Overwhelmed with pain I began my rheumatoid arthritis odyssey. I had no clue what was wrong. I was in such pain that I just wanted it to go away. I ended up in the ER and was sent to a rheumatologist. Poly-arthritis was certain. After many tests and a trial of 30mg of prednisone, I was diagnosed  with rheumatoid arthritis. My sedimentation rate and my c-reactive protein were off the charts. My left hand was swollen to almost double in size. It seemed to have started in my left shoulder. It quickly progressed to both hands, wrists, shoulders, ankles, feet, left elbow. Also my clavicle joints were affected.