Fibromyalgia or Palandromic Arthritis?

[Sand]

Hi guys I’m new here . Just wanted to know whether anyone has symptoms like what I have daily .

8 years ago a rheumatologist diagnosed me with Palandromic arthritis, been on DMAIDS all along , recently my new rheumatologist stated that due to them administering, depo injection , having me on DMAIDS , blood test which did not show any inflammation he stated that I may NOT HAVE arthritis BUT instead Fibromyalgia. I suffer more in cold weather , my joints become very swollen which prevents me from doing anything .
Has anyone experience this with fibromyalgia? Do you get swollen joints ( fingers , knees )

Thanks for reading x

 

[johnsalmon]

as I understand it fibro has more to do with muscle not joints

 

[sunkacola]

In my understanding, swollen joints are usually more associated with arthritis than with fibromyalgia. But fibromyalgia has so many different symptoms that people experience that the fact of having that symptom doesn't mean it's not fibromyalgia. I think there are some definitive tests that can rule out arthritis, though, and there are no such tests for fibro.

 

[Sand]

In my understanding, swollen joints are usually more associated with arthritis than with fibromyalgia. But fibromyalgia has so many different symptoms that people experience that the fact of having that symptom doesn't mean it's not fibromyalgia. I think there are some definitive tests that can rule out arthritis, though, and there are no such tests for fibro.

Thank you very much for this . I’ve got a blood test booked when I have a flare up I can have this done .

 

[Sand]

as I understand it fibro has more to do with muscle not joints

I thought the same . Thanks for your reply .

 

[SBee]

@Sand just wondering, as you were on dmards, I assume the rheumatologist initially diagnosed a form of inflammatory arthritis. Jas anyone done xrays or scans for this,or the same tests for osteoarthritis?
I have osteoarthritis, diagnosed by xrays, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory arthritis. With regard to then inflammatory arthritis, my blood tests do not show the marker for rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis, but all other tests an examinations led to this diagnosis. Its known as seronegative inflammatory arthritis. People whose bloods show a positive rheumatoid factor are known as that -seropositive arthritis.

It can be hard to recognise which condition causes the pain. For myself, pain wise, my joints are inflammed,swollen stiff and in pain from both the inflammatory and osteoarthritis. Fibromyalgia pain, again, for me is more a nerve pain. Of course each condition has other symptoms,some of which overlap.

I would hope the rheumatologist have not simply relied on blood tests alone, but included scans and xrays?

The only other thing I can think off the top of my head is did he\she mean you are currently in remission from the Palandromic arthritis?

Oh, sorry - a belated welcome to the forum!

 

[Sand]

@Sand just wondering, as you were on dmards, I assume the rheumatologist initially diagnosed a form of inflammatory arthritis. Jas anyone done xrays or scans for this,or the same tests for osteoarthritis?
I have osteoarthritis, diagnosed by xrays, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory arthritis. With regard to then inflammatory arthritis, my blood tests do not show the marker for rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis, but all other tests an examinations led to this diagnosis. Its known as seronegative inflammatory arthritis. People whose bloods show a positive rheumatoid factor are known as that -seropositive arthritis.

It can be hard to recognise which condition causes the pain. For myself, pain wise, my joints are inflammed,swollen stiff and in pain from both the inflammatory and osteoarthritis. Fibromyalgia pain, again, for me is more a nerve pain. Of course each condition has other symptoms,some of which overlap.

I would hope the rheumatologist have not simply relied on blood tests alone, but included scans and xrays?

The only other thing I can think off the top of my head is did he\she mean you are currently in remission from the Palandromic arthritis?

Oh, sorry - a belated welcome to the forum!

Hi thanks for replying , yes I’ve had a scan on my hands after I had to shout at them that my fingers are always swollen and my grip is very bad , they found I had synovitis . He did mention this zero negative inflammation , reason why I’ve asked for a blood test to be done when I have a flare up . I just wondered whether anyone with fibromyalgia has swollen joints cause I thought was arthritis as diagnosed 8 years ago . They have ruled out lupus also . My argument is having arthritis all this time ? Can it just disappear ? So confusing . Hopefully I will get some answers soon . Thanks for your reply

 

[SBee]

Hi @Sand my understanding is rheumatoid or Inflammatory arthritis can go into remission, whereby the dmards have done their job well enough that pain, and the symptoms feel better,the drugs have the disease under better control.
This remission can last months, or years for some fortunate people. The disease is still there,and as you know can cause flares in symptoms.

Osteoarthritis, again,cannot be 'cured' it wont go away, but symptoms can be managed better with drugs, lifestyle changes and sometimes surgery.

One good site I can recommend is NRAS, a UK site, but the information on all types of arthritis help sort out the confusion. Also Versus Arthritis again may help sort out all the ins and outs of these conditions.

May I suggest, if you are having difficulty getting a good explanation from the rheumatologist side, you ask your GP\Dr to help explain things better?
Any medical appt can feel a bit rushed, and we can be so busy processing what they say we forget what questions we want answered. I know I am like that. Maybe take a few notes in to your next appt to ensure you understand the essentials.