Hi Everyone,
I have been reading this site for months, but this is my first post, sorry for the length.
I have a neurological condition that I have suffered with for many years, but about 6 months ago I awoke one morning and felt as though I had been run over by a truck. I hurt everywhere. Had a hard time opening/closing things, picking things up and walking. Just getting up and walking to the bathroom was difficult. I have a very hard time walking up the stairs, had to walk up with both feet on the same step.
This lasted for about a week. After that the pain kind of settled in my hand and finger joints. They weren't really swollen, but puffy and extremely painful. After about three weeks I went to my PCP she did a Lyme test because I had a low grade fever. That came back negative.
She put me on 800 mg of ibuprofen. This helped a bit, but the pain was still difficult to deal with.
After another three weeks I went back to PCP and she said she thought it was carpal tunnel. Another month later still no better so she referred me to Rheumy doctor.
Rheumy doctor did blood work and took xrays of hands and feet. All came back negative.
Started having pain in toes, bottom of feet, right shoulder and right wrist. These pains all come and go. My hands and fingers joints seem to be the worst.
The rheumy put me on flexeril and told me that since my RA was 9 and my anti crrp was negative that I probably didn't have RA. She said to take the flexeril for two weeks and if I could sleep and still had pain to then start prednisone. I took flexeril which helped me sleep and feel a bit better, but I still had joint pain so I just started the prednisone yesterday, no changes yet.
My question is, could this still be RA? What else could cause such joint pain in wrist and finger and hand joints. Also knee joint pain comes and goes. Has anyone had negative xrays, and all blood tests (I do have extrememly low iron and low vitamin D for which I am being treated) and still had RA.
This is so frustrating. Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
The doctor did mention that she might do an MRI, has anyone had negative everything else and been diagnosed with only and MRI showing RA?
Thanks Again!!
Hi and welcome! There are many RA negative people on the board, so I'm sure you'll get lot's of responses. It's a little slow on the weekend, so if your post gets down too far tomorrow, just bump it back up. I actually started out RA negative about 8 years ago, but was treated for RA because I had all the symptoms and joint damage. I have since turned RA positive, but I know there are a lot of RA negative people out there who are being treated aggressively with biologics. Sometimes, a second opinion is in order.
Mine started in one wrist and lasted for about a week.
As the pain started to subside a little the other wrist started up.
One of the indicators is as I describe, one side then the other or both at once.
What you say sounds a little like RA but I am no doctor, as Brisen has mentioned, sometimes another opinion might be in order.
I agree that many people have RA and test negative. I tested positive and no one told me for sometime. It was told to me in passing by a doctor at my annual physical. Funny thing was I went in with wrist and hand problems and they tested me for carpal tunnel. Results were negative but no one mentioned RA came back positive. I think a second opinion is always a good idea and don't be afraid to ask many questions. I have had this disease for 16 years and your symptoms sound very familiar!Hi Rab,
Thanks so much for your response. The only thing is I have been on prednisone for 5 days now. It is making my eyesight weired and I am sweating constantly, but I can't honestly say I feel alot better. This is really weired because the pain is all in my joints, but if it is RA shouldn't prednisone help?
Thanks,I was crippled in pain and put on 75mg of pred.
Within twelve hours i was starting to feel relief.
At two days there was almost no pain at all.
I went from not being able to even crawl to walking again.
I don't have any experience with predisone. From what I read here many have found relief when using it. Keep your determination for find a diagnosis and pain relief.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com