Hi,
I really neeed some advice from those who have been through it.
My doc saids I have lupus-mild and OA.
I have a family history of autoimmune issues-RA, gout, pernicious anemia.
I think it is early RA. The blood work saids negative, but I know that it can start out negative. My ANA is positive.
Anyhow, what has me so frustrated is I keep telling this doctor that my hands were FINE and within 2 weeks they have reddened pea size lumps on the fingeertips. All of them and my fingers are swollen My knuckles are swollen and getting worse each week. Yes, stiffness and pain, but the "symetry" is not really there as far as pain in the same joints at the same time. But they all hurt, just at different times of each other. The doc saids the lumps are herberden nodes. Well, wouldn't OA come on gradually since it is a wear and tear dx, or can it come on like an inflammatory dx? I have 3 weeks before I can get a second opinion.
I don't want it to be RA but I know I need to start tx right away if it is.
Thoughts please. It is rally frustrating when all lab test are negative but you are staring at your hands saying "at Christmas, they were fine." Thanks ALL!
Welcome to the group Trish. I don't have a lot of advise to offer you here; but I did want to say hello and welcome you to our group. I imagine someone here can be a lot more helpful. I will say that Lupus can cause the joint stiffness and pain as well. The symptoms are quite simular I think....note that I said I THINK.
And for the record; you can have RA and negative blood work; I'm one of many here that can testify to that.
I hope that you get answers and relief soon. A second opinion is a good idea. It is definately possible to have negative blood work and have RA. Let us know how you are doing. Love and hugs, JuliahI agree that a second opinon is a must. And by the way, I asked my rheumy about the symmetry thing. He says the criteria does not mean the pain has to be in both joints at the same time. Just in both joints at some time. My pain is like that. I can almost predict that if my wrist, for example, hurts one week that it'll fade in that wrist and travel over to the other wrist in a week. I'm not saying that it can't be in both joints at the same time--only that it doesn't necessarily have to.
Hi and welcome to the group Trish. I don't know anything about lupus, so I can't help you there. But I do hope you get some answers soon. Waiting, when you know there's something wrong, is the worst. Good luck.
Cris
Is your doc a rheumy or gp? Sounds more like RA to me. I also have been diagnosed with RA but my tests are negative. My joints will occasionally act up on both sides at once but usually its just one or the other. And yes, OA does tend to come on gradually not all at once.Hi Trish,
I am 27 yrs old and have been recently confirmed to have arthritis, just not sure which type yet. I too have negative blood work, but I had a bone scan done and it showed erosions in several of my joints, some pretty bad. My doc put me on predisone to see if it would help me, and it has worked great thus far. I think she did this also to see if there was inflammation present as well, which if it was prednisone would help, and it could also be an indicator that I have RA. I hope this helps you in some way. Keep on asking questions and dont be afraid to get a 2nd opinion. And also welcome to the boards
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