Potential RA | Arthritis Information
Just found this site while researching RA. I am a 31 yr old athlete. My GP bleives I have RA.
I'm having a hard time with this but I really want to get diagnosed so I can try to acceot it and move on. My hands had been turning red for a couple of months now. And latley my feet have been burning and achy. I live in Canada and to see a Rheumy is a 3 month wait. This very hard for me so I am thinking of going to the states and pay to get a dignoses. My GP thinks I am over reacting however I have read that if you treat fast the better you are.
My blood work shows RF 48 and ANA negative. I'm confused because I seem to have mild symptoms and can get by with just a 1 IB profen a day but what I read on RA its seems like it can be whole lot worse. I guess it varies per person. I have some questions for you guys that might help me. If this is early RA does always get worse?
I'm not in pain all the time and it seems as though I don't have any flares certain days so should I still take meds on those days.
I play football bball and workout my GP says to continue but I'm not sure
If I go over the boarder and pay to see a Rhuemy my GP thinks they might not even give me any different meds that can help if so why do they say early diagnoses is important.
Continue playing & working out. It is exercise and good for you. I do not think you will cause harm. Unless you have inflammation. joonie2009-03-01 22:15:04Hi billy, working out is really good partly because RA diminishes tendons & muscles. Just be careful to move your aching joints within their pain limits, to avoid causing permanent damage.
It is important to get early treatment for RA, but it can take a while to get a diagnosis if you aren't seropositive in your blood tests.
Good luck, and keep up the exercise, just make sure it's appropriate for your health. You may benefit by seeing a physiotherapist who has had experience with rheumatoid patients. It may not get any worse, and it may take years to get worse...and if you treat now, it is less likely to get worse at all, or in time...It is scary...especially the waiting.
Seeing a rheumy here is hard as well. A 3 month wait is very common for the first visit. Some people have had to wait longer. Also, if it is RA, you are going to want a dr. who will work with you. Having one far away will make things difficult.
Keep doing what you are doing as far as excercise If you are having a hard time, back off a bit. Exercise is very important.
We had a person from Canada who LOVED the treatment she got there - lots of extra stuff not covered in the US like accupuncute and TM and things like that.
The wait for me to see my Intergrative Medicine doc was a year on the wait list if that gives you something to compare to.
Pip
Three months is a typical waiting period for an RA appt. as Rebecca said. They do say it is true to treat the early form of the disease agressively but 3 months should not be a problem.
I know the waiting thing is HUGE. Three months seems like so long to not know for sure what is wrong with you. And, keep in mind sometimes it still takes awhile to get a diagnosis even after you have had your appt. It took me several years. I have had some form of RA for over 15 years (got it when I was 27). I basically went untreated until it really hit me after the birth of my first child at 30. I have minimal damage and now, thanks to meds, I look and feel like someone who never had it (except my feet).
On another note, could you have osteoarthritis caused by the foorball??
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