RA? | Arthritis Information

So I am sure you see posts like this everyday, but I had a newbie question.

For the past ten years I have had painful wrists, they would swell and hurt, i would go to my PCP and get a shot of cortisone, and after a few days the pain would subside, basically i was told i had tendonitis, even though i complained of both wrists one definately hurt much worse than the other.

Now I have been waking up with swollen stiff painful thumbjoints, right at the base, both thumbs (one worse thasn the other) and I at first thought it was my tendonitis flaring up. however it continued on for several weeks, I went back to my pcp then they did some bloodwork and said my A.N.A is elevated and suggested that I go to a Rheumatologist as it could be RA or something along those lines.

so the question is 1. if it is RA is it possible for me to have gone 10 yrs misdiagnosed?

and 2. what is A.N.A, and what is it an indicator of?

Thanks!

I know a positive A.N.A. is an indication that there is a skin connective tissue disorder such as lupus. It measures the presence of abnormal antibodies. When the ANA is positive it indicated that you may have an autoimmune disorder, but alone it can't make the diagnosis. Search "positive ANA" at www.webmd.com and you will find all sorts of information. I hope that is somewhat helpful.

Sincerely,

Jen

Your 10 yr painful wrist probably was and is tendonitis. The thumb joint could be RA. The ANA is just a piece of the puzzle. The problems could be 2 different things ( RA, tendonitis or osteoarthritis etc.). I wouldn't think you had RA for 10 years undiagnosed.

I get and have tendonitis, I feel it goes along with the territory of RA or other auto immune diseases. Good Luck and I hope you get answers and relief soon!

Lisa