I don't get it...

[tschock]

I was told as a child that I had rheumatoid arthritis...ok fine, I can accept that.
The past month or so I've had swollen hands and feet ( feels like when you are pregnant and retaining water)
and some abnormal bruising.
I went in for a bone density test yesterday because osteoporosis runs in my family.
Today I went to the doctor to ask him why I'm retaining water. He took one look at my hands and said that I wasn't retaining water, that it was in fact osteoarthritis.
My hands aren't hurting or stiff...just can't feel my fingertips or other textured surfaces because of the swelling.
I do get pains, grating, etc in most of my joints, but I've never heard of your arms, hands, legs, and feet all swelling up...or at least none of my family members with arthritis have ever complained about or mentioned that.

I have looked it up and I can't find anything at all about swelling, except for the joints...not the entire leg etc.

Do any of you that suffer from this affliction get that type of swelling?  I think puffiness would be more like it.

Thanks in advance.

[mollyadelaide]

Yes, please find yourself a new doctor! And emphasize to them how much this is effecting you and you need to find answers! For some reason, we really have to learn how to take charge of our own health. Many a doctor will brush stuff off as long as you'll let them. As if if you don't complain enough they don't take you seriously. Be your own advocate and ask (insistently) that things be investigated!

[bigsissie]

You need to get into a neuroligist. Ask for a mri or ct scan. Xrays only show problems with bones not disc or nerve problems. Defiantly get checked soon numbness is a sign of nerve damage that if left unchecked can lead to irreversible damage. If you ever go to a doctor and they will not listen go to a different one. I have permanent nerve damage because I did waht you are doing. I kept going to to the same doctor over and over and he kept guessing. It is not worth the risk to yourself to put up  with that. Hope you get into a neuro soon. Best wishes to you.

Sissie

[tschock]

I find it really ***** when the doctors don't tell you anything...they just tell you that you have something and then send you on your merry little way, as if just telling you that you have something wrong with you should cure it.

This swelling thing has come and gone over the years but they always used to put it down to water retention. When I was younger they told me it was due to my periods. When I was in my 30's they said it was due to (gave no explanation...linked it to coffee or something...came across this when I had an overactive bladder issue) and gave me water pills...

Now the doctor says it's OA...for years they said I had some type of arthritis or rheumatism, but were unsure of what kind. I was exempted from phys ed as a teen because my left leg/knee would swell up so it was bigger than my waist. They said at that point that it was RA  or that is was elephant man's disease!!
No testing was EVER done back then.
I had an xray (finally) of my knee when I was 36. I had gone to a different town in the middle of the night because when I went to my home town hospital they turned me away.
This out of town doctor looked at my knee, did an xray, and said that it was full of bone chips. He figured they had been there since I was 12, when I had taken a dive off of a high dive platform onto the cement instead of the water. The rest of my body had been put in casts and such, but my legs were never looked at.

Do you all swell up and stay swollen for months on end? Is this normal? I seriously can't find any of this on other sites.
How can you tell if it's in your spine and neck? I told my doctor that I have had pain in back and neck for years...I go to the chiropractor all the time, and he told me a few weeks ago to stop coming in until I've been to my doctor.
It started a couple of months ago...I suddenly developed a totally numb/tingly spot on my back just under left shoulder blade. I thought it was a pinched nerve...he said no way...just go see your doctor, I can't help you anymore...nothing is out.

Would xrays show problems?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm not getting anywhere with doctors.

[mollyadelaide]

I agree with sissie. RA as a kid can "turn into something else as an adult" is what the last rheumatologist told me. Do you see a rheumatologist? If not it would probably be a really good idea for you right now! I hope you feel better soon.

Oh and when I was 17 and I had my first inflammation in my hands (hands/fingers swelled really bad) my PCP told me I had OA. I chuckle at it now b/c he really just had no idea about the specifics of arthritis. RA does cause swelling in your joints and at 17 it certainly wasn't OA:) And another side comment - RA can lead to OA after years of damage. I have OA in my cervical spine (neck) which I think is probably a result of my RA.

I wish you the best!

[bigsissie]

Have you been tested for autoimmune disorders? They can cause swelling, pain, numbness osteoarthritis, ect. Here is a check list that may help http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/autoimmune-checklist.htm  It may be worth checking into. Out side of that I take black cherry extract 750 mg 2x per day for my arthritis. It helps me better than anything I have ever taken. Best of luck to you.

Sissie

[tschock]

Forgot to mention that my arms and legs feel really heavy, and that my circulation is terrible right now in both hands.