Do I have RA?

Hi

Thanks in advance for anyone who reads this, and can offer me some guidance - I'm really struggling this weekend and feeling very down about my current state. Nonetheless will try to be as factual as I can.

My current situation is that I'm really struggling with my hands. They are not in pain per se, but they are in a constant state of weakness and I really feel like it's getting worse. As I right this with my arthritis gloves on, I can feel the tingling around the base of my fingers and palms. If I was to stop and gently place my fingers opposite each other in a prayer position, they would shake against each other nervously until enough pressure is applied. Today I have resisted from the necessity (was previously a temptation) to stretch the joints and exercise the hands - I have a couple of exercisers for this, but I'm not sure if it's making them better or worse. This usually provides a sound show which is only matched by the cracking of my elbow and shoulder - another addition which has seems to intensified over the past six months. Whether this is linked in any way to the upper back pain I've had for the past half year, I don't know. But what started as a pull from tennis, and worsened by my own ergonomic disaster when writing reports for my job, has now manifested into a dull pain right in the centre of my back, inbetween the shoulder blades. I've seen the GP and physio about this - they suggest it's muscular, but to me it feels to be right on the spine, which is obviously a worry.

My hand situation is not helped by a number of other factors. Ever since I was diagnosed with a trigger finger 16 years ago, I've sported a nice little scar on my left hand from the resultant surgery. Unfortunately the scar has now manifested into a deformity which looks like two bumps, which in my attempts to remain positive have nicknamed Larry and Barry. The doctor thinks it's the start of Dupruyten's contracture, and I must confess the stretch on my skin is starting to make my hand look a lot older than it should. Aesthetically, this is not the only thing - I have a bump on the base of my left hand (upperside) directly opposite the surgery, my knuckles and finger joints seem to be a lot bonier than they were.

Not that my left hand is worse than my right. No, if anything I struggle with that one even worse. Part of the issue with that one is the tiredness I get in my right wrist, a result of an injury I sustained a few years ago. The doctor thinks I've probably got scar tissue around the wrist - certainly not great when you're right handed, and play tennis and golf. Or at least I did - haven't played either in quite a while now (tried playing golf the other week and struggled to lift or feel the club).

So as I type this - albeit ergonomically in a better position - I'm bothered greatly by my lack of current lack of dexterity, cold and tingling hands, and twitchy forearms. Last night was the worse night I've had for pins and needles, which I can get from even just cupping my hands at night. I have managed to type this with a few breaks, but absolutely dreading the new year, when I start a new job in my profession as a primary school teacher. I am fearful that I won't be able to do the marking and planning - it was hard enough making a sandwich for lunch. And I don't know what to do, except keep waiting for the referral to come through to see the hand specialist on the NHS - still pending, two weeks and counting from my previous consultation. I've read the info online, and got lost in confusion at the amount of things that could be causing my condition, or indeed what it might be. Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated as I try to manage this problem in the meantime.

Thanks

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