Early RA of the ankle...what does it look/feel like?

[Guest guest]

Hey all,

I'm still trying to get diagnosed (and still looking for a

rheumatologist who will actually treat me like a human

being...grrr...), and I have a question. I have moderate to severe

swelling around the outside of my ankle. Right side is definitely

worse than the left, hurts more, and is " spreading " faster. It

begins directly under the ankle bone, I believe where the actual

joint is. It is like a little " bubble " ...when you feel it, it feels

like a water balloon...encapsulated and gushy. It is only

uncomfortable to the touch if you actually press down to feel the

joint. Moving the " bubble " around is not really painful, at least

on the left side. Both hurt if I walk to much or sit too long with

my feet flat on teh floor or the ankle bent (i.e. unless my foot is

up).

Now, my RIGHT ankle is another story. It began the same, but now

there is some swelling and definite tenderness in the hollow area

between the ankle bone and achillies tendon. Tendon itself is not

affected. It is worse on the outside, but some swelling has begun

on the inside in this area, as well. Tendon is not painful, but

pressing on the swollen area IS, and it often throbs even at rest.

I also have pain going down the top, outside of my foot, and the

ball of my foot near the big toe and underside of area between the

ball and pad of big toe. In fact, if I walk barefoot, that area is

actually coming in contact with the ground and I'm getting shooting

pains, like an electrical shock, that radiates from my ball to the

tip of my big toe. The tips of the big toe on BOTH feet have

reduced sensation...almost, but not quite, completely numb.

The " bubble " is growing, fast, and has covered most of my ankle bone

and looks like it is traveling down my foot, along the top outside.

If I walk for any distance, my ankle becomes VERY painful. My right

ankle hurts pretty much all the time (just mild discomfort), but if

I use it too much, or later in the day, it gets this sickening

(literally...it sometimes causes nausea) ache and grinding sensation

when I walk. I don't know if it is actually " grinding " , but that is

teh best way to describe it.

My gp saw it about a week and a half ago, and thinks it looks

suspicious, but admitted she is not an expert. It was much smaller,

then. Also, I have had to have both vicodin and 800 mg of ibuprofen

just to sleep, and was still hurting even with that.

I was wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone. I'll be showing

it to Dr. Jerk when I go back in May, but if someone with RA has had

similar issues I'll have more " ammo " when I talk to him. With him,

I need all the help I can get. Blech.