Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Swelling in joints

Hi all,

I'm getting a really weird feeling today. It feels like there's fluid in all my joints. I don't know if this may be a reaction to the steroids. Its not painfull per se, but my joints all feel full. Should I be contacting my doctor or is this normal for AS or with the steroid pack? I notice it when I straighten or bend any of my fingers, toes, or other joints. Thanks.

Jeff

Hi Jeff
That sounds a bit strange might be worth getting it checked out just to be on the safe side. I wouldnt think it was anything to worry about if you have no pain.
Take care Kevin

some drugs (NSAIDs, a statin) give me edema. the doctors and i have agreed i shouldn't try the prednisone because i'd probably have the same side effect from it.

could it be edema (fluid retention)?

the problem with fluid retention for me is it makes the inflammation worse in the long run.

just one thought,

It could be that. Its not visible edema, but there's a fullness when a move my fingers and toes. I can feel it some in my elbows and knees too. Is that a bad thing?

mine is usually non-pitting edema, meaning its not really visible compared to the pitting edema, but when i was on vioxx every day, i had the pitting edema where you could see the swelling, so i know for me it is edema, there are just varying degrees of swelling / fluid retention. its not a great thing to have, but i had low level edema for 3 years before my GP and i figured out that i had it, and other than my BP being borderline high, and my inflammation escalating, i think that was it. if you do have a little bit of fluid retention, and it is being caused by the steroids, it should disappear once you discontinue the steroids. the big downside (to me) is that the edema makes my inflammation worse. i'd talk to the doctor tomorrow, though i can tell you, in all the years i've asked, i never really got much info from the doctors regarding it, other than, "if the drug causes edema, don't take it." i'd still like to know why i'm so prone to it.

Does it make your joints feel loose at all? Weird I know to ask. I am newly diagnosed with AS and I have had a lot of trouble with my hands, knuckles with imflamation. Nothing you can see, but it does give me trigger fingers. My hips, knees and elbows do have a full feeling (and I have not started any treatment yet), and in my case I think this is what causes me say they feel loose. I also wake up at night with my eyes puffy. . .

Hey Jeff, out of curiousity, was it especially humid the day you experienced this? I sometimes get that feeling when it's very humid, usually in my fingers. I also get it when I've had an ultra busy day at the office and I've been typig non-stop for 7 or 8 hours. Never anything visible, but feeling full and a bit thick.

Hope it's better today.

Hugs,

Hi Kat,

Its been really humid here for about a week, so I think thats contributing. I'm waiting to see if it goes away once I'm off the steroid. My doctor wanted to see me anyway since I had them call the steroid in.

Jeff