16DD has appt with DR
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| Wed, 10-26-2005 - 10:33am |
Hello,
My 16dd has suffered on and off since 1998 with odd and unexplained swelling, stiffness and pain in her joints. She has had a multitude of blood test and x-rays to help figure it out and everything always comes back fine. Yet, she just got over a bout with an unexplained swollen pointer finger. It was painful to the touch and basically agonizing. Same thing with first her right wrist, then her left. Sensitive to the touch, stiff, swollen. Before that it was her knee or ankle and foot.
She is now scheduled to see a Reumatologist next Monday. Of course, all the swelling is not gone, but still. Based on your experience, are we wasting our time. Since all the bloodwork and x-rays show nothing, is it still possible that it could be reumatoid athritis?
Thanks.

Welcome to the RA board, Hearts!
Molly
Hello!
Molly always gives such great advice. And you came to the right place for answers!!
I was 14 when I started having pain and swelling start. I went through labs and x-rays and everything always turned out fine. I also went through dr's telling me I had nothing wrong with me. What a joke!
I was dxed when I was 16. Still my labs and x-rays were fine. My RF was negative. My dr went by medical history, symtoms and family history. You DD is very lucky to have a parent who beleives her and is actively taking steps to help her.
So, 10 years later I'm on a great drug cocktail and have my RA under control.
I wish your DD luck in finding answers. Let us know how it goes.
Smiles, Jen
Hi and thanks to both of you for your great responses. My dd is already taking meds for another issue - depression and tourette syndrome. She's taking extremely low doses, but still. I don't relish the idea of having her add more meds to her regimen.
What types of drugs would we be talking about if she needed them? I am actually thinking that her symptoms may be related to one of her meds she is on now...it's Risperdal and it's been linked with tardive dyskenisia (sp?) which is a stiffness in joints that is irreversible. I don't think it's that but who can say it's not what's causing the swelling and joint stiffness and pain.
Thanks again.
Good morning, Hearts
Molly
Thanks Molly. I will print out that information to read later at home.
I know it's not Tardive. What I was thinking was that it may be related somehow to the Risperdal, not necessarily tardive. Just some random thoughts that have been rolling around in my head. However, I should add that the first time she had any symptoms she was 9 and she was not taking the risperdal at that time. So, there goes that theory.
In the meantime, I will let you know what the DR says on Monday, I'm so anxious to resolve this.
Thanks, Hearts.
Molly
Update:
The new DR - reumatologist - has taken yet some more blood from dd and are running further tests. He does not feel she specifically has reumatoid arthritis, but he does think there is SOME type of arthritic-something going on. So we will see.
Thanks for all the input and support. DD looked so scared yesterday when the DR was throwing out all this arthritic jargon! My own head was spinning.
Molly