Anyone Have ANY insight??? Please help!!

[Dreynolds]

25 y/o otherwise completely healthy male w/ no family history of any arthritic dieseas.

About 2 months ago started feeling generalized pain/ache in DIP joints (joints closest to fingernails).  Pain is in both hands, but not always symmetrical.  NO swelling, redness, tenderness, nodules, etc.  Just pain.

I am worried about RA, b/c of course everything you read online talks about RA and how bad it is, etc.  But this doesn't sound like RA to me (RA doesn't involve DIP joints, usually has swelling, I am not in a risk group, etc.)  What do you guys think?

I have not been to the doc yet, though am planning to go over the nex tmonth (difficult w/holidays coming up).  My theory is copper deficiency is causing the JP.  Went on Zinc supplements for no real reason 3+ months ago.  Add that with a Multi-Vitamin I was taking, I was getting 65 mg of supplemental zinc..add that to dietary zinc and I was probably getting 80+mgs of zinc/day.  WAYY TOO MUCH!

I've read where too much zinc over a period of time can cause a copper deficiency, which can lead to joint pain among other things.  Any insight on that theory?  How plausible does that sound?  Will docs think I am crazy if I mention that to them?  I trashed the zinc about a week ago, though I am still on the MV which has zinc in it.  How long does it usually take to correct a Copper def. like that.  Once corrected, will that fix my joint pain?

Thanks to ANY and EVERY bit of insight or info ANYONE can give me.  Knowledge is power as they say!!

[nidz]

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks itself. The pattern of joints affected is usually symmetrical, involves the hands and other joints and is worse in the morning. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a systemic disease, involving other body organs, whereas osteoarthritis is limited Signs and tests
A specific blood test is available for diagnosing RA and distinguishing it from other types of arthritis. It is called the anti-CCP antibody test. Other tests that may be done include:
• Complete blood count
• C-reactive protein
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Joint x-rays
• Rheumatoid factor test (positive in about 75% of people with symptoms)
• Synovial fluid analysis

Treatment
RA usually requires lifelong treatment, including medications, physical therapy, exercise, education, and possibly surgery. Early, aggressive treatment for RA can delay joint destruction.
to the joints. Over time, both forms of arthritis can be crippling...

[Dreynolds]

Thanks for the comment.  Did you ever experience much pain in the DIP joints (joints closest to fingernails)?  That is where 99% of my pain is concentrated, and nearly everything I have read said that RA almost never involves those joints.

I thought about Fibromyalgia, especially since I was just diagnosed with IC (interstitial cystitis) about 3-4 months ago and the IC just presented with pelvic pain.  Fibro would cover pelvic pain and the joint pain as well, and fibro typically deals with the DIP joints from what I have read.

I am not thinking it is RA because of the DIP joints, I do not fall into ANY of the risk factors, and I the pain is bilateral but not reallllly symmetrical, at least not all the time, and i dont really have much pain in any other joints.

Of course like you said I am not doc either so I dont really know!

[Shaley Girl]

Well, I have RA and for the first year and a half I really only had the usually symmetrical pain.  I also test negative so am diagnosed as being Sero-Negative.  One thought I have for you is possible Fibromyalgia but I am no Dr.

I have never heard of that zinc theory but your Dr should know.  I hope that you don't have to deal with RA and it is just something easily taken care of.