u/BoldSageHypnotist

In 2017 I broke my left shoulder... Had a reverse shoulder replacement (twice as the first one was put in incorrectly and fell apart) and my left hand started to look like RA - ulnar deviation and then my fingers developed swan neck deformity, inflammation and pain. The doctors thought maybe I had nerve damage in my brachial (sp?) plexus but despite many EMGs. Hand continued to become more and more disfigured but in time it stopped swelling and hurting. Fast forward to June 2025 when I broke my right wrist. It was healing as expected to a point, although it seemed I had more pain than was expected, but after a few months of OT I noticed the ulnar drift. I freaked out thinking OMG I'm about to lose my right hand. I saw the surgeon who wasn't worried and suggested I wear an anti drift brace. Then came the swan neck deformity and, in my ring finger, a boutonniere deformity. Lots of swelling, lots of pain. I totally freaked out - I thought - Oh No! I'm now losing my right hand. My right hand is now looking like my left hand. OT therapist says - that's RA. I see my surgeon (ortho doc) - he says - looks like RA, you need to see a rheumatologist. He sends me to a "Hand Center" 4 hours away. Hand Center doc is an ortho doc - sigh 😮‍💨 he says, looks like RA to me. Sends me to a rheumatologist there. I go to my PCP. He says, no, I don't think that's RA but you need to rule it out. He runs the test for Rheumatoid factor (negative) and auto immune response (negative). EMG for both arms negative. Go to the rheumatologist 4 hours away but I also make an appointment with a rheumatologist in my town who teaches in a medical school and is well respected. Rheumatologist 4 hours away says - well, it's certainly an odd presentation but it sure looks RA. Gives me a script for Methotrexate but the next day I see the rheumatologist in town. Hmmmm looks like RA but doesn't present like RA. My fingers are all swollen and I have pain everytime I try to use it - even to eat. But they're not stiff in the morning - they're at their best in the morning and they swell more and are more painful as the day goes on, and the pain is in my forearm as well as my hand. Right now I'm waiting for 2 more weeks for tests to come in as well as records from the doctor 4 hours away and from the surgeon who set my wrist. I'm depressed because neither of my hands work well and I don't know what is wrong with them. Can anyone relate?