Interesting CC - my RA was axial with no peripheral involvement until about five months ago when my hands and feet kicked in. That was why I had an earlier tentative diagnosis of AS. My shoulders and hips are still some of the worst affected joints. My sternum is also affected and my coccyx. The coccyx pain manifested as buttocks pain at first and led to an assumption that it might be my SI joints.
Now, however, my hands are affected very badly. In the morning I can't move my fingers or thumbs very well and they're extremely painful. Also - I have no strength in them at all. Can't turn door knobs and taps or remove lids from containers. All very frustrating.
Very interesting to note that your RA developed axially as well. What were your first symptoms, CC? And how did they progress? What made your rheumatologist make a firm diagnosis of RA? I'm interested to see how similar our patterns were given that we both ended up on KickAS!!
