Do I have RA?

[Guest guest]

Please help. My doc did X-Ray and blood tests and says

I do not have RA, atleast not yet. But he is unable to

explain why I have the following symptoms:

1) Morning stiffness in the left leg

2) If I sit for more than 20 minutes, my left feet

and leg goes a little numb and some tringling in the

left feet.

3) If I walk, no issues

4) No knee pains but mostly muscle groups in the

thighs and feet pain when I sit for over 20 minutes.

5) I have been having these symptoms now for over 3

months and it doesn't seem to go away. The degree of

discomfort has reduced a bit but I can feel it all the

time.

6) Which symptom can tell you that one has 100% RA?

Thanks & Regards,

RV

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately RA can be hard to diagnose

and it takes a board-certified rheumatologist to give a good diagnosis in most

cases. Neither x-ray nor blood tests can tell that you have RA or do not

have RA. The American

College of Rheumatology

has developed seven criteria for diagnosing RA but symptoms are so variable

that it only requires any four of the symptoms for a positive diagnosis. A

short statement of the criteria is:

1. Morning stiffness, lasting for at least an hour, present daily for

at least 6 weeks

2. Arthritis of 3 or more joints, lasting for at least 6 weeks

3. Arthritis of the hand joints, lasting for at least 6 weeks

4. Symmetric arthritis, lasting for at least 6 weeks

5. Rheumatoid nodules

6. Positive rheumatoid factor (blood test)

7. Joint changes on x-ray

Notice that only one of them is for blood

work and one is for x-ray and the other 5 are by observation and patient

history. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis and many of them

are treated about the same as RA so treatment can begin even before a diagnosis

is firm. If you are not seeing a rheumatologist I encourage you to see

one. If you are seeing a rheumatologist and are unhappy with the

diagnosis or treatment, you might seek a second opinion. God bless.

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of Ram

Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006

10:56 PM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: Do

I have RA?

Please help. My doc did X-Ray

and blood tests and says

I do not have RA, atleast not yet. But he is

unable to

explain why I have the following symptoms:

1) Morning stiffness in the left leg

2) If I sit for more than 20 minutes, my left feet

and leg goes a little numb and some tringling in

the

left feet.

3) If I walk, no issues

4) No knee pains but mostly muscle groups in the

thighs and feet pain when I sit for over 20

minutes.

5) I have been having these symptoms now for over

3

months and it doesn't seem to go away. The degree

of

discomfort has reduced a bit but I can feel it all

the

time.

6) Which symptom can tell you that one has 100%

RA?

Thanks & Regards,

RV

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dear Ram- Sounds like a sciatic nerve or pulmonary issue of circulation in your leg. I would see both a vascular specialist and neurologist. RA usually manifests quite severely with pai and swelling. You could have osteo arthritis of the spine which can cause numbness and stiffness. You might also consider using a foam mattress topper to cushion your lower lumbar and legs. Sleep with a comfy pillow between your legs which should take stress off your spine and thighs and feet when you sleep. Feel Better, Deborah

On 2/22/06, Ram <rvmys@...> wrote:

Please help. My doc did X-Ray and blood tests and saysI do not have RA, atleast not yet. But he is unable to

explain why I have the following symptoms:1) Morning stiffness in the left leg2) If I sit for more than 20 minutes, my left feetand leg goes a little numb and some tringling in theleft feet.3) If I walk, no issues

4) No knee pains but mostly muscle groups in thethighs and feet pain when I sit for over 20 minutes.5) I have been having these symptoms now for over 3months and it doesn't seem to go away. The degree of

discomfort has reduced a bit but I can feel it all thetime.6) Which symptom can tell you that one has 100% RA?Thanks & Regards,RV__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Good Morning Jo-Anne,

My name is Gloria, and I also got a negative back on the ra factor. I had alot of the same symptoms as you, and my sed rate was 4 times what it should be, and swollen joints everywhere. My rheumy wrote in her report that I had 46 swollen joints (I didn't even know we had that many), so therefore I was diagnosed. It took about 6 months to go through all the tests to make sure there wasn't something else they were missing. Since ra, I have developed osteoporsis, degenertive spine, sjogrens syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, and oa. So, listen to your body like Deborah says, and yes, I used to think that I was crazy because I hurt in so many different places every day! YUK!!

