As much as I tend to be a worrier when it comes to my own state of health, it is so much worse to be worried about a loved one. About a month and a half ago my girlfriend mentioned that she had some weird swelling in one of her knuckles on her left hand. She couldn't remember hitting it anywhere even though she is incredibly clumsy! Due to this high level of clumsiness I hoped that she'd just banged it and had forgotten. It seemed to go away and I didn't ask about it again. Yesterday she said it had swollen up again and showed me. Now, I know as an RA patient any time anyone mentions the words 'swelling' and 'joint' I will immediately diagnose them with inflammatory arthritis. It might not be that. However, as I found out when my symptoms started in a knuckle on my hand 3 years ago, there really aren't that many other explanations for such a swollen joint. Believe me, I looked for them very hard in the beginning. Surely though, the chances of us both having RA are minuscule, especially in our 20s!!!!
There must be something else going on. Surely.
She is also the worst person for going to the doctor so I doubt I'll be able to persuade her unless it becomes very painful or spreads. It doesn't seem to be very bothersome at the moment but it does look exactly as you would expect an RA-inflamed knuckle to look. I really, really, really hope there is some other explanation for this, although I don't know what that could be.
I hope she is okay Squirrel. I know with my kids and husband (and even dog), you tend to worry more about them than yourself. Take good care of both of you getting some extra sleep and good food.
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