Re: A Question Regarding Symptoms

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry that you are having so much trouble and I hope you get relief soon. My experience probably won't help you because my RA came on suddenly and was quite definite. In November 2001 I got my annual flu shot and soon developed mild flu-like symptoms that kept getting worse. In early December I was hospitalized with lung involvement and pain in many joints. My RA Titer was 1922 which is nearly 100 times normal. In addition to treatment of my lungs, I was started on 40 mg Prednisone and that got me well enough to get out of the hospital.

Your high C Reactive Protein (CRP) seems to indicate some inflammatory problem (possibly RA or some other arthritis besides osteoarthritis). Prednisone may help whatever it is that is causing your high CRP and get you some relief while waiting for a diagnosis. Prednisone will not help osteoarthritis. Good luck and God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: msraven1

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2003 9:05 PM

Subject: A Question Regarding Symptoms

Hello,I would appreciate it very much if those of you who have been diagnosed with RA could tell me your experiences and how your symptoms developed. I already have the DX of osteoarthritis, it's very severe and the medication I've been prescribed thus far has not helped. I had an arthritis profile done a little over a year ago and it was negative except for the C Reactive Protein which was very high. For years several fingernails have cracked down the middle, I had a thyroid profile done but it was negative, and I am most certainly not undernourished. Now my little finger on my right hand (one of the fingers with a fingernails that cracks down the middle) is becoming very crooked. I have pain 24/7.

[Guest guest]

Ms. Raven,

My symptoms came on very suddenly last march. My feet started hurting

and never quit. My shoulders started hurting and I was losing

function in them. I couldn't get my arms over my head. The pain

became unbearable and I went to the ER. My RA Factor was 113. Normal

is 0 - 20. Within 3 weeks it was up to 164, and most joints in my

body were affected.

Best of luck and God Bless,

Jay

> Hello,

>

> I would appreciate it very much if those of you who have been

> diagnosed with RA could tell me your experiences and how your

> symptoms developed. I already have the DX of osteoarthritis, it's

> very severe and the medication I've been prescribed thus far has

not

> helped. I had an arthritis profile done a little over a year ago

and

> it was negative except for the C Reactive Protein which was very

> high. For years several fingernails have cracked down the middle,

I

> had a thyroid profile done but it was negative, and I am most

> certainly not undernourished. Now my little finger on my right

hand

> (one of the fingers with a fingernails that cracks down the middle)

> is becoming very crooked. I have pain 24/7.