Well...
I'm at a bit of loss as to what to say here so I'll just come out and say it.
Yesterday I received an official diagnosis of RA (rheumatoid arthritis). This is something that has been dancing around the edges since my hand/wrist pain started back in August. Although I've been pursuing this as if it was just really bad tendonitis, I had a couple of blood tests that were pointing to RA. Yesterday I had my appointment with the rheumatologist who did a thorough examination and believes I do have RA. I still am having trouble believing it because my symptoms are so mild that there are at least a half dozen reasons I've been telling myself why I have them, ranging from plain old age to over use to injury.
I'm being put on a medication I need to take once a week, along with a daily high dose of folic acid. Apparently this medication goes after folic acid and can causing nausea and other unpleasant side effects. I've started reading what's out on the intertoobz but so far it's not been very helpful. Mostly along the lines of "everybody's different, there's no clear disease progression and you'll have to be closely monitored, and oh by the way this disease really really sucks." Nothing to make me feel good or hopeful about any of this.
I guess the good thing is that I don't need to see the physical therapist or hand specialist again. I'm told the medication will make the pain better. We'll see. I have no restrictions on weight training so I guess I just need to play that by ear and work closely with my trainer.
*sigh* It's always something.
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