does the pain of rheumatoid always come with swelling?

Hi everyone talks about flares and think when you are in a flare you def swell . The joint is usually warm I would say but for me I was just in constant pain. It did go worse and swell at times but pain was all the time. Just when one joint seemed to settle another started. I have osteo also in my knees so they struggle to know which is which. But I do think you can have pain in joints without the swelling. Sadly when the specialist sees you they only class it as bad if they can see swollen joints. Have they checked if you have rhumathoid factor. I hope you get sorted soon I would say just don't give up keep pushing for help x

Hi without the swelling I would say around 5 but with swelling it trobs too and is a constant 9. It hurts more when you have to use it and is tempting to just sit around and take painkillers. Everyone says keep moving but mine swell even more when used. . I think try to move gently and don't overdo it. To be honest I take so many meds I dread to think what it would be like without them. I find if I stress a joint ie if I do any sewing it goes to whatever joints you have overused. I do find they have a burn too x

Hi i think the key is to get it early and stop it in it's tracks. The first I knew I had a couple of bad shocks and was really stressed . I got up one morning and could not walk . My ankles were both weak and the pain was horrible when I tried to walk. Doctor gave me naproxen and within 30 mins was fine so just kept taking them. Never had a problem there sinse . Next was my knee which was swollen and really painfull so badly swollen I had to drag my leg to walk. I was diagnosed with RA I have been on many drugs which nothing expect too my blood cells or my liver after around 12 weeks which is how long it takes to get in your system. They then said knees was osteo but it seems to be cartlidge cartilage damage the RA destroys the cartlidge. I have it in hands neck and wrists now too as it's been 3 years on different meds and none long enough to work . I take all sorts of supplements but all a wAste of money .been on benepali for 3 weeks now. Still on steriod till it kicks in and take naproxen when I need to do anything physical. It's finding the right drug quickly and the nhs system is so slow. It depends how active it is also my factors were off the scale. I was a fitness instructor for 10 years and this happened overnight literally. I hope you are lucky in men it's usually less active

I hope you get sorted quickly x