hello again. 4years ago i began with swelling of ankles. i was put on cortizon after many anti inflamatories failed. felt great swelling went. i was told i had arthritis. every year especially in the summer my ankles would swell again and in the winter suffer muscle stiffness and pain throughout my whole body.summer of 2007 ankles began to swell as well as knees and just under the finger joints. my fingers look like sausages some days. fluid taken from knees and was told it was just water. the swellling got so bad my that closed up and i was hospitilised for 2 months for tests. cortizone again got rid of the pain but i gained 15kg provoking cushings syndrome. i have now been weaned off cortizone and the cushings has started to go. now i still have swelling under the joints of fingers and the pain is excruitating in my legs and burning feet.i feel really depressed and dont know if this is the after affect of cortizone or part of the illness.i was a healthy woman up until this started. i am only 45 and yet i feel so stiff and in pain i am like an old lady. i have had 200 blood tests so far and all they say is its my autoimune system. please help