Is it Rheumatoid Arthritis? | A Peculiar Case of Unilateral Hand Stiffness

Añadido: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00][snorts] >> So, here's a case that I'm going to tell you. Think about it and tell me your answers in the comments. There was this 50-year-old lady who came to me um because uh she was referred because she was having stiffness in her hand. The person who referred to me, that doctor thought this is rheumatoid arthritis and possibly wanted to get evaluated for RA.

[00:00:16]Now, when I saw this lady, there was something peculiar. She did not have so much of pain as she had stiffness. Not only that, the stiffness was unilateral.

[00:00:24]The stiffness was more on one side. It was typically in one of her hand and she felt that that hand is becoming a little clumsy and she's finding it difficult.

[00:00:32]When I examined her, the joints were fine. She was not having any synovitis, but when I started moving her hand, well, it was quite stiff to move the wrist. I asked her some other questions like, "Do you feel you're slowing down?

[00:00:43]Do you feel that there are any falls that are happening?" And she said no to everything.

[00:00:48]Here's the question. What do you think?

[00:00:49]Is this RA or should I think of some other diagnosis?