Yesterday, I finally went to a rheumatologist. I noticed a huge difference between the first rheumatologist I saw and this one. He was willing to listen to me and didn’t dismiss my experience just because my labs were clear. He told me I have undifferentiated arthritis. From what I understood, it’s a young arthritis that isn’t developed enough to be identified yet. I’ll start treatment in hopes of going into remission and slowing down the process that could eventually turn it into rheumatoid arthritis or something else. Now, I don’t know what to do. Am I supposed to tell my family even though it isn’t fully identified? It feels hopeful that I have time, but also stressful to think that there’s no guarantee it won’t progress into rheumatoid arthritis.

Hey guys anyone here ever have cellulite treatments (such as the Avéli procedure or TempSure Firm which is a skin tightening treatment) or PRF / PRP injections?? Or really has anyone ever gotten cosmetic work done? If so, how did you react to it? My rheumatologist gave me clearance to get them, but I just would like to hear about others experiences, if any. Thank you!!!

Alright, so hello to everybody, hope you're feeling good today. Female here , 30yo So I've just been diagnosed w/ RA this week , but I'm not new to pain , it's just now I have blood tests to prove I'm not faking it.

Next week , I have an appointment with a rheumatologist , but my general practitioner was very helpful . She was the one that told me to be careful when considering meds for RA, that some of them can cause fertility issues and to treat carefully my options.

Now, mind you, I have Positive anti-CCP, but negative RF. They told me it means I am at the early stage of RA . Because of that I have some questions and I hope some of you could help me 🙏

1. Since it's early stage , do I treat it aggressively, with MTX , or opt for steroids, and /or hydroxychloroquine , Sulfasalazine, meds not strong like MTX or others . Would that help me to start with milder ones or should I take stronger meds asap ? Is there anyone who was diagnosed early but didn't start their treatment strong? How are you doing today:( or did you have to switch to stronger ones quickly?

• I ask this not just because of RA progression but because I plan to start a family and have children and don't want to enter into an early menopause... I know that mtx stops your periods and some other meds (don't know name of other meds , please provide which one are those ) and I don't want this . -

2. 2 Considering all of this, I just have more fear of side effects than RA itself. I don't know what future holds , but I would like to have a family of my own . Can some of you tell me your experiences with meds and menstruations, fertility, pregnancy? Thank you.

I just don't know what to do , I don't want to have flare ups and pain , or deformities down the line , but my fear of mtx and similar meds , is strong , mainly because of potential fertility problems ....

Have usually seen that the pain is constant but do you have pain which comes due to repeated motion and then goes away after swelling and redness comes in that area

Hi all! I’m in a workout group with 2 women in their late 20’s early 30’s with RA. It’s been super empowering to exercise together and talk about the reality of being young with RA. We’re always looking for more friends!!

Does rheumatoid arthritis cause bone spurs? I have it in both shoulders and ankle

(Cross posted in r/lupus)

Currently diagnosed w/Lupus & RA. I've tried and failed lots of different drugs & even relocated from a rural area to a city so I could gain access to one of the best clinics in the region. Sadly the doctor was super dismissive and the final straw was him accusing me of MH issues instead of listening to my very real medical issues.

I made the difficult decision to switch doctors, yet again, and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made! The doctor sat with me for over an hour to get my entire symptom history, what led to diagnosis, all of the treatments I've tried and failed, and my present concerns. He did a thorough assessment and acknowledged issues no one else has ever cared about- specifically that I'm in pain even when my joints aren't inflamed. He cared about my hypermobility and is looking into some additional conditions that could be causing my current issues associated w/ that. He sent me for additional diagnostic blood work, xrays, and PT- after the first visit! I've never had xrays on my knees and I've never been allowed to do PT (diagnosed for 7 years). I'm just shocked at how much time he spent and how he actually didn't dismiss anything I said. I've never had that!

Sharing to say, don't be afraid to switch doctors! I was so worried I'd get someone worse or I'd be perceived as a problem before I got in the door but it's been so much the opposite and so worth it. Y'all, don't lose hope!!

