Guest guest Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 i am really hoping someone can tell me if my symptoms seem consistent with RA. i have been experiencing siffness, and occasionally pain in my hands for about a year now. my mom has arthritis, so i just figured i have it too. but, about 3 weeks ago i woke up and thought what the heck did i do yesterday that i am so sore. my ankles, and my knees are very stiff and sore. worse when i wake up in the morning, and if i stop moving (which i never do because i have 2 and 4 year old boys). the pain dosent stop all day, but does seem to feel a little better with alleve. also, i have developed 3 bumps on the sides of my shins(both legs) they are not red, but they are tender. also, my ankles are swollen and warm to the touch with a little bit of numbness and tingling. i have been to the doctor, i am still waiting on the results from blood tests. he dosent think i have RA because my x-rays looked perfect, and my hands are not deformed. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 I am sure this has been said but most RA patients have normal xrays and no deformities when symptoms of pain and stiffness begins. It isn't until years of inflammation does that happen. Certainly glad the doctor initiated bloodwork, because his xray/deformity criteria scares me. You symptoms sound like RA but it could be something else as well. Good luck in your search. Shandi From: jakenick12 <jakenick12@...> Subject: [ ] do i have ra? Date: Thursday, July 24, 2008, 11:34 PM i am really hoping someone can tell me if my symptoms seem consistent with RA. i have been experiencing siffness, and occasionally pain in my hands for about a year now. my mom has arthritis, so i just figured i have it too. but, about 3 weeks ago i woke up and thought what the heck did i do yesterday that i am so sore. my ankles, and my knees are very stiff and sore. worse when i wake up in the morning, and if i stop moving (which i never do because i have 2 and 4 year old boys). the pain dosent stop all day, but does seem to feel a little better with alleve. also, i have developed 3 bumps on the sides of my shins(both legs) they are not red, but they are tender. also, my ankles are swollen and warm to the touch with a little bit of numbness and tingling. i have been to the doctor, i am still waiting on the results from blood tests. he dosent think i have RA because my x-rays looked perfect, and my hands are not deformed. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 sounds like a very good possibility, keep track of all pain,inflamation, & stiffness & see your doctor. If it is RA it needs to be treated aggressively ASAP to stop further joint damage. He will start with blood work, then should prescribe meds and refer you to a rheumatologist. and others here can give you better details than I, I can't remember the tests that are done. If he does not act on it --- In , " jakenick12 " <jakenick12@...> wrote: > > i am really hoping someone can tell me if my symptoms seem consistent with RA. i have > been experiencing siffness, and occasionally pain in my hands for about a year now. my > mom has arthritis, so i just figured i have it too. but, about 3 weeks ago i woke up and > thought what the heck did i do yesterday that i am so sore. my ankles, and my knees are > very stiff and sore. worse when i wake up in the morning, and if i stop moving (which i never > do because i have 2 and 4 year old boys). the pain dosent stop all day, but does seem to feel > a little better with alleve. also, i have developed 3 bumps on the sides of my shins(both legs) > they are not red, but they are tender. also, my ankles are swollen and warm to the touch > with a little bit of numbness and tingling. i have been to the doctor, i am still waiting on the > results from blood tests. he dosent think i have RA because my x- rays looked perfect, and > my hands are not deformed. 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. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 >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. Yes, RA can exist without being seen on the x-rays. I've read that an MRI will show joint damage 7 times sooner than an x-ray. BUT, if RA causes the joint damage, you have RA BEFORE you see damage, thst's only logical. It doean't make sense to wait until there is significant damage to treat it. Early treatment can help prevent that damage from happening in the first place. I would go to a specialist and let them look into it, run more bloodwork and such. They need to rule out any other issues if it doesn't come up in the bloodwork at all. But if it's RA, you want to start treatment asap. HTH, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 You sound like I did when I was starting to have symptoms. Your joints don't have to be deformed to have RA. My joints have looked completely normal until the past couple of years after I did damage to my hands and shoulders lifting freight at work. I was diagnosed at 16 and only two doctors thought I had RA. The others told me that I was too young to have arthritis and it had to be something wrong with my blood. I would try to see another Dr. just to get some different opinions. Feel better!! Autumn in IN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Hi, just an addition to the other postings but something you wrote made me feel I must post. Hope it might help. Your description of your tender shin bumps on both legs made me think straight away of a rather puzzling skin condition called erythema nodosum. This can be associated with so many varied disorders ,particularly where an immune response is being mounted by the body at the time the bumps develop. There may be associated arthralgias ,(Joint aches, swellings, typically without signs of X ray damage,at least early on) and the Rheumatoid Factor is often negative (seronegative) There is often fatigue and flu like feelings, and sometimes neuropathy( tingling ,numbness, weakness). It would be very wrong of me to go on further with any possible diagnoses, etc, but as you seem to be feeling so in the dark at present, I thought you just might ask about the E nodosum possibility on your next medical visit...it just might set them on a track.. Have you had low back ache or bowel symptoms? Best wishes, and good luck, retired doc UK SUPPORT , " jakenick12 " <jakenick12@...> wrote: > > i am really hoping someone can tell me if my symptoms seem consistent with RA. i have > been experiencing siffness, and occasionally pain in my hands for about a year now. my > mom has arthritis, so i just figured i have it too. but, about 3 weeks ago i woke up and > thought what the heck did i do yesterday that i am so sore. my ankles, and my knees are > very stiff and sore. worse when i wake up in the morning, and if i stop moving (which i never > do because i have 2 and 4 year old boys). the pain dosent stop all day, but does seem to feel > a little better with alleve. also, i have developed 3 bumps on the sides of my shins(both legs) > they are not red, but they are tender. also, my ankles are swollen and warm to the touch > with a little bit of numbness and tingling. i have been to the doctor, i am still waiting on the > results from blood tests. he dosent think i have RA because my x- rays looked perfect, and > my hands are not deformed. 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. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Yes, it doesn't have to show up on xrays to have RA. In fact in some people it doesn't even show up in blood work. I went from may 06 til aug 06 before I found out. It took me much much talking to my PCP before I could get him to send me to a Rhuemy about my condition. I was diagnosed in Aug 06 but she said I had RA probably for a few years before that. What triggered my RA was the birth of my son in June 05. Please make sure you get help asap. I spent 3 days in bed with fevers and couldn't move, not even to goto the bathroom. Now I'm a single mom of 2, living on my own and working about 40 to 70 hours a week with Adults who have developmental disabilities. I hope that helps you a bit Single mom of 2 under 5 and Living with RA since May 2006 [ ] do i have ra? i am really hoping someone can tell me if my symptoms seem consistent with RA. i have been experiencing siffness, and occasionally pain in my hands for about a year now. my mom has arthritis, so i just figured i have it too. but, about 3 weeks ago i woke up and thought what the heck did i do yesterday that i am so sore. my ankles, and my knees are very stiff and sore. worse when i wake up in the morning, and if i stop moving (which i never do because i have 2 and 4 year old boys). the pain dosent stop all day, but does seem to feel a little better with alleve. also, i have developed 3 bumps on the sides of my shins(both legs) they are not red, but they are tender. also, my ankles are swollen and warm to the touch with a little bit of numbness and tingling. i have been to the doctor, i am still waiting on the results from blood tests. he dosent think i have RA because my x-rays looked perfect, and my hands are not deformed. 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. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.5/1571 - Release Date: 7/24/2008 5:42 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1574 - Release Date: 7/25/2008 4:27 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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