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Real members of myRAteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

What is indicative of ra in fingers

A myRAteam Member asked a question 💭
Bakersfield, CA

Full if questions yep thats me! So i have never had the redness or puffy fingers or joints. I have an aching, burning pain in all fingers with the stiffness if i stop moving, and i get specific spots on joints that are extremely painful and feel like they are bigger than before. Is that a normalcy wih ra or is that more of an osteo? Im on my 3 rd one that is now doing this. Seems too fast to be osteo?

August 28, 2018
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Answer Summary

Members offered reassurance to someone questioning whether their finger pain, stiffness, and specific joint tenderness might be rheumatoid... Read more

Members offered reassurance to someone questioning whether their finger pain, stiffness, and specific joint tenderness might be rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, with many affirming that RA can present without visible swelling or deformity and that outdated diagnostic criteria still linger in some medical practices. Several members shared personal experiences with RA affecting the joints closest to the nail (often mistaken for osteoarthritis), rapid symptom progression across multiple joints, and the possibility of psoriatic arthritis when finger involvement is prominent, while also discussing how eliminating dairy and following plant-based diets helped reduce medication needs and manage symptoms. A recurring theme was the frustration of delayed diagnoses, the variability of RA presentations, and the importance of advocating for thorough testing and treatment even when symptoms don't match older textbook definitions.

A myRAteam Member

@A myRAteam Member I just read your story and it looks like you are RF negative. You can have RA with negative blood work. You can also have psoriatic arthritis, which is like RA, but also has other tendon issues. You may want to discuss this possibility with your rheumatologist because of your fingers. Mine is closed to convinced I have PsA rather than RA. The treatment is essentially the same, though.

August 31, 2018
A myRAteam Member

My doctor told me if the joint in your fingers that hurts is the top joint (the one next to your nail) that is OA. If it is the other joints then it's most probably Rheumatoid Disease.

August 28, 2018
A myRAteam Member

I dont know about osteoporosis. But with RA it's all of the above. Pain, redness, swelling, tingling, burning, aching... I would check with your doc to see what's up. Hugs

August 28, 2018
A myRAteam Member

Sounds like RA to me. I have really screwed up fingers, knuckles, and wrists. Been at this many years though. I hope progression is really slow for you.

August 28, 2018
A myRAteam Member

Yes its quite fascinating, as i have been of course doing plenty of “googling” and now after finding you all, asking a lot of questions and there is no completely text book method any more to a diagnosis. It continues to evolve, information is added, new findings all the time and

September 2, 2018

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