research | Arthritis Information

I mentioned a little while ago that I thought there was some research going
on in the UK. This article is interesting

http://www.arc.org.uk/news/138_5.asp

Margaret

Here is a hot link..

http://www.arc.org.uk/news/138_5.asp

try hitting return after pasting a link and see if that helps...

I thought, though, that it was easy to distinguish pmr from ra because you can take a blood test for ra - mine was negative...

Smartie,

I have had a positive RA factor for 30 years, but according to drs no physical
signs. I do have extensive osteoarthritis in my hands. As the article
suggests some of these conditions are very similar. There are still days that
I question my pmr diagnosis. Pred has only given me partial relief.

Geralyn

Thank you so much Margaret for the very informative link.

Smartie...I read the RA board quite often and there seems be some people, who like Geralyn, have a positive RA factor but no signs of RA and some who are the opposite. It seems, in the beginning, we are all in the same boat, and I don't mean Bob's boat.

Thanks again guys for all your research.

Margaret,

What an informative article. I know you had mentioned a while back about research for PMR. It is so good to know that they are really serious about it. I don't know of any similar ones here in the states, but the results of this British one are sure to have far-reaching results!!! A little late for some of us (my PMR finally burned itself out after 5 miserable years), but a boon for future PMR sufferers. If there had been any clinical trials for it here, I would have jumped on it in a heartbeat!!

Smartie, it is not easy to distinguish PMR from RA, especially in the beginning. There can be sero-negative RA also, where a person doesn't test positive for the RA factor. Or the major symptoms of RA won't show up for a while, but those early symptoms can be much the same as RA (or any number of other rheumatic diseases in early stages). I tested negative for RA factor, but they kept checking my joints for a year or so to see if RA was developing. Thanks goodness it didn't; one rheumatic disease is enough without going on to develop another, longer one.

Take care all.

Reni

http://www.arthritis-pain-cure.com/seronegative-rheumatoid-a rthritis-a-45.html

I read on another website the theory that PMR and seronegative ra could possibly be related. Then I found this.... This is a start if anyone wants to do more googling on this...