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is this early RA?

Hi,
I'm a healthy 24 years old male, from about 5 weeks ago, i've been noticing a weird feeling in ONLY in my MCP joints in both hands (my left hand more than my right hand, i'm right-handed) when i wake up in the morning or after some rest. They feel "too relaxed"/sleepy, and as i bend then straighten my fingers (intentionally slowly and softly), my MCP joints MILDLY behave like a switch; this feeling is only in my MCP joints. In the morning, it all clears out right after i wash my hands, i.e. 4-5 mins later and sometimes takes up to like 15-20mins if i don't exercise them; after rest, it just take like 2mins. There is no pain/redness/warm feeling, nor my MCP joints are swollen.
In particular, the little finger of my left hand, it does that for a longer time and feels more "switchy". It also has increased flexibility: i can bend it backward with my other hand to almost 90 degrees without pain; i can't do that with my right hand's little finger nor any finger in both hands. It's probably from the past, i broke my ulnar bone, it's deformed on my wrist in my left hand since 6 years ago.
I went to 3 generalists in 1 week, they examined my joints & said nothing unusual; they seemed to focus on my allergy and overlooked my joints problem. This joints issue still puzzles me; 1 of the doctors suspected Cubital tunnel syndrome in my left hand.
Note:
- no pain even when my MCP joints "switch"
- i've seen trigger finger videos; it's not like that at all: the feeling is only in my MCP, not PIP nor DIP.
- it seems that my thumbs MCP are even less affected
- nothing wrong with all other joints in my hand and body
- I sometimes sleep on my hands, it's a habit, but not anymore since i noticed this issue.
- my grandmother and my 28 yo sister have RA.
- i'm not doing any sport since 2 months.
- i spend a long time on computers.
- i took a blood test 1 week ago, it showed everything normal, except eosinophils 12%
  (WBC=5800, lymphocytes=27%, monocytes=9%, polymorphonuclears=52%, absolute neutrophil count =3016) my ESR = 2 mm/hr (yes, two), my RBC situation is very good too)
- i have an allergy to dust mytes & smoke, i'm lately having asthma attacks.
- my hands feel a bit itchy, but i don't know whether this is from stress.

I'm worried, is this an early sign of RA or something else or it's normal & i'm getting obsessed?
Can a lack of sport be a reason?
Can that deformed bone have something to do with that little finger's increased flexibility & feeling?
2 Responses
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469901 tn?1276563623
I can understand why you would be concerned since you have a family history of RA.  Because your joints are not swollen, red or painful, if it is RA it is very early.  Besides ESR, tests for RA include RF and CRP.  
You may be experiencing some extremely early symptoms, butr nothing I have found documented indicates the symptoms you mention as pre-RA.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please note that there is absolutely no noise with the switching; the switching is very mild.
I thought that this can be helpful too:
platelet count= 161000
RBC = 5.44mil/mm3
hemoglobin = 16.3 g/dL
hematocrit = 47%
MCV = 86.0 fl
MCH  = 30.0pg
MCHC = 35.g/dL
RDW = 13.0%
All within ranges.
I forgot to mention that sometimes i feel like tingling in both hands in the smallest 2 fingers in particular.
Thank you,
Nabil
Helpful - 0
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