Mine started in my hands and I had symptoms (red, pain, swelling) for about a year before I saw a rheumy. He was confident it was RA because I had problems only in my hands. Then over time hands became worse and worse and other joints started with the RA activity and now it's pretty much every where.

I know the sharp pain of feeling that a finger might have slipped out of joint. In your hands, it usually begins with swelling and redness, wit a dull pain. My sharp pain, as you are describing, is a result of Osteo, where the joints are beginning to disintegrate. My Rheumys have always scanned my hands annually, as an indicator to how far along the RA may be. Have you had a scan or Xray of your hands, specifically?

Gluten free really helps with pain? What kind of diet do you go on? I enjoy my food but I'm willing to try something new. Thinking of a nutrionalist.

I was diagnosed at Christmas , my hands are getting worse now , I have swelling between my knuckles , they don't swell up now but the pain is unbearable if I do to much

@A myRAteam Member It sounds like you experienced what doctor's call "trigger finger." It is something that will happen periodically, sometimes last for a while and then go away. It is very painful and you sometimes have to "help" it by "popping" it back into place. I don't know what the explanation for what causes it, but mine seem to stop when my meds are working properly. Having had RA for more than 35 years, I have had to start and stop new medications periodically when they either stopped working or caused side effects that were harming other body organs. Everyone experiencing different trials and tribulations on their life-long journey with RA. You are in the right place here as there are many people that are happy to provide support when you have questions. I wish you well....hang in there....you are not alone!

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