Are Generalized Pain And Fatigue Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Posted on Wed, 23 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 23 Sep 2015 Answered on

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have just been checking the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and wonder if it is what is causing my generalised pain and fatigue. Especially Stiff hands in AM . Pain is not isolated in joints .And I am finding I fatigue very easily. Feel like an old lady at 65, work in a rest home. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia in the past but this is different, a lot more stiffness.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Shruti Rijhwani (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
We will need to rule out PMR.

Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,

Thank you for posting your query on HCM.

Well looking into your problem yes there is a possibility of PMR - POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA also considering your age . Even fibromyalgia in a flare can give immense stiffness but still these two conditions that I have mentioned above needs to be ruled out . I will advise you to get ESR , RF , Anti CCP , Vitamin D , Serum calcium levels done to find out if there is any organic cause or just its an exacerbation of Fibromyalgia .

Take care.

DR. Shruti

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar