Hi there I understand what the RA Factor is but what I don't understand is how to understand the numbers. My results came back today and the Rheumy told me normal range is 14...mine is 189. I asked him what that meant and all he said was that I have an aggresive form of RA. I don't know about you but if someone tells you normal is 14 and you're at 189 that's causes just a LITTLE anxiety for me. Peace & Love -- Neasy
Neasy,
Your Dr told you the absolute truth... If what you want are ranges well!! RF can be well over 1000! so 189 isn't too bad. The last time mine was checked it was about what your's is. Once I tested positive my Dr doesn't re check it. I know it sounds crazy but do try not to worry. Once it is positive it just means you are more likely to have "extra articular" features (rheumatoid nodules is one example of what that means) you are statistically more likely to have a more severe form of the disease. That's all it means.
Hope this helps you to feel better.
You RA numbers will rise and fall with how active your arthritis is . The more active ( as during a flare ) the higher the numbers . Try to take a deep breath and absorb as much information as you can about RA . The more you know , the better equiped you are to handle it. 23 years of RA has taught me that and to take it one day at a time , throw in a dash of humor and make friends here as they have gone , or are going through the same things you are now. Good Luck !Peace & Love all....Neasy
Neasy,
You have a very wise mother.
Barb
From what I've found out, the numbers don't really mean all that
much. I have tested negative for the rheumatoid factor but have
such severe disease that I am on disability. You can also test
positive and never even show any disease activity. Others have
said that their numbers also haven't coinsided with the severity of
disease symptoms. It is mostly just one of the tools that doctors
use for diagnostic purposes. It is all just a part of the whole
picture that factors in many aspects. That's pretty much what I've heard too Missing. My RF goes up and down, but doesn't coincide at all with disease activity. And Neasy, I'm with Barb... You have a very wise Mother.
Cris
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com