Hang in there and take care,

Hugs from Oklahoma,

Gloria>> Hi, I have had a bad week of pain and my Dr thinks I might have RA. > > Just a couple of questions first. My Dr thinks I have RA cause of the pains> and she can see a difference in one of my knuckles. I am on methotrexate and> dexamethasone for eczema. 2 weeks ago I cut the dexamethasone down which she> thinks is why the RA may have started showing signs of pain. But the RA> factor came back negative today, with CRP, platelets, WBC and neutrophils up> I have since read online that platelets up may be a sign of RA. But I am> having a homocysteine test when I get to it lol!! Starve from 9pm without> forgetting?? I think I'll wait till later in the week when life is a better> routine. Because the RA factor is negative she is still sure I have some> type of arthritis but is developing a wait and see attitude, these tests> were good baseline tests etc.> > I don't know if the pain I am in at present is actually RA or not. The pain> I have moves so much. Last Wed I had a lot of stiffness after sitting for> about 20 mins. My hips were very sore. Then Thurs I had stiff and sore> fingers all day- I couldn't do up any tablet bottles it really hurt and I> dropped a glass. I also had sore ankles and feet.> This is when my Dr saw me.> It has been up and down, but I took special notice yesterday my lower back> was sore- today it is fine. My fingers were a little stiff and sore this am> then OK for pm. My hips were sore about 2 hours after lunch. Then mid> afternoon I got a sore elbow and lost grip in that hand. By 5pm that was OK> but about 6pm my feet were hurting again. Does RA travel all day like this> or do you think it could be something else?> The only pain killers I am on are Paracetamol at this stage as I am allergic> to NSAID's. I have started the dexamethasone again.> > I had a really bad day Friday and couldn't even open my hands straight. Took> painkillers over night and 8mg dexamthasone and feeling a lot better> yesterday and today. No stiffness and very little pain. Hopefully the> dexamthasone will settle it all down again. Looking back I may have had this> for the last 6 to 12 months as I have lots of stiffness and tiredness - flu> like symptoms etc.> > Thanks for your comments and list support> > > Jo-Anne > Taupo > New Zealand>

[Guest guest]

Dear JoAnne- Please have your doctor refer you to a rheumatologist straight away. Primary Care physcians usually stumble upon a possible diagnosis but decent biologic medication should be prescribed by a Rheumatologist and overseen by both your primary and Rheumatologist. When RA manifests it does move around. It can percolate in your system exhibiting positive then negative results. A wait and see attitude is not really practical since you are in pain and joint damage results from that. Advocate for a referral and dont be afraid to ask. Have your primary fax over a copy of your current test results. Just FYI. My primary did tests that showed ANA positive results and a high sed rate. Still the RA factor did not turn up positive until almost a year later. A wait and see attitude in the beginning had my primary ruling out everything from HIV to Lyme disease. I saw 4 Rheumatologists in my first year before diagnosis and was being treated for lupus but my symptoms were benign for RA. Once it did turn up positive, I was unprepared because lupus was what all the tests showed. I joined the arthritis foundation then and finally got the answers as well as the treatment I needed. Good luck!!! Deborah in USA

On 2/4/07, Jo-Anne <patchnz@...> wrote:

Hi, I have had a bad week of pain and my Dr thinks I might have RA. Just a couple of questions first. My Dr thinks I have RA cause of the painsand she can see a difference in one of my knuckles. I am on methotrexate and

dexamethasone for eczema. 2 weeks ago I cut the dexamethasone down which shethinks is why the RA may have started showing signs of pain. But the RAfactor came back negative today, with CRP, platelets, WBC and neutrophils up

I have since read online that platelets up may be a sign of RA. But I amhaving a homocysteine test when I get to it lol!! Starve from 9pm withoutforgetting?? I think I'll wait till later in the week when life is a better

routine. Because the RA factor is negative she is still sure I have sometype of arthritis but is developing a wait and see attitude, these testswere good baseline tests etc.I don't know if the pain I am in at present is actually RA or not. The pain

I have moves so much. Last Wed I had a lot of stiffness after sitting forabout 20 mins. My hips were very sore. Then Thurs I had stiff and sorefingers all day- I couldn't do up any tablet bottles it really hurt and I

dropped a glass. I also had sore ankles and feet.This is when my Dr saw me.It has been up and down, but I took special notice yesterday my lower backwas sore- today it is fine. My fingers were a little stiff and sore this am

then OK for pm. My hips were sore about 2 hours after lunch. Then midafternoon I got a sore elbow and lost grip in that hand. By 5pm that was OKbut about 6pm my feet were hurting again. Does RA travel all day like this

or do you think it could be something else?The only pain killers I am on are Paracetamol at this stage as I am allergicto NSAID's. I have started the dexamethasone again.I had a really bad day Friday and couldn't even open my hands straight. Took

painkillers over night and 8mg dexamthasone and feeling a lot betteryesterday and today. No stiffness and very little pain. Hopefully thedexamthasone will settle it all down again. Looking back I may have had this

for the last 6 to 12 months as I have lots of stiffness and tiredness - flulike symptoms etc.Thanks for your comments and list supportJo-Anne Taupo New Zealand

[Guest guest]

JoAnne,

It certainly sounds like my RA. I am also sero

negative. My doctor calls the moving around a palindromic presentation.

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

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

[mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On

Behalf Of Jo-Anne

Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007

12:50 AM

To:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: Do

I have RA?

Hi, I have had a bad week of pain and my Dr thinks I

might have RA.

Just a couple of questions first. My Dr thinks I have RA cause of the pains

and she can see a difference in one of my knuckles. I am on methotrexate and

dexamethasone for eczema. 2 weeks ago I cut the dexamethasone down which she

thinks is why the RA may have started showing signs of pain. But the RA

factor came back negative today, with CRP, platelets, WBC and neutrophils up

I have since read online that platelets up may be a sign of RA. But I am

having a homocysteine test when I get to it lol!! Starve from 9pm without

forgetting?? I think I'll wait till later in the week when life is a better

routine. Because the RA factor is negative she is still sure I have some

type of arthritis but is developing a wait and see attitude, these tests

were good baseline tests etc.

I don't know if the pain I am in at present is actually RA or not. The pain

I have moves so much. Last Wed I had a lot of stiffness after sitting for

about 20 mins. My hips were very sore. Then Thurs I had stiff and sore

fingers all day- I couldn't do up any tablet bottles it really hurt and I

dropped a glass. I also had sore ankles and feet.

This is when my Dr saw me.

It has been up and down, but I took special notice yesterday my lower back

was sore- today it is fine. My fingers were a little stiff and sore this am

then OK for pm. My hips were sore about 2 hours after lunch. Then mid

afternoon I got a sore elbow and lost grip in that hand. By 5pm that was OK

but about 6pm my feet were hurting again. Does RA travel all day like this

or do you think it could be something else?

The only pain killers I am on are Paracetamol at this stage as I am allergic

to NSAID's. I have started the dexamethasone again.

I had a really bad day Friday and couldn't even open my hands straight. Took

painkillers over night and 8mg dexamthasone and feeling a lot better

yesterday and today. No stiffness and very little pain. Hopefully the

dexamthasone will settle it all down again. Looking back I may have had this

for the last 6 to 12 months as I have lots of stiffness and tiredness - flu

like symptoms etc.

Thanks for your comments and list support

Jo-Anne

Taupo

New Zealand

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