I have recently read that methotrexate can have harmful effects on the fetus/baby while pregnant. I am curious to know what contraceptives do you ladies use while on methotrexate. I am currently using the patch and I'm not sure if the patch alone is enough to avoid pregnancy.

Ok am having a particularly difficult day.. my left scapula is hella hurting today.. first time scapula hurting..

Other than meds.. what mechanical pain relieving techniques u guys use for scapula?

I have joint pain and numbness in my fingers, my blood test shows Ra negative, ANA negative, Anti ccp positive but my ultrascan of hand shows normal. Should I go for MRI?

I just found out my Cimzia copay card is out of funds for 2024. Anyone else have this problem and had success finding another financial assistance program? I tried calling the manufacturer and the arthritis foundation, both were not able to help. It’s $1400/month with my insurance. This is literally a miracle drug for me, I don’t do well going off it. Thanks so much!

Hello, I'm a 25 male, and I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 5 years. I’m currently undergoing treatment. My issue is that when I ejaculate, I experience a flare-up in my inflamed joints, and it can take several days before I return to normal

I was diagnosed with RA at the beginning of 2024. My ANA was positive with my PCP, which then sent me to my rheumatologist and I came back positive for RA with a low titer (80) for lupus. I have been consistently getting a rash that seems like it could be a malar rash and showed photos to my rheumatologist last week so we did additional lupus bloodwork at the appointment. It came back with a titer of 320. The rheumatologist thinks that the Humira may be triggering lupus and is now going through my insurance to change meds to see if the numbers will go back down on a different biologic. Has anyone had this happen? Were you diagnosed with lupus? I have had bad reactions to hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate. I felt like I was finally getting some relief on Humira and it took 3 months to get insurance to approve a weekly dose vs an every other week dose. So to now have to change meds yet again is super frustrating.

Hi! So I lift 5 days a week. I am not able to get into a rheumatologist for a month, and I am afraid of doing damage. I’ve read mixed things online on lifting during a flare. I am not diagnosed yet, but there is definitely something. Pretty convinced it’s RA, but I’ve read lupus could be similar so who knows. I am 29, a woman, and have CPTSD which all logically increases the chances of autoimmune. Anyway, since my appointment is far away and I have been feeling symmetrical pain in my ankles, feet, thumbs and knees I am wondering if I should chill for a bit on the lifting. I am curious if those diagnosed have heard from their doctors on this or if anyone has any insight on this. Thanks!

I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations of a good rheumatologist in Colorado. Maybe somebody you have seen that you really liked? There's so many doctors out there, I'd really like to see someone who listens and cares.

I'm near Denver, but I'd be willing to drive as far as Fort Collins or Colorado Springs for someone who is worth it. The other thing is that I have no health insurance right now. Idk if any doctors have deals for people that are self-pay, but I do have some savings I'm willing to use.

Thanks ♥️

Hey everyone,

I’ve been having a difficult lately time with fatigue. I think it’s getting to the stage now where it’s debilitating and it’s impacting a lot of aspects of my life. I don’t care about my work performance, I find social interactions exhausting and not worthwhile and it’s hard keeping up with housework.

I feel like a shell of a person nowadays.

I have 1-2 days off a week but I don’t feel like that time off is restorative and I’m at a loss of how to fix this. I try to sleep 8-12 hours and give myself plenty of down time but this doesn’t seem to make a difference.

My rheumatologist and GP surgery are aware of how I’m feeling and they basically just shrug their shoulders when I bring it up.

How do you deal with fatigue?

Has anyone been granted sick leave because of fatigue?

Has anyone’s fatigue improved?

Is there anything I can do or buy to manage my symptoms? I am already looking at buying compression socks and doing stretches everyday.

I am not diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, or actualy anything. But I have this level of arthritis issues since 14. I went to the doctor and did bloodwork where they found nothing. Did an X-ray, also nothing. I was discribed Ibuprofen 1800mg everday (3x time 600mg), but it didn't help even after taking it strictly at 3 months. I was also told to loose some weight so my bmi dropped to around 22 to 17. And it took some pressure off but nothing more.

I lost more weight since then that my bmi to 16.something, as it is also the only thing that helped with pain. But when I go below 16 I feel uncomfromtable as I can feel my bones when lying down and sitting, making them unable to relax what makes my stiffness worse.

