Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Beth, If the cutoff for normal at your lab is 7 units and your result is 4 units, then, yes, you are still seronegative. Ultrasound and MRI can detect RA-related changes much earlier than x-rays. Not an MD [ ] Wrist Pain >I have so many questions to ask... But I'll start with this... > > I have been diagnosed with Sero-Negative RA. A few years back I had > no RF, but I ahve since developed one over teh last year. It is 4? > Well, the line was " 7 " , so I am still Sero-negative I think... Right? > > Okay. My wristshave been extremely sore for five to six years now, > gradually getting worse. It is weird though... they don't hurt to the > touch, BUT when I go to push something, or put and weight into the > palm of my hand, the wrists are VERY painful. > > Last year I had xrays of them which were " Normal " . Any ideas? Can > wrists hurt long before detectible on xray? > > Your experience would be a great help to me. Thanks All! > > Beth B. Lakewood, OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 HI Beth, I have sero-negative RA also. I've had it for about 10 years and it's never gone positive. I've also had wrist pain for around 9 years. The x-rays back then were normal except for a small cyst on my left wrist, but since both wrists hurt equally whenever I put any weight on them, the doctor didn't think it was causing the pain. Within a year, my wrists hurt all the time. Whenever I would bend them the slightest, it was agony. The doctor had me wear splints 24/7. It didn't hurt nearly as much with the splints (you might want to try them if the doc says it's ok. I just bought mine in the drugstore). Also, my rheumatologist started me on prednisone, which I've taken ever since, and it caused the pain to completely disappear (except when I tried to put weight on them, like getting up off the floor). I didn't have to wear the splints at all for several years. I wear the wrist splints at night now, though, and I'm just careful not to put weight on my wrists the rest of the time. My neurologist says I have carpal tunnel now (caused by the RA) because my hands go to sleep whenever I bend my wrists for any length of time. They hardly ever hurt any more, though. Oh, and now my x-rays show erosions in my hands and wrists, but it took several years for it to show up. It's ironic that when they hurt, nothing showed up on x-ray but now that they don't hurt much, the x-rays show deterioration. I hope this is helpful information for you. Good luck and take care, > > I have so many questions to ask... But I'll start with this... > > I have been diagnosed with Sero-Negative RA. A few years back I had > no RF, but I ahve since developed one over teh last year. It is 4? > Well, the line was " 7 " , so I am still Sero-negative I think... Right? > > Okay. My wristshave been extremely sore for five to six years now, > gradually getting worse. It is weird though... they don't hurt to the > touch, BUT when I go to push something, or put and weight into the > palm of my hand, the wrists are VERY painful. > > Last year I had xrays of them which were " Normal " . Any ideas? Can > wrists hurt long before detectible on xray? > > Your experience would be a great help to me. Thanks All! > > Beth B. Lakewood, OH > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi Beth, Without jumping to a huge conclusion, I would suggest seeing a hand specialist. These doctors specialize in hands and wrists. I too started with severe wrist pain long before ever being diagnosed with RA. My x-rays looked fine, but the doctor ordered an MRI anyway and discovered that I had avascular necrosis (AVN) also known as bone death. 2 of my wrist bones were dying and causing severe pain. But, it could be as simple as just having a torn ligament, cartiledge or tendon. It's worth seeing a well qualified hand specialist/surgeon and get the answers you need. I didn't know I had RA when first diagnosed with AVN 8 hears ago, and the hand surgeon I saw never expected or suspected RA. Advances in RA research have led to Rheumatologist knowing that RA can in fact lead to AVN. I didn't know that until 6 months ago when I was diagnosed with RA. Monday I have to have my wrist fused because of the AVN and RA. I in no way am suggesting that this is your diagnosis or problem. I'm suggesting that you take matters in your own hands and find out if you have something going on that hasn't been detected yet on x-rays. I hope you get your answers and relief from the pain. Take care and all my best to you. Les > > Beth, > > If the cutoff for normal at your lab is 7 units and your result is 4 units, > then, yes, you are still seronegative. > > Ultrasound and MRI can detect RA-related changes much earlier than x-rays. > > > > > Not an MD > > > [ ] Wrist Pain > > > >I have so many questions to ask... But I'll start with this... > > > > I have been diagnosed with Sero-Negative RA. A few years back I had > > no RF, but I ahve since developed one over teh last year. It is 4? > > Well, the line was " 7 " , so I am still Sero-negative I think... Right? > > > > Okay. My wristshave been extremely sore for five to six years now, > > gradually getting worse. It is weird though... they don't hurt to the > > touch, BUT when I go to push something, or put and weight into the > > palm of my hand, the wrists are VERY painful. > > > > Last year I had xrays of them which were " Normal " . Any ideas? Can > > wrists hurt long before detectible on xray? > > > > Your experience would be a great help to me. Thanks All! > > > > Beth B. Lakewood, OH > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 With CMT, the nerves can enlarge. I have family members who had carpal tunnel surgery in the wrists and it made a huge difference in relieving the pain. Their symptoms were severe burning, loss of sensation/numbness, dropping things, etc. The surgery relieved the pressure on the nerve and the pain/numbness went away immediately. Decades later, their muscles are atrophying and activities of daily living are now a challenge, but the pain issue hasn't come back. If someone is having severe hand/wrist pain, this might be something to explore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 Thank you for the information about the lycr gloves. How do you get the finger seams to not be a nuisance? -Betty > > My wrists and hands used to swell up in the night and the pain was pretty > awful. Some nights I would have to get up several times to soak my hands in > hot water to make the pain a little less. Then I thought about the gals who > sew and complain about the same thing. I got out my supply of cotton lycra > fabric and made a pair of gloves with 1/2 length fingers on them. I made > them tight enough that they put a little pressure on the hands. The wrist > portion was double layered and fairly tight. Then I made several pairs in > different colours and prints just for fun. Now, I very rarely have hand > pain and the little gloves allow me to use my hands for most things I did > before RA. > > When the hand pain disappeared, I still had some wrist pain so I got back to > the sewing machine and made double layered wristlets that I could wear with > any outfit - also in many colours and prints. Sometimes I wear them just > because I like them and they keep my wrists warm. > > I haven't tried the magnets but I sure will vouch for the gloves and > wristlets! I tried the fingerless gloves but found that they cut the > circulation at the base of my fingers and so opted for a half-length finger > on them instead. If you're interested in making some for yourself, I'd be > happy to send you instructions on how to get a good fit and how to construct > them. > > Keep well. > > Katriina > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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