes, my hands and palms will get very red and hot, you mentioned that you are taking birth control pills, if so please talk to your doctor about this because you want to make sure you don't have a clot, I am in no way trying to scare you but it is something you want to rule out. You might be having more than one problem and want to cover all basis. RA symptoms can vary with each patient, I starting having swelling of both hands and fingers along with severe pain in my hands, fingers and feet. I also began having swelling on my ankles. My blood work was not that abnormal and it wasn't until they did an mri of my hands and wrists that showed the erosion and then I was diagnosed with RA. Please let me know how you are doing.