And at that point the doctor said he couldn't do much anymore and send me to a rheumatologist. She dismissed me, said to my father that I am at an age where teens want attention. And asked me if I had any mental health issues and that I am very young to experience these issues.

I was in a lot of pain everyday, couldn't leave my bed at most days until the evening, because I was that stiff (luckily it was in Corona time). My joints felt like there was a party inside and that there was a mass stabbing. Also at the month I went to the rheumatolgist at least 20 headaches, including migraines in 30 days.

At the end of the consultation (where I was lucky to get an appointment with her to only wait a month after my doctor visit). In the end she said to do mild exercise (she said just exercise), take Ibuprofen, stretch and eat healthy and made our next appointment 3 months later. And it was at a time she knew I was gone in vacation because she asked me and my father earlier from which date to which date we were going to vacation.

Just after the appointment. My father laughed in my face saying that they dismissed me and called me crazy (his words). I felt so embarrased and dismissed I never went to the next appointment with the rheumatologist, as I even asked my father if I can transfer to another one but he declined. I think that he doesn't believe I have anything and if you don't believe that your daughter has a problem you probably don't want to ride a long time an appointment (think 1 hour plus). The onset of problems to the appointment with rheumatologist was 6 months.

After that appointment I never went to the doctor again. What is the point anyway? I am never going to be taken seriously and I have 0 support.

Now I notice my symptoms are appearing back again and I don't want to wait until it subsides. What can I do to minimize the discomfort, pain and stiffness? I love to walk and exercise but it hurts so much to do it now. I don't want to waste hours of my time wait until I can move. Also I have an headache everday, especialy when I wake up for weeks now.

Also I have to deep clean today, but my joints hurt so much and are so stiff. I had to put off cleaning for days now, but I know that my mother just sees it as a way to put it off and I see her patience run slow. So what can I do to minimize the stiffness and pain to clean the room without much discomfort?

Things are the best they’ve ever been.

I’m on planquil too.

I’m just curious to what my options may be if I don’t reach 100%?

At the moment I still have swollen joints in one hand. And some ankle pain.

But like I said, this is the best I’ve felt.

To come off everything just to try a new drug seems scary.

As I’m aware 25mg is the highest mtx dose

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in January (F26). Initially, it only affected my hands, but now I experience pain in all my joints. I’m curious if there are others with similar symptoms and how you manage your daily routine. My knuckles are extremely sensitive and feel a sharp, stabbing pain whenever they touch something hard. Even gentle contact, like when I’m using scissors, holding a mug, or taking a plate from the cupboard, can cause intense pain. Does anyone else recognize this?

For years, there is pain every day somewhere on my body. I just grin and bear and carry on. So when I started having increasing pain on both ankles and feet, I ignored it for months, limping around, thinking it was a flare and my plantar fasciitis. It’s gotten to the point where it’s almost unbearable so I finally told my doc and got an MRI. Turns out it’s a stress fracture on one ankle and a tear in the other. I’ve been making it worse by not seeking treatment. A hard lesson learned. I feel like an idiot. Does anyone else do this to themselves or is it just me?

How can you differentiate adult onset Still's disease and rheumatic fever?

My 13 year old daughter hasn't been diagnosed with JIA yet, but I think we're one MRI and blood panel away from making it official.

My question (which I forgot to ask the doctor) is how do you count the number of joints affected? She has pain in her wrists, fingers, and knees. Does that count as 3? Or are we counting every knuckle? I can't stop googling and I want to know if it's oligoarticular or polyarticular.

She has very little swelling, no fever, negative rheumatoid factor, pretty normal blood panel except for 1:40 ANA. Her symptoms are pain in the joints and fatigue when she stands too long, plus allodynia and chronic headaches. She's still (mostly) doing all her activities and living a normal life.

Has anyone had a similar experience with JIA? How are things going for you?

Hello, I as diagnosed with RA through CCP about 6 months ago. I am 42. I also have Lupus SLE and Sjogrens. Through diet I have really been able to manage many of my symptoms. I take hydroxychloroquine and LDN. 5 years ago I had Rituxan infusions to address the lupus and AIHA (anemia) I had at the time. My rheumatologist thinks I had RA longer but that the Rituxan may have played a role at keeping it at bay. So I recently saw my rheumatologist for a checkup. I hadn't had any flares for about 8 weeks but about 4 days before going in my joints were really hurting. I should note that I experience joint pain on average monthly for at least 4-5 days, sometimes much more but this was one of the longer periods of not having pain.... but swelling is less frequently maybe once a month where Ill have two fingers that are huge at the knuckle. When younger I would experience swelling more often. I just had x rays done and they look fine (they checked my hands and feet). I am very educated in my diseases and have been dealing with autoimmune disorders since I was a child. I do a ton of research. But RA is newer. My question is...when my rheumatologist messaged me she said your markers are higher again for RA-they have gone up since last bloodwork. I should also note that they have gone positive, then dipped (still positive) but now are higher than before. She says to me "here is a medication if you are interested in starting one." What does this mean? Ive asked her this before and I feel like she won't give me a straight "you need to start this, or a you are fine on holding off for a bit."

I want to be very clear, I am not anti medication. Meds have saved my life especially when I was younger. I am however hesitant of starting new medications if they aren't YET necessary. I already take so many medications Is there research out there that states because you have RA markers that you have to start medications in order to decrease risk of joint deformities? Will it alway turn into that? I ask because my levels have gone up and down some. I do deal with joint pain but I have been dealing with joint pain and swelling for 22 years now and I don't have any damage showing on x rays. I did just have the RA show up in bloodwork in the past 6 months. My symptoms are absolutely impacted by how clean I am eating (I know this doesn't work for everyone) and it doesn't always matter. I just feel like I never get a clear answer about if I need to start meds it is very much put back on me to make the decision-which I appreciate but I do worry will I wake up one day with insane swelling that takes months to get under control-bc we know some of these meds take a long time and then I am dealing with deformity and it impacts everything? Please be kind I'm feeling overwhelmed with all of this. Thank you to anyone who got through this whole post.

Anyone?

Can we detect the early rheumatoid arthritis in the MRI or ultra scan,Which is better?

38f ra. They took me off leflunomide because of my liver enzymes being too high, hair thinning & still had ra pain and flares (not effective enough). Gave me prednisone to get me through while they do battle with my insurance to get me on a biologic. The side effects from the Prednisone are intolerable, but if i dont take it the pain\swelling is intolerable. I've been dosing every other day or so to keep the worst of the pain at bay. So now i have both: I'm in pain, have a laundry list of side effects from the steroids, and am just freaking miserable. Also last week got the 1st dose shingles vaccine, that was 24 hrs of hell, but i did it.

I feel like a lab rat being tortured. I know there's no magic pill to make this go away (perhaps a large frying pan to the back of the head) so I'm just stuck suffering while my insurance decides if they'll pay for a biologic (assholes). I'm so emotionally and physically exhausted.

Steroid side effects: horribly bad dry mouth\sinuses, headaches, hyper (if i take for more than 3 days i get full on manic, so i only take for a day or 2), dehydrated (drinking 1.5g of water a day isn't enough), irritable, insomnia, acne that wont heal, etc. I'm only taking 2.5mg and it's this bad. I've always been sensitive to meds.

Ra: pain\swollen joints nearly everywhere (obviously), fatigue, and now my glands in my neck are swollen to hell and they really hurt, the steroids giving me dry mouth\sinuses makes it worse.

I'm very depressed and I know there's nothing to be done, I just have to suffer through it for now. Sigh. Thanks for listening.

Through a post here I actually noticed that sitting is a huge problem for me (give me some slack I have a dissociative disorder so I often have know idea what my body is feeling 😭) and I proceeded to get a seat cushion I can take with me. It provides a lof of comfort since it doesn't feel like I'm sitting on my bare hips. The chairs at uni are just slabs of wood so after about 20 minutes I'm unable to concentrate anymore because it hurts so much.

Well I still feel dumb walking around with this huge cushion and even needing it? I'm stupidly feeling really insecure about what other people are thinking since I'm young and my disability is invisible Idk this is the first noticable aid I'm using and I guess I need to get used to it.