Guest guest Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 My son is 24 and uninsured so he goes through a local clinic (which is part of one of our very best hospitals). He was " diagnosed " with RA by a leading neurosurgeon here due to a large calcium deposit at the top of his spine which is producing compression on his C1-C2 discs. Also because of joint pain in neck, both hands, and both shoulders. He has extreme fatigue, lung problems, and just generally feels OLD. However he just had x-rays of his hands and bloodwork for the RA factor. All are negative. How is RA diagnosed without the RA factor present? How do we convince them to keep looking? What's the next step here? I don't want them to ignore him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Good luck with this one. Because it is a child, that is the only reason that they will keep trying. Get angry, you hire the doctors, they do not hire you. Be firm and stand your ground. Do not give up! I have been tested myself many times as well as for lupus. They keep coming up negative. I have heard that people have gone many years before testing positive on the bloodwork. I was in the medical profession before I became disabled in Feb. They terminated me in the middle of March. I am still fighting the disability, hoping that it is something that can be fixed. Even though I have been told that it is permanent. Tami -Dossey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Here in Australia it is accepted that approx 15% of folk with RA will not return poistive for RF. The specialist will put together a clinical picture based on the symptoms that you describe. There are other blood tests, for example ESR, which is raised in the presence of inflammation (minus any infection). Will the clinic refer him to a Rheumatologist? I would push them down this path to get the answers that you will need. Good luck & don't be intimidated. Deb in Oz. > > My son is 24 and uninsured so he goes through a local clinic (which is > part of one of our very best hospitals). > > He was " diagnosed " with RA by a leading neurosurgeon here due to a > large calcium deposit at the top of his spine which is producing > compression on his C1-C2 discs. Also because of joint pain in neck, > both hands, and both shoulders. He has extreme fatigue, lung problems, > and just generally feels OLD. > > However he just had x-rays of his hands and bloodwork for the RA > factor. All are negative. > > How is RA diagnosed without the RA factor present? How do we convince > them to keep looking? What's the next step here? I don't want them to > ignore him. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Hi : No - he has not seen a rheumatologist, he must be referred by the clinic and there is a 6-8 week wait. I'm going to call tomorrow and make sure they will still refer him. If they won't I don't know what to do. The neurosurgeon wants him to see the rheumatologist - that was his recommendation. SAid it's not a surgical issue. He happens to be MY neurosurgeon who has been in my neck twice for disc issues - if it were repairable with surgery, I'm sure he would do it. He sits at the right hand of God in my book. So I will call tomorrow and PUSH for the rheumatologist regardless of bloodwork. I'm open to ANY advice, suggestions, guidance from all of you - thank you so much!!! > > Did your son see a rheumatologist? What did the neurosurgeon suggest doing > about the compression, if anything? > > > > Not an MD > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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