I've recently been diagnosed with RA, but want some advice as to whether the diagnosis is correct.
Symptoms: Painful finger joints, both hands and slight swelling. Painful knees, which makes them feel very weak, struggle to stand. Painful shoulders, and like knees, very weak.
Also, i've been tested and have a huge number for my RF, the 'normal' is under 14 and I have a value of 1029 IU/ml. This sounds very high? Is this too high? Also, all my other blood test areas like CRP etc... have left me in a normal range.
Could it be something else and not RA?
The pain started a few weeks after I picked up a cold and has not improved. I'm just on Mobic at the moment (but still in pain) have not started on the more aggressive meds recommended.
What do you all think?
Sorry you have been given a diagnosis of RA. I was diagnosed in 2007 so I don't have a lot of experience with it, but your symptoms sound like RA to me. Mine started in both hands/fingers/wrists with extremely bad pain. Also shoulder pain. Now have it in hips/knee/toes. I don't understand the RF number thing at all. My rheumatologist told me my RA was an aggressive type, but my RF was something like 28 I think. I was started on Mobic also and was given methotrexate (MTX) and prednisone to get the RA under control. Did well for awhile, but had to quit work (lifting, standing, typing, getting up and down out of a chair, etc. became very painful). Getting ready to begin Enbrel in a few weeks.