Guest guest Posted June 23, 2005 Report Share Posted June 23, 2005 Amy, I was diagnosed with PA last year. I had one " sausage finger " pinky on my right hand which the medications have mostly taken care of but I still can't bend it all the way. I also had the pitting of the nails and when my rhuemy reviewed the initial x-rays on my swollen pinky, he said there was some " whittling " of the bone. I recently had a complete bone scan due to being 47 and my mom having osteoporosis. The bone scan came back fine with the exception of a very slight amount of damage in the hip joints. Low enough that they did not feel any medication was necessary. It appears that you can have PA and no bone damage. Possibly my PA was caught early enough that it hasn't affected the bones yet and maybe we can ward off some of the damage with early treatment. I also have carpal tunnel which I was told is very common to those with arthritis. There are many on this list that have PA and fibro so is it possible that you do have both? I hope your next doctor visit will help you get all the right answers. Take care and let us know how it goes. Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2005 Report Share Posted June 23, 2005 I have PA and have for over 3 years. The swelling moves sometimes from joint to joint. Other times I have to have a cortisone shot in a finger or joint to stop the damage. I tried methotrexate for 6 months with no result and now I am on Humira (for only a month now) , it is working great thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 I went to the rheumy today and am even more confused now! She said because I had no inflammation on the bone scan (except for a little on my foot), that she wants me to forget about the diagnosis of PA for now and if I get worse in the future, maybe I should be rechecked. This is coming from the same doctor who months ago told me I needed Humira injections or Remicade to stop the progression of the illness. Now she thinks maybe it's fibromyalgia after all even though she seemed sure that it wasn't that, which was my original diagnosis to begin with! I can't believe this crap! And, to top it all off, she said I should keep taking Mobic as needed, which as you all know is an anti-inflammatory, even though there was no signs of inflammation on the bone scan, because it's apparent that the knuckles of both of my hands are swollen. She said that was probably due to some type of tendonitis. I read recently though that you can't get tendonitis in your hands, only your wrists, but she doesn't think I have carpal tunnel. Ugghhh! I think that's the last time I see her. I feel like I'm back to square one. Still feeling like crap with very little relief after tons of tests and medical visits. If I didn't feel so bad, I wouldn't go to another doctor again forever! Woe is me! Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Amy, It sounds to me like you need another opinion. aimrich28 <aimrich@...> wrote:I went to the rheumy today and am even more confused now! She said because I had no inflammation on the bone scan (except for a little on my foot), that she wants me to forget about the diagnosis of PA for now and if I get worse in the future, maybe I should be rechecked. This is coming from the same doctor who months ago told me I needed Humira injections or Remicade to stop the progression of the illness. Now she thinks maybe it's fibromyalgia after all even though she seemed sure that it wasn't that, which was my original diagnosis to begin with! I can't believe this crap! And, to top it all off, she said I should keep taking Mobic as needed, which as you all know is an anti-inflammatory, even though there was no signs of inflammation on the bone scan, because it's apparent that the knuckles of both of my hands are swollen. She said that was probably due to some type of tendonitis. I read recently though that you can't get tendonitis in your hands, only your wrists, but she doesn't think I have carpal tunnel. Ugghhh! I think that's the last time I see her. I feel like I'm back to square one. Still feeling like crap with very little relief after tons of tests and medical visits. If I didn't feel so bad, I wouldn't go to another doctor again forever! Woe is me! Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 In a message dated 6/22/05 11:45:16 PM GMT Daylight Time, aimrich@... writes: My questions are has anyone else been diagnosed with PA but had no sign of it on testing, such as on x-rays or a bone scan? And does anyone know if swelling and redness in the hands around the knuckles can be caused by FM or carpal tunnel? And with PA, does such swelling tend to come and go often? Hi Amy, My fingers would swell and go very red while I was going through a PA flare. Looking back on this, what was actually happening was that the joints of those fingers were being attacked. At the end of it I had two fingers with pencil/cup syndrome and they are both now a half inch shorter than they should be. So I think some of the others will tell you that your description could be Fibro but I wouldn't rule out the PA either. I hope they can come to some decision for you soon so that they can get you going on the correct treatment. No wonder your confused Amy, when the specialists can't seem to agree on what is wrong. Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 > yes , my swelling comes and goes frequently. it is like it travels around my body. it is different from day to dy. new spots will pop up out of nowhere and then other feel better. this is in my toes, feet anklyes, hands etc... keri > In a message dated 6/22/05 11:45:16 PM GMT Daylight Time, > aimrich@o... writes: > > My questions are has anyone else been diagnosed with PA but had no > sign of it on testing, such as on x-rays or a bone scan? And does > anyone know if swelling and redness in the hands around the knuckles > can be caused by FM or carpal tunnel? And with PA, does such > swelling tend to come and go often? > > > > > Hi Amy, > > My fingers would swell and go very red while I was going through a PA flare. > Looking back on this, what was actually happening was that the joints of > those fingers were being attacked. At the end of it I had two fingers with > pencil/cup syndrome and they are both now a half inch shorter than they should be. > So I think some of the others will tell you that your description could be > Fibro but I wouldn't rule out the PA either. > I hope they can come to some decision for you soon so that they can get you > going on the correct treatment. No wonder your confused Amy, when the > specialists can't seem to agree on what is wrong. > > Take care, > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 Hi, I had no signs of PA on my x-rays or bone scan, so my rheumy had them do a full body SPECT scan on me and that's when it showed up all up and down my spine. I get general water retention with my FM, but when it's a PA flare, it seems to be only in specific joints, like my SI joints, fingers, toes, etc. Hope this helps. Jayson > > In a message dated 6/22/05 11:45:16 PM GMT Daylight Time, > > aimrich@o... writes: > > > > My questions are has anyone else been diagnosed with PA but had > no > > sign of it on testing, such as on x-rays or a bone scan? And > does > > anyone know if swelling and redness in the hands around the > knuckles > > can be caused by FM or carpal tunnel? And with PA, does such > > swelling tend to come and go often? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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