Negative blood Test for RA | Arthritis Information

I have struggled for 2 years with severe joint pain opposites sides of my body, and now have problems with edema in both legs. I have had every blood test known to man, but shows negative for RA. However, after trying multiple types of anti inflamatory medicines, my doctor has taken me off everything, put me on a water pill to get some of this water off my legs. Now since I am on no anti inflamatory meds I am in severe pain.

I am 48 years old, and always been healthy up until this showed up.

Can I still have RA or some form of arthritis? even though tests are negative?

How can I find the right pain medication without the side effects?
And what is causing the leg EDEMA never had this in my life.

Dianna

I can't diagnose you, Dianna.... but you most certainly CAN have RA without the blood markers... I do.

and you don't want to get on some "pain medication" you need to find an RA who will diagnose you and treat what you have... whatever it is that causes your pain... I have some edema when I sit for a long time... does yours occur at specific times or when you do or don't do something??

I was on celebrex and then the edema came about, cannot pinpoint anything I did to bring the edema on. My doctor took me off celebrex and put me on lasix to get some water off my legs/feet. He said we will talk about what to try next as far as medicine once the edema is down. I was sent to a Rumatologist and he said I do not have RA but probably some other form of arthritiis since my joint issues are not both sides of my body. He said RA is usually both sides. Also blood work was negative. So now I just need to figure out what meds to get put on, because I know I have some sort of arthritis if not RA. But the EDEMA is all new for me. Not sure if that was caused by celebrex or the arthtitis. I need to find out more about arthritis. Should I be just at this point looking for meds to treat the arthritis? If so which meds? which ones that have no side effects. Everthing they try has terrible side effects.

I'm not a Doctor by no means. But I would get a second opinion from another Rhemy. Just in case. I have RA and my blood factor is neg and ive had RA for five years. You can take 800 mg of IBProfen up to 3xs a day in place of Celebrex for the pain but be careful because it is a blood thinner. Diana - Welcome to this forum, where you will find lots of support. Not good of course for you that you have had to find us, but hey, a lot of people here are ready to empathise with you - and share their experiences with you!

And yes, I totally agree with Rhea a good rheumy is a must - and in your case, I too would advise a second opinion from another one. Not having any RA blood factor is not an indication that you don't have RA. I have RA! I, as many others here, also have no RA factor - it's called sero-negative arthritis - the treatment and progression and the pain is the same either way! A regime of drugs can be prescribed that will help to prevent damage as well as provide pain control. Pain relief alone will only mask any damage being done, and it's sounds as if you need more than anti-inflammatories.

Keep posting, keep reading - lots of good positive input here!! Sometimes we get infiltrated by aliens,

Just feeling so frustrated today, all the tests they have taken are to find out what is causing my leg edema, they have checked kidney/liver function, heart function (Echocardiogram) Ultrasound on both legs. So now what? Can leg edema be caused by RA?

Not sure why it is showing up now, but my legs look terrible. I am interested to find out what type of medicine regime works for you for your RA ?

Hi again Diana. If you do a google search "edema rheumatoid arthritis" you will see that it can indeed be related to RA, as is swelling ! I had a spell a couple of years ago of swelling in my ankles, accompanied by a pain flare and a rise in my inflammation tests.. My friend gets it as well, here we call it cankles LOL. They overhung the sides of my shoes from about 3"down from calves to ankles. It was in the hot weather. Then got it another time in the cold weather as well, definitely related to the RA, but Rh. said it will go away. Don't

know whether it was edema or not, but they sure were swollen and sore.

So, go to Google and have a look through!