No MRI | Arthritis Information

Roxy, I asked about the MRI today at the doc and I didn't get it. He says that it doesn't show inflammation so right now, he would like to concentrate on the drugs. You should see the middle of my purse, I look like an addict.

Cristene, I was thinking about starting my own thread, but yours is a good place to comment. Speaking of lots of Rx drugs, I'm thinking about opening a neighborhood pharmacy.

I got my MRI results today on my foot. This was my last hope of having physical proof of RA. No such luck, doc say bunion looks like old foot injury. I'm thinking he thinks I'm a mental case.

I don't want to sound bitter about not having any proof of being stricken, but crap, it looks like I need a therapist, not a rheumy.

Okay, anybody else like me?

Blood tests good, ANA, C-rec, sed rate, RF all normal. X-ray, CT and MRI show nothing. No visible swelling or redness around joints. No lyme, STD, hep, etc...

Feet hurt near where foot bones connect to toes. Right elbow always has a little pain, sometimes down forearm to wrist. Any other pain is transitory. Historical pain seems more tendon related than joint related.

Early symptoms not now happening: Fever, low grade; tendon (not joint) immobility on occasion, everywhere. Fatigue to the max.

I seem to be much better with meds, Embrel, pred, plaq.

Any ideas out there? Thanks!!!

Mike

Mike, I understand how you feel. I actually asked for a psych eval and passed with flying colors. If you wondering why I asked for one it is because I went through two years of hell trying to get someone to take me seriously about a different health problem I was experiencing. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was right and I got some gratification of knowing I wasn't a hypochondriac.

I have had pain since I was four. It's a long story but it took 37 years to get diagnosed. Fortunately, I had a mild case and it didn't really start to take off until approximately 10 years ago. I too run a low grade fever, have stiffness and pain in just about all my joints. The only test that shows I have something going on is my sed rate which tends to run high consistently.

Like you, methotrexate and pred help me stay normal (sort of).

Cris, I'd swear your doc and mine are in cahoots together.

Mike is RF coming up positive or neg? My sed rate always comes back normal but my RF comes back high, I usually don't have any swelling except a little in my knees and the cortisone shots help that. I had a bunion pop out on one foot all of a sudden and it can be caused by RA. I know about the contstant low grade fever, boy that gets old esp. during the summertime. Has he checked you fibro?

Mina
I'm a non-sweller. My SED is normal, RF negative, i can't remember about the rest of my labs but my guess is they are normal. I've been dealing with this 21 years and never once tested positive for RF. ANA is also negative. but, my doc dx'ed on the other criteria. and i've definitely got visible damage on x-ray...in fact the damage has progressed since my last childhood x-rays when they said i was close to remission...i subsequently did go into remission according to my docs...but, i have more damage now. i know my prior rheumy said i did come out of remission when i had bastian but just a year or so later, looked at me and said your labs are fine i don't see how you are in the pain you say you are.....duh witch, how about the damage i can even see on the x-rays? (i've not seen recent ones but as a kid even i could see damage-they always showed me the x-rays)

Mina

RF is negative. My real hope is that we caught the RA at the very onset, before the blood work starts going down hill. Maybe because of the quick action of my Rheumy we've been able to keep the RA mostly quiet. I'll see him in a couple of weeks. I would like to tinker with the meds, maybe drop the pred or mtx and see if I flare, although I'll wait until I see the doc.

Thanks for the replies.

Mike

All this seems to be a very common frustration with us all. ALl of my blood test have been normal; all though my x-rays have shown some slight changes over the years.

I've had this for 11 years, and even as recently as three weeks ago I still ask my RD are you sure? Seems I'm the only one that questions it. My first RD diagnosised me the very first day. There was no question in her mind.

I know how you feel though; I'd feel better myself if my blood work showed me without a doubt "It's RA".

I too was told I had a bunion problem on both my feet early on too. First dx by my GP. It was swelling out of the bottom of my foot instead of the side like a typical bunion though which I thought was strange. Once I started seeing an RD they told me it was RA related and once I got my RA under control I really haven't had a problem with it at all anymore. Hopefully it will stay that way. It was very painful.

That doesn't mean that you may not have RA or some other problem. It doesn't always show up right away. So be patient. There are so many of these diseases that are so like each other. It is hard for the docs to figure it out sometimes. Especially when to many of the systems are the same. I wouldn't give up and if you can I would go to another doc, what harm is that. You may even try a few doctors just to see what each has to say.

Why oh why can't it be cut and dry
Mina

I still question RA dx after 30 years... talk about the queen of denial. But here's why:

Blood tests good, ANA, C-reactive protein, sed rate, RF all normal. Just like you!

But I do show lots of damage in many many joints. (Looks like osteo as much as ra). And the RA drugs work for me (at least for a while and then I have to switch again) . I know other people have drugs stop working for them too. So why is it I have had to change docs to get a change in drugs?

Not too much co-operation with the docs and ins. I'm often frustrated by our entire medical system.

Sorry rambling and whining.

My blood tests are like yours but the rd diagnosed me on other criteria. I take pred mtx and remicade among other things. I was unable to get the mtx at one point and the pain came back big time. The same with the remicade. Provigil has helped me tremendously with what I think is fatigue. Sometimes its so bad that I don't know whether to call it pain or fatigue. The rd said there may also be a component of neuropathic pain.

My doctoc mention this neuropathic pain in my legs as well. He's asked me to see a neurologist for some problems I've had but I haven't gotten around to it yet. What do you know about it KM?

For me it's a burning pain in my legs, feet, hands and arms and the front of my head. It croaks me when I have it. I did a search on the net and it seems that chronic pain can create a vicious cycle called pain amplification syndrome. Sometimes it's called reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

I went to a couple of neuro's and they didn't really know what to do about it. Pain specialists are probably the best to help with it and there are some rsd centers around that treat it. There is a lot of research going on right now because it still has a lot of unknowns. I think they also call it complex regional pain syndrome now and more drs are becoming aware of it and taking it seriously.

http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic123.htm is one of the sites I looked at.

I see. I actually have some obvious nerve damage in between my knee and my ankle on one leg due to some old surgery I had; but I recently complained about some numbness in the lower part of my legs especially when I'd sit for a while. It was almost as if my legs went to sleep.

My doctor thought it might be due to lack of folic acid and I do take MTX and hadn't been taking folic acid. He tested my levels but they seemed fine. I have however been on the folic acid for a few weeks and I think it's made a difference.

I haven't rushed to the neurologist as of yet. Not too anxious to go to another doctor unless it's absolutly nessesary. I see enough doctors as it is!!

Thanks for the info. I'm bad to let things go until I absolutly can't take it anymore...that's probable not the best way to manage my health; but after a while you just get exhasted by it all.

I don't want the people in the doctors office and pharmacy to know me by name!! (But they do)

I sure know how you feel about running to the drs. My mother who is 100 yo said I'll go when I feel a little better. It's so frustrating finding the right dr also. Some of them just don't know and that is very discourageing. I usually don't go until I can't stand the pain anymore. I guess that's the trade off for me.

Kathy