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Hi Everyone,

I am 39 years old and am having an MRI and RA factor testing next week. My

ordeal began in 2004 with a shingles episode. Since then I have had aching and

stiffness in my right middle finger and some carpal tunnel symptoms. I thought

this was just from typing a lot at my job and regular arthritis, so I overlooked

the symptoms. Then I had an episode where my big toe on my right foot froze and

I could not move it without major pain. My doctor thought it was a gout episode

so I cut down on my meat intake. Two weeks ago I woke up with a stiff " crick "

in my lower back. It was so bad I could barely get up. As the day progressed,

my upper back around the shoulder area began to hurt also, with tingling

sensations. I instantly thought I was coming down with shingles and went to an

emergency clinic where the gave me antiviral drugs. The symptoms got better for

a few days and then returned EVEN WORSE. Now everything hurts. It hurts worse

when I am very active and when I first get up in the morning. My trip to the

neurologist threw me into shock when he suggested RA. But it makes so much

sense now because my right middle finger is beginning to appear mishaped in the

nuckle area and is stiff all the time. My cousin also has RA. My question is

if any of you have had shingles problems. It sure seems to me that this all

started with that shingles episode I had 5 years ago. No matter what, this is

affecting my daily life tremendously. I am also worried that something else

beside RA is wrong with me. I am hoping to get information from you all that

might help me figure out if this is what has been wrong with me. I hear that

20% of people do not test positive for the RA factor. If I don't test positive,

how will I ever know for sure this is my problem? Thanks for the help.