Well as of this writing I have yet to be seen by a RD, still ironing everything out with my insurance, they said they faxed paperwork to doctor and suggested I call them. Called the doctor today and they never returned phone call, so will try again tomorrow. So at this point I am only going by what my GP says, that he thinks I have RA, but I don't know for sure, he is basing that on having a RF of 65 (not high) and that the predisone took away pain and swelling. Back on predisone, which takes away all the pain, except for my feet, besides the left one being swelled beyond all recognition, the right one hurts to walk on now. No amount of predisone works on them. So at this point, I can only assume, but don't know for sure, its very, very, very frustrating not knowing 100%.
Thanks
Phil
I hope you get an appt really soon. It's a shame you can't get a cortisone shot sooner, as it might give you some real relief.
I don't know how your medical system works, but in New Zealand, I could go to our hospital ER and get a cortisone shot (and joint drainage) if I was really suffering and couldn't get an urgent appt with my rheumatologist.
I've had to go to the ER twice over the years, with a grossly swollen knee and calf, as I wasn't sure if it was the arthritis or a deep vein thrombosis from air travel. It might be worth a try!
I've always considered myself having a high threshold for pain, but this is indeed killing me. Its the worse that I have ever felt. I believe that I could handle it better if I just knew for sure, as it stands now I don't know. Its almost laughable, going through this much trouble to see a doctor. There have been nights Wendy that I almost went to the ER it hurt so bad, but as I couldn't even get up to walk to my car, that option was out.
Phil
I wonder if you have reactive arthritis - ReA- known also as Reiter's Syndrome, rather than RA. (It's quite rare, compared to the incidence of RA, so needs a rheumatologist to make the distinction.) Why I wonder is that one of the classic symptons of ReA is a swollen, painful foot (the foot pain, if in the heel, is called 'plantar fasciitis' and makes walking a real challenge). The joint involvement will usually be assymetric (one side of the body) rather than symmetric (as in RA).
Here's a couple of good sites, if you're interested.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/reactive/reactive.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/reactive_arthritis/article.htm
ReA is caused by certain infections: I have a chronic form of ReA and my original trigger was campylobacter poisoning (from undercooked chicken). When you see a rheumatologist, he/she will be able to work out what you actually have - sometimes through a process of elimination!
Hang in there...
P.S: www.risg.org is a site for people with ReA and other similar forms of arthritis. It has a listserv too.