Rheumatoid Arthritis (and its variants) :

Do I have rheumatoid arthritis ? - - Posted by lam651 (lam651), 4 June 2003

Hi Everyone,
I've had arthritis for about 7 years. It started with my hands and now my knees and back are affected.

I had surgery in Mar. to fix a botched HTO. My OS won't let me take indocin or any other Nsaids for that matter as he says they retard bone growth.

Without taking any Nsaids my life is so much worse. Although I have some pain meds they are not a substitute for Nsaids.

Years ago some doctor decided I had osteoarthritis, but now I'm wondering. Can someone tell me some simptoms of RA. Do I need to see a rheumatologist to be diagnosed or can a GP give me tests to determine if I have it?

Any information anyone can give me as to what my next step should be would be appreciated. Thanks, Larry
Posted by Rosa (Rosa), 4 June 2003

Hi Larry,
I dont have RA, but have been tested for it on several occassions. It usually occurs in joints in a mirror fashion (e.g. to the same fingers on each hand, both knees, etc). I understand that it usually (but not always) affects the small joints first (e.g. fingers). Have you had any blood tests at all for your condition? Chances are that if you have, they will have tested for rheumatoid factor. This factor is present in the blood of most people who have RA - however, you can be factor negative, but have RA. I'm sure if you had this condition, it would have been picked up on by now? I'm not sure if your GP can do a test for RA, but I dont see why not as all they need to do is take the blood and order the correct test.
You might like to check this out for symptoms: http://www.fpnotebook.com/RHE115.htm
Maybe it would be a good idea to see a rheumatologist anyway - they deal with a lot more than RA, and may have some other suggestions to an OS.
Good luck, and I really hope you dont have RA

Posted by cat (cat), 16 June 2003

I am going to my family doc to be tested for RA tommorow just to be on the safe side. Wish me luck! I hate needles!
cat
Posted by Donna68 (Donna68), 17 June 2003

I'm beginning to wonder if I have RA, I am suffering with painful hands at the moment, specially my thumbs.

Cat
Do you think you may have RA?  What symptoms have you had?  Sorry to be nosey.   I thought just having knee problems was bad enough but I'm worried sick about what might be wrong with me now
Donna
Posted by cat (cat), 17 June 2003

Donna, I am off to have some lab work in about 5 minutes to check for RA. Wish me luck! My OS suggested I have this done to rule it out as I was taking so long to healand also my other knee started acting up. My fingers - both hands- get kinda stiff in the morning when I first wake up, mostsly the little ones. They loosen up within 15 min though. And sometimes I have felt a little fluish but I am feeling pretty good now. So hopefully there is nothing more to worry about.
"Talk" to you later,
cat
Posted by Donna68 (Donna68), 20 June 2003

Hi Cat
How did you get on?  When will you get the results?  I will keep my fingers crossed for you that you don't have RA.

I went to my GP yesterday he sounded concerned that I might have RA but has put me on another course of Diclofenac to see if that will help my 'good' knee, if there is no change after 2 weeks then I have to get a blood test.
I am feeling so low at the moment
Donna


Posted by cat (cat), 20 June 2003

Hey Donna,
I know what you mean bout feeling low! I saw my family doc and he wasn't satisfied with just doing the blood test. He also wants me to switch PTs and I'm very happy with my current one.Plus I can afford him. He also said that if I don't get better we might look into the possibility of my having fibromalycia. Isn't that something to brighten your day?! And I still haven't heard the results of the RA test. Will keep you posted though!
cat
Posted by flower (flower), 16 August 2003

hi i'm new to this site and i do have Rheumatoid arthritis.
It was confirmed 2 years ago. But because of my age no one took any notice for a long time.
I suffer with stiff joints every morning, sometimes so bad i have sit up in bed and flex my hands for 10 mins.
Another sign is swelling, redness around joint and heat,feeling tired and as if u r coming down with flu.
The only way i know that they test so early on is a blood test, where they check your level of Rheumatoid Factor in your blood.My was guite high.
I ave got it in my hands, sholders, hips, L-knee,and in both feet, other than that i'm fine.
Need any more info let me know. best wishes flower.
Posted by lam651 (lam651), 17 August 2003

Hi Flower,
Thanks for your reply. I recently had a blood test done for rhuematoid arthritis and it came back negative. So, I don't know if that means I don't have rhuematoid arthritis or if I just tested negative that day. My doctor said to ask my OS what other tests they should do, because I had a HTO where the bones are not healing and they don't know why. My mother-in-law has lupus and my wife shows symptoms of that, but she can't seem to get a positive diagnosis. That may also be something I might have that would retard bone growth. Take care, Larry
Posted by flower (flower), 21 August 2003

hi lam651 sorry to hear that you r still having problems.
Just to up date about rheumatoid Arth, now they say that it does not always show up on blood test, and x-rays show damage that has been done over a long period of time.So if you early on with the R,A then they can only go on with your info that u give them. I wish it was alot less complicated but things would get boring, all the best. Flower
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 27 August 2003

Hi!

I am so sorry that I missed this thread earlier...

I'm 47 and was diagnosed with OA in my knees about 5 years ago.  Since then, i have also been diagnosed with OA in my feet, my thumbs, my wrist, my back--and am having constant pain in my hips and an ankle--and sometimes pain in my shoulders and my jaw.  My pcp thoguth this was something autoimmune and two os have thought so as well.  I had the battery of tests come back negative as well...

One thing that got everyone's attention was how seriously I reacted to being taken off of NSAIDs before both of my tkr's--that is when some of this other pain really jumped up and took hold.  (I was on bextra prior to the first in Dec and vioxx prior to this one in July.)  My age gets their attention a lot because of the widespread discomfort I have had.  My pcp is considering that it might be fibro as well.

Anyway--I am in a lot of pain and am rambling right now--the thing that got my attention here are the other symptoms besides joint pain.  I have had the reddening of the joints on my ankles, hands and wrist--not my big weight bearing joints.  The flu thing--I often feel as if I have it, it seems to ride a wave with me, escalating and then deescalating.

The thing is, if the labwork comes out negative, what else can they do?  I understand that negative is inconclusive--my doc seemed disappointed that mine came out that way.

Oh my--a little relief would be both welcome and celebrated here...Thanks for letting me share and rant, Sylvia
Posted by lam651 (lam651), 28 August 2003

Sylvia, you and I share a lot of similarities. I also was disappointed with all of the negative or inconclusive results of my tests. I've read it's best to catch RA early but, it doesn't seem possible. I can't even get a yes, no ifs ands or buts, out of anyone about whether a test for RF factor in your blood that comes back negative means you don't have RA or if it means you just tested negative that day, but still may have RA.

This is very frustrating because, I too, feel like I have aged 40 years since I stopped taking nsaids in mar. and I don't even remember what it feels like to feel good anymore.

I'm starting a class in Oct. because I can see that it may be likely that I willsoon have to be doing a job that is not very physical. I don't expect this to be the end of my schooling but it is a start. Anyway, hope you get better, Larry
Posted by Sal (Sal), 20 October 2003

Hello All

Hope your still checking this out. I too have been having joint problems for 2 years since I decided to catch chicken pox for the first time, at the age of 40!

Had numerous bloods done for rheumatoid factor and I am constantly found to have high levels. I have just been to clinic, as some of my other blood tests and symptoms are not typical. I have just had a new test that I am told is diagnostic. There has been an antibody found that will conform a diagnosis of RA or refute it. Called CCP antibody, hope this helps someone.
Sal  
Posted by lam651 (lam651), 20 October 2003

Thanks Sal, I'm going to see a rhuematologist on Nov. 17. I'm going to mention the ccp antibody to him. Best wishes, Larry
Posted by sheepful (sheepful), 9 November 2003

Hi all,

I have been diagnosed with Psoriasis arthritis a couple of months ago.
I did have knee problems for quite some time, then developed writs problems and then fingers started hurting as well.
PA is uite similar to RA, but the rheumatoid factor in your bloods is always negative. Plus it can affect any joint - it does not have to be a mirrored pattern.
It occurs in about 10% of all people who suffer from psoriasis (so if you happen to have psoriasis and joint problems, it's always good to point that out to your doctor )
I was lucky to see a good rheumatologist quite early and he diagnosed it by a combination of the symptoms I had, my blood results and a scan.
I have been started on oral medication (NSAIDS and sulfasalazine and I feel loads better now).
Even my knee has started to feel better

sheepful  

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