do I have RA? Please help!

[lesliep]

I have been having chronic joint pain for months now. It has gotten a lot worse over the past couple of months. I have moderate IBD, but my doctor felt like my joint pains might be something else. She had labs done and they came back normal. My joint pains go from joint to joint daily and are on both sides of my body. Mainly in my hips, knees, wrist, ankles, elbows, and hands. I have warmth and swelling in my joints as well. Lately I have been having pain in more than one joint at a time. The pain is the worst in the evening, throughout the night and in the morning. The pains are so bad that I usually can't move at all. They do get better through the day but it all starts over again that evening. I have read about RA and felt like I had the symptoms. I was just wondering if this sounds like what you are going through and if so, did any one have normal labs in the beginning but still suffer from RA? Thank you for your time!

[kageyd]

Lesliep, at least 20% of people with RA show normal blood values, so it's entirely possible to have RA with negative values for the RA factor in the blood.

You need to see a Rheumatologist, not a general practitioner, in order to get a clearer diagnosis. Ask around, do everything you can to find a Recommended rheumatologist. Those kinds of joint pains are what rheumatologists are all about, that is their specialty.

Some percentage of people who start out thinking they have RA are not absolutely certain that they do for a long time, months and months. Changes in your status are important points of information.

Here is the URL for an excellent overview of RA. You need to get started reading as much as you can.

http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/rheumatoid-arthritis-3

Best to you, and I wish you a truly Happy New Year.

Or you can just start Googling Rheumatoid arthritis until you find articles that make sense to you.

[naturelover]

The pains are so bad that I usually can't move at all. They do get better through the day but it all starts over again that evening. I have read about RA and felt like I had the symptoms. I was just wondering if this sounