I am a 28 y.o. male. I don't have ANY family history of RA or any joint problems for that matter.
I've suffered from minor joint problems for about 9 years, with more severe symptoms showing up in the last 9 months. After I did a ton of reading on RA, I thought FOR SURE that is what I had. I went to the doctor last week for the first time in a long time and told the doctor about my symptoms. He looked at my hands and acknowledged that there was some definite noticeable deformities, but said they didn't fit the pattern of RA and doubted that RA was the problem. He ran blood work to make sure (also checked for lupus and a few other things that I can remember), and this morning I was told that everything came back perfect.
This is an obvious relief, but also a bit frustrating, as I'd like to know what is causing my pain and swelling. I do work on the computer 9-12 hours per day, so the doc was under the impression that this could be due to some repetitive stress injuries to the joints, as well as some carpal tunnel symptoms. I'm only 28, so I would think I'm too young to have osteoarthritis.
Does anyone have similar experience here with they have arthritis symptoms with a negative diagnosis? I'd like to keep this under control. My pain comes and goes, and there are some days that are worse than others, as I'm sure you can all relate to.
Welcome to AI. Did you doctor offer any explanation for the deformities in your hands? Was he going to continue to investigate or did he just say that's not RA and not offer anything further?
I was dx'ed 13 years ago without positive blood work. Many of us here were. Although many had to go through years of doctors appointments before anyone would finally label it RA. I was lucky and my doctor believed there are many other factors used to form a dignosis.
I hope what you have isn't RA also; but if I was you I'd continue to search for answers. If this doctor isn't willing to call it RA what is it then? He admitted something was wrong. I'd insist on a follow up....and a follow up.....and a follow up; until you get to the bottom of the problem. If he can't figure it out I'd ask for a referral.
Good Luck; and again, Welcome to AI.
Jnala, Some doctors are reluctant to diagnose RA without positive bloodwork. It is ridiculous. I have severe RA and there is no predicting what my bloodwork will come back as. Doesn't matter how much pain. Most of time I have no inflammations, with all this, I got deformities early on. Less than two years after diagnosis, I am on permanent SSDI and really do not think I could manage alone. I AM the exception to the rule but being sero-negative is not. Not having bloodwork come back positive. I would see if your doc will prescribe you prednisone. They say if pred. relieves your symptoms, good chance it is an infamatory disease. I don't wish RA on you but just to let you know, people are misdiagnosed on a regular basis. Don't give up on trying to find out what is up. Good luck and keeep posting. RoxanneSero-negative arthritis is RA that doesn't show up in your bloodwork. Your doctor should send you to a rheumatologist, because it's definitely an inflammatory disease, and he's not competent to diagnose or treat it. Did he prescribe prednisone for you? Did it help? Is the pain in both hands/feet or just one?Jnala~It sounds like you, yourself aren't overly concerned so for now I guess you'll just have to wait and see how things develope. It might be years before anything else changes.....or it might be next month.
Just keep in mind that certain types of arthritis can cause damage that can not be reversed later. Once the damage is done it's done and that's where the worst of the pain will become more evident.
If you do start to have increased pain don't wait too long before seeking treatment.
Good Luck to you.
I have sero-negative RA and the damage is progressing so I too think that you need to see a good rheumatologist. Do you have any other joints in pain and swelling besides your hands? Mine started in my hands and I have OA as well but am 49 yrs old. Please keep on searching for an answer.Most primary doctors do not know how to diagnose RA. They know how to order the bloodwork. I would get the referral to the Rheumy in spite of what he thinks. There are thousands of 28 year olds that work all day on the computer and don't get those kind of problems. It needs further investigation even if it still turns out negative. The possibility of permanent destruction is good enough reason to try and find out more.
As a minimum, you need xrays of your hands and feet. Not all of us show visual swelling. And, hands and feet are where it starts for most people.
My blood work has always come back negative so my dr. wouldn't send me to a rheumatologist until last year. The MRI showed damage that maybe could have been caught years ago. From reading the posts here, I think a lot of us have negative blood work. I wish I would have pushed my dr. more but I trusted him to know best. He's a good doc mind you, but I'll never let anyone control my health again.I referred myself to a rheumatologist the year I was dignosised. The GP I saw occationally chalked all of my random symptoms up to stress, and the bone sticking out the bottom of my foot to bunuions.
When I finally got in to see the rheumatologist she said "What's taken you so long to come see me?" She dx'ed me that day even before my blood work was back from the lab.
Your insurance company may not require you to have a referral to a specialist and if that's the case I'd go ahead and make an appointment. It's likely to take several months to get in but if you do have RA or another simular disease it's not going anywhere. It will just give you time to prove to yourself that you're doing the right thing.
If it comes to the week before and you still honestly believe you don't need the appointment you can cancel it. As long as you give 48 hour notice you won't be charged a thing.
I agree with everyone that a rhumetologist is the best advice. I work for an internal medicene doctor after all the initial test were run and only a ANA came back neg, he was happy to inform me that it was most likely a "false positive" I disagreed! I made an appointment with a rhummy and am now feeling some relief. I love my boss but I do agree that primary doctors arenot very well versed in RA like diseases! jnala,