Do I have RA?

[Guest guest]

Hi, I have had a bad week of pain and my Dr thinks I might have RA.

Just a couple of questions first. My Dr thinks I have RA cause of the pains

and she can see a difference in one of my knuckles. I am on methotrexate and

dexamethasone for eczema. 2 weeks ago I cut the dexamethasone down which she

thinks is why the RA may have started showing signs of pain. But the RA

factor came back negative today, with CRP, platelets, WBC and neutrophils up

I have since read online that platelets up may be a sign of RA. But I am

having a homocysteine test when I get to it lol!! Starve from 9pm without

forgetting?? I think I'll wait till later in the week when life is a better

routine. Because the RA factor is negative she is still sure I have some

type of arthritis but is developing a wait and see attitude, these tests

were good baseline tests etc.

I don't know if the pain I am in at present is actually RA or not. The pain

I have moves so much. Last Wed I had a lot of stiffness after sitting for

about 20 mins. My hips were very sore. Then Thurs I had stiff and sore

fingers all day- I couldn't do up any tablet bottles it really hurt and I

dropped a glass. I also had sore ankles and feet.

This is when my Dr saw me.

It has been up and down, but I took special notice yesterday my lower back

was sore- today it is fine. My fingers were a little stiff and sore this am

then OK for pm. My hips were sore about 2 hours after lunch. Then mid

afternoon I got a sore elbow and lost grip in that hand. By 5pm that was OK

but about 6pm my feet were hurting again. Does RA travel all day like this

or do you think it could be something else?

The only pain killers I am on are Paracetamol at this stage as I am allergic

to NSAID's. I have started the dexamethasone again.

I had a really bad day Friday and couldn't even open my hands straight. Took

painkillers over night and 8mg dexamthasone and feeling a lot better

yesterday and today. No stiffness and very little pain. Hopefully the

dexamthasone will settle it all down again. Looking back I may have had this

for the last 6 to 12 months as I have lots of stiffness and tiredness - flu

like symptoms etc.

Thanks for your comments and list support

Jo-Anne

Taupo

New Zealand

[Guest guest]

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> thanks, going back to the doctor today. he called me in for more blood tests,

whatever

that means. thank you very much for responding, that will help today when i see

him. he

is obviously not very familiar with RA, so now i can push for him to consider it

again.

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[Guest guest]

When I was diagnosed with RA, it didn't show up on an x-ray. It still

doesn't, after seven years with the disease. That is what we wish for:

no damage. I was diagnosed based on my symptoms and the blood work that

was done.

You need to go to a rheumatologist. It does sound as though you might

have RA, but a rheumy is the one to make that call. Early aggressive

treatment if you indeed do have it is the best way to keep it from

showing up on an x-ray.

Keep us posted.

Sue

On Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 11:34 PM, jakenick12 wrote:

> i think i need a second opinion from a specialist, but does

> anyone think you can be diagnosed with RA without it showing up on

> x-rays? Thank you so

> much for any information you can give me, i just want to know whats

> wrong, and when it will go away.

[Guest guest]

Its my understanding that the damage done by RA to your joints doesn't show up

on X-ray until its very advanced. Your symptoms sure sound consistent  with RA.

ez