Joints and muscles swollen and ache

Dear Melissa, it's a tricky thing to diagnose on symptoms alone but it could be especially with RA running in your family. Dont stress though wait till you visit your GP hopefully you have a good one who listens to you. Good luck and all the best! This forum is supportive if you need advise, help and reassurance

Hi Melissa I am responding because I think I had a similar experience. My RA flared up when I was working away from home for a week, staying in a hotel and inspecting a hospital.  I was walking alot and writing and my ankles and my hands and wrists became very swollen and ached.  When I woke in the morning my ankles were very stiff and it took some time to get them going.  I remember walking down a stairs feeling like a tractor blocking the road with a queue of people getting impatient behind me!  I seemed to age dramatically during that week.  When I got home I saw my GP and then a consultant and they diagnosed RA.  I am 57.

Hi Melissa, my RA came out of the blue. One day I'm fine, felt some aches, next day could not walk. There are 2 blood tests for confirmation of RA. Make sure they are done. I spent 6 days in hospital & was tested for EVERYTHING but RA including 7 spinal taps. Sent home with gout meds, but Dr. tested me 2 weeks later for RA & it was confirmed. I pray that it is not your diagnosis. Please keep us informed. Prayers to you.

Sorry you're feeling so poorly.  Joint pain came on me in my late 20's.  But it was after I mucked out a livestock stall, so my wrists persisted hurting for longer than they should have.  As a pre teen and teen, the first time I participated in a walk-a-thon, for several days later my feet would be very sore and painful.  It wasn't until I took a job on my feet most of the time that the pain came to stay and then it started to spread.  Had I known then what I know now, I would never have overtaxed anything, because it seems that this illness can linger for years and even decades without coming on in force.  I have a great aunt on one side of the family and an aunt on the other side who both have RA.  It's  possible with a round of steroids and alot of rest, with caution in the future about how you do things physically,  you just might kick it away and not have to deal with it on a daily basis.  I sure hope so.

In my opinion YEP. Did with me. I've ud bits aches and pain over years but surgery on my shoulder and everything went to hell. Started or kickstarted my Fibro AND RA which I've had diagnosed but suffered no problems until last 2 years. Go to doc and hopefully you'll get good meds.

Hi Melissa,

 I am 65 and had an emergency appendectomy a year ago, got C Diff as a result of antibiotics I was on and a month and a half ago was diagnosed with RA. I have had some osteo but this is so different. My fingers were like sausages and horribly painful. The pain and swelling were very sudden and very severe.  I was embarrassed but went to an urgent care because I couldn't stand the pain. I was given steroid shot, steroids by mouth and referred to a rheumy.  I have had terrible fatigue also for a number of years and other symptoms that I kind of tried to ignore. Now when I think about the big picture, I think the RA has been brewing for quite some time and the events of the past year just brought it all out. Don't know if that is a possibility but I think it is. I started on Mtx 4 weeks ago along with prednisone. Don't know how helpful this info was but it can come on quite suddenly. Good luck!  Hope you are feeling better soon. 

Mine appeared out of nowhere overnight as well, one day I was fine the next my forearms were incredibly painful.   My GP intitially diagnosed PMR but eventually the Rheumatologist diagnosed RA.   in a little under 12 months it has spread, it now affects my fingers, thumb, wrists, forearms, elbows, upper arms, shoulders, neck, toes, lungs and the balls of my feet.   None of the meds have worked and now I'm on biologics which also aren;t working.   Try to find something that will work quickly, the damage to joints, tendons, muscles and organs this disease causes are not pleasant, nor are they reversible.

So I went to my doctor of (32 years) last Thuraday explained my symptoms. He had an X-ray on my hands and wrists.   Blood tests to be completed this week.   He did prescribe me Naxproxen until we get the results back. The Naxproxen is not helping much----.  I am still in horrible pain - can not sleep.  I am second guessing RA ---- I wonder if I could have Fifth Disease - Parovirus Arthritis?   If you have RA what does a flare up look like - and where is the pain.  Currently both hands wrists fingers ankles toes both feet and forearms  ache and swelling.  I can not move my arms at all in an upward position. For example when driving it hurts to reach for the seat belt to buckle up.  I had my granddaughter today and I had difficulty pressing the button for her car seat to unbuckle her. 

I am so concerned and this pain is god awful.  It has been now 4 solid weeks. I also have flu like symptoms --- fatigue- no appetite - sleepy (probably I can't sleep at all due to the pain).   Anything I eat does not stay with me for long - low grade fever and sweats.  

Any help - your story or thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks 

Auto-emmune disease tend to have a genetic factor there are many of them RA being just one.

Stress of travel, different sleeping when not in your own bed, and any differnt kinds of foods you ate, especially things with sugar can cause tremendous pain.  Try keeping a food diary, so you can track what foods are triggers, Set a schedule to allow for proper rest, Get regular exercise to have the best chance of feeling your best.  Get checked for RA with all the serology tests that are used, and for severe pain when you don't have pain meds to help, do a vegetable fast, which has nearly nothing to feed the  inflammation .

I heard back from my doctor and all my blood tests are good-- and no signs of RA.    I was told continue the Naxproxen and come back in one month. I am so disappointed in the care my doctor has given me -----  but more important I am In continued pain.  Both hands, all fingers, both wrists. Upper arms, ankles, feet, all toes  and legs are swollen- ache.  My upper arms wrists and fingers  ache so bad- I have to physically roll out of bed.  My arms feel like 200 pounds each and they seem to lock in place.  

I am not sure where to go from here for  help. I am approaching my 5th week with all symptoms listed above.  

Anyone have suggestions?   Thank you.