I have had joint pain/swelling and morning stiffnes for about 6 months now, with no indication of RA or anything else wrong from my bloodwork. - But the doc still thinks it could be RA. I've been on Mobic, then voltaren, and just getting worse every month. My Rheumatologist thought it could be a food allergy, and I was on a special diet for a month. I can't move well without the meds, and I'm having alot of pain in my hands, elbows, hip, knees, and feet even with the meds. Dr's can't find anything definitive, so they are reluctant to start DMARDS. I have 4 year old, and a 10month old sons. I want to feel better, but without a Dx, I just keep getting worse. I want to be able to play outside with my kids. It's just getting very depressing. Has anyone had the same experience? I could use some advice.Sure sounds like RA ! Did they try prednisone at all. If it is RA it should bring some quick relief. My bloodwork for RA was negative for two years, but I had all the symptoms. Finally they tested me for Lupus and it was positive, plus by then I had several other Lupus symptoms. The following year I tested positive for RA, all the bloodwork came back positive. My point ? Sometimes it takes time. Many docs are hesitant to give you RA diagnosis because it is for life, and, it can have ramifications for certain types of insurances. For example, when I bought my house several years ago I could not get disability insurance on my mortgage because of the RA and Lupus. I have had a few other experiences as well. Hang in there, eventually the doc's will figure it out.
Welcome rikijodo, it is hard when the docs cant give a definitive DX isnt it. You'd be surprised at the amount of people with RA, but have no sign of it in their bloods, me included. It happens to about 1 in 3 of folks with RA. Has your Rheumy mentioned having an MRI on your more problematic joints? To see if theres any damage showing up. This is often a good indication of RA.
I'm a little surprised to see that they wont start you on even a mild DMARD, just to see how the symptoms react. Morning stiffness is a strong enough sign of RA also.
Hopefully your doc will make a call on it sooner rather than later, if it is RA - the earlier the treatment, the better off you'll be.
My advice is to have a long talk with your doc, and if your still not getting anywhere then get a second opinion - See what another Rheumy might have to say. Best of luck.
I agree with Dagda; another doctor might not hesitate to get you started on another treatment option.
Lots of us have negative blood work; myself included but blood work is only one of the factors in the dignosis.
You sound just like me years ago...even right down to the 4 year old and 10 month old. Did all these problems start shortly after the birth of your second one? That's what happened to me...and I've heard it said that all the hormonal changes could have brought it on.
Nanj made a good point as well; Predisone would help you alot if it was RA. My RD precribed that on my first visit. I could barely get my arms above my head to brush my hair and with in two days I felt so much better. When she called me to see how I was feeling I told her I couldn't beleive the difference...she said "That's good. I feel positive about my dignosis now." 11 years later it's continued to progress even with treatment but that's just the nature of the disease.
Forgive my manners...Welcome to the group Rikijodo. I know how frustrated you are...we've all been there. Don't give up. It does get easier.
Again, Welcome.
Lovie
I am sorry to hear you are having so much pain. I hope you get some relief soon. Love and gentle hugs, Juliah
Rikijodo,
My symptons started out just like yours only 4 years ago. I did come here, too. I had the bumps on the back of the elbows and pain in every single joint. In fact, the doctor I had at the time said to me, I can't treat you. Actually he had tried to help me before it came to this but I wouldn't listen to him. First, He wanted me transfer at my job into an area where the work was sedentary. Oh no, I wouldn't do that cause I like my days off and hours. But eventually I found a new doctor, DID bid a sedentary job. And have tried the meds, Sulfadine, Plaqunial, Azafidine, Predizone, Vioxx, Mobic and the end was Mexototrate. Not for me. No meds for me at this time.
Please read the thread I have on hear on "About the leaky gut diet" by Carly It's 5 pages. But at least you'll get plenty of all our thoughts. And maybe see another approach/choice that is available to you. My kids our long grown now but I wish I wouldn't have missed the chance to teach them a good start on preventing disease by a whole lifestyle of what you eat and the thoughts you take in your body.
Sincerely
I have rarely had blood work that indicated RA (did have xrays that did, and then a set that didn't lol). That alone doesn't mean you don't have it. Mine started during the first trimester of my 5th pregnancy, got better during the second and then hit with a vengence about 6 weeks after he was born. At that time, the RD I was seeing told me he thought it was reactive arthritis. It wasn't until after the 6th child, when it just got worse again about 6 weeks after she was born that someone mentioned RA. Good luck to you as you work through it all.Welcome, Kim
I would get the opinion of another Rheumatologist. Your lab may not show anything ever. I'm RA factor negative and so are a lot of other people here. I have had arthritis for 24 yrs and it has never changed. I am HLA-B27 positive as are most of my family. Sometimes only time will show exactly what kind of arthritis you have, there are over 100+ types. Even if it turns out to not be arthritis, you have something going on, thats for sure. I saw 4 Rheu... before I got a correct diagnosis, so don't give up. We know when something is wrong with our bodies.Good luck and let us know how things progress.
BarbI am also one of the people who's blood shows negative for RA. I was
dx'ed 21 years ago and have never had postive bloodwork. My Sed
rate is rarely elevated too.
I'm one of the people who has never had luck taking any of the
NSAIDs. Many of the make me so sick that the small benefit of
taking them is outweighed by the nausea. Or mood changes.
Naproxen made me highly moody.
To me it sounds like you should possible seek a new
rhematologist. If he suspects RA but is reluctant to start a
DMARD...I'd be asking why he thinks it is RA but doesn't want to treat
it aggressively in the begining to prevent possible damage later
on. I say this because most of my current pain is not from active
RA but from joint damage done because when I was dx'ed, they did not
treat milder cases of it in kids aggressively. I'm big on
treating strong from the start to prevent future issues. Lovie
posted a great quiz....check it out. And if you do...there is
also links at the bottom of that quiz to other quizes about different
types of arthritis. One is osteo. I think there are others,
possibly one for PA but I'm not too sure.
hugs, wayney
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