Hi everyone-I am having alot of joint pain in my thumbs, hip, and ankles but my RA factor was normal. My orthopedist is sending me to a rheumatologist for Lupus or RA. Does anyone know of anyone having RA and not having the RA factor in the blood? My ANA is equivocal so I know they will run more blood tests. I have more RA symptoms than Lupus symptoms and would like to get some feedback from anyone that can help. Thanks so much!
Susan
psakee, I have been RH, sedrate, anti-CRP *or whatever that is* negative or normal for years. It's not uncommon to have what they call sero-negative RA. I've been dealing with this for years!!! I finally got to see the RD this year after pissing off my GP. Keep a list of your symptoms, etc., for your RD appt and discuss all your concerns with him/her. Good luck and keep us posted!!Susan, I'm in the same spot you are. I went to one RD and was told it was just OA. Now I have to get my GP to give me a referral to a different RD. I have heard that this guy is very good, but he requires a referral, even though my insurance does not. Frustrating as can be.
Before I go in, I'm going to go off my NSAIDS for a couple of weeks, as well as all the supplements I take and then maybe I'll get more accurate blood test results and or at least he'll be able to see how bad it really is. Or not. . .
I wish you well and hope you can get someone to take you seriously and get you some help!
I was dx'ed w/RA by an RD on the first visit even before my blood work was back from the labs. The blood work turned out to be negative....but I still have RA my doctors swear. There are other criteria they go by other than blood work.
My seds rate is elevated on occations; but not always.
I've been treated for RA for 12 years now.
Thanks for all the input everyone! It helps very much! I am starting a diary today of symptoms-I hope my RD can help.
Susan
A journal is an excellent idea...there have been times that I have gone for my appt. and just happened to be having a good day...very misleading.Hey- Got a call today from RD-changed my appt to next week-bummer-was looking forward to getting some answers. Does anyone have alot of pain in the hands-my thumbs ache all the time. I have had this for about 3 months now and shows no sign of getting better. Any advice till I see the doc? Thanks so much!!!!I am also sero negative. I have all of the signs except the RH factor, and the nodules. So I've got the symetrical involvement, the bone erosion, the inflamation etc.Also sero negative - and yes, my thumbs are killing me. Thumbs are a biggie, because you use 'em all the time for everything. When I was first dx'ed I had a very high sed rate (94)psakee4214,
My thumbs don't hurt per se. But I've read that the more that you do to protect them by using proper tools for opening jars, etc., the better. There's all kinds of aids out there.
I would specifically ask for xrays of your hands and let your doc know about the thumbs. This is one area you don't want permanent damage.
As far as relief, see if there is any kind of bracing available for your thumbs. Seems like I've seen something in the drug store. I wear wrist braces to ease my hand pain and stop the tremors. I wear these at night. I also wear compression gloves, but they help the fingers, not the thumb.
The one other thing I do know might help, and I am always recommending this because it is one of the truly pleasurable treatments you can use. Get yourself a parafin bath from Walmart, the ones that they use for hand manicures. They are only about . You use them one in the morning and once in the evening. I used them for about a year and it completely turned around my ability to use my hands.
There also little hand exercises that you can use to strenghten your fingers and thumbs.
But x-rays are essential at this point. You need to see if damage has occurred and then see what the doc intends to do about it.
I think it's very comon to have RA but not have it show up i n our blod work, at least not right away. It took 8 years for the rheumatoid factor to be positive for me and the whole time I was having RA symptms. Many people on this board are sero negative but still may have serious symptoms. I am now diagnosed with serious RA but it took forever to have it diagnosed.Hi Susan!
Welcome! You are at a great place to ask questions. Seems many here understand a great deal about arthritis! I am sure you will find a great deal of information and emotional support! Glad you are here with us!
Susan Hi Susan Yep, me too, seronegative. All blood work came back okay, but I have RA. Just keep that diary and hopefully your RD will be a great one! Welcome to the board. Susan Susan, I am sero-negative as well. My mother was the same way yet she didn't have any positive results until 8years to the date of her dx's. I am RA sero-negative and Lupus is borderline. When I was first having symptoms to this current dx's...my hands, wrist, feet and hips were on fire. I hurt all the time...with no relief. I had gone in to see an Orthopedic doctor for my hip pain. But because the pain in my hips and knees were off the charts, and I had been to see him on a consistant bases and things were getting worse...He then thought it was more to my pain the just wear and tear from dancing professionally. So, 5 year and counting...I am still Sero-Negative. But much better for the wear then I was when this all started. It took the doctors 8 months to dx me. It is a trying time I know...but once you see the Rheumy...and things start coming together...the stress is relieved.
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