Sometime in Jan I began to feel like I was coming down with the flu. All my joints (each side) were aching: shoulders, elbows, fingers, carpal tunnel , knees, feet, etc...but it never came and the pain got worse. Even seemed to be radiating down my shins, arms, etc..I was very tired as well.
I went to my PC 3 weeks ago. He took blood work and has scheduled a nerve conduction test and Ortho appt for the carpal tunnel in both wrists. Says it's a pinched nerve.
Told him I just lost my grandmother to Lupus and Rheumatoid last Oct and was very concerned about the possibility that this may be my problem. Just said he would ck my blood work.
The next day the pain was getting worse and he hadn't told me what to do for the pain or stiffness so I called. Nurse called in Naproxen and Tramadol. Then PC called and told me negative for RA and Lupus. But inflammation levels were elevated. Told him that prescriptions were not helping at all. He put me on Prednisone, 60mg a day, for 5 days.
I am now on day five, my carpal tunnel is not as bad, but I am still aching. It's like I took a pain pill and it's hidding most of the pain. I just know as soon as I stop taking the Prednisone that it will start full force again.
Going for the nerve conduction test Wed, but I don't see why.
I watched and took care of my grandmother for over 10 years fighting the Lupus, Rheumatoid, and Osteo. She has preached over & over to me about more calcium in my diet. In July she was down to 95 lbs and fractured her back while trying to make her bed. She had to have surgery in September. Ortho said her bones were in such bad shape that he did not have to cut them but merely scape them out. She never was able to get back up and developed pneumonia.
Am I just being a Nervous Nellie or what? Or should I go see a specialist?
I would definately get to a Rheumatologist. You could be sero-negative at this time and did have elevated inflammation levels. I have been sero-negative for two years so a negative RF test is not conclusive and a rheumy will look at other diagnostic symptoms like the swelling, pain, redness etc.
Good luck.
See a rheumatologist. Just the simple fact that your primary care doctor thinks that a negative rheumatoid factor or ana rule out RA or lupus tells us he is not up to correctly diagnosing the problem.
It may not be either but get to someone who understands the dieases and how to correctly rule them in or out
It is good you are being assertive about what is "ailing" you. See a rheumatologist also. I am sero-negative but thanks to PC went to specialist, who determined RA diagnosis due to symptoms presented, not blood tests. As stated, it could be something else so I would continue other testing suggested. Many symptoms are similar. With your family history it is just too scarey not to see a rhuemy.Definately see a RD.GO SEE A RHEUMATOLOGIST!!!!!!
One thing I have learned don't rely on a PC doc. Rheumatologists can do far more testing, etc.
I agree with everyone else and for sure get to a rheumy.
I just had a nerve conduction test for my poor toes that still won't move. The nerve conduction test is not fun and I advise taking any pain meds 30 minutes before your test time. I am not a wimp when it comes to medical stuff since I have been dealing with it for so long (I have had other issues besides RA that started at a young age) but this test really shook me and my husband.
Is your neurologist doing this in the office or are you going to have it done on an outpatient basis? My neuro did it right in the office and I had results right after it was done. If you have carpal tunnel they want to check to see how well your nerves are working in that area and if there is any damage to them. I did find out yesterday that nerves heal very slowly. My neuro said like a millimeter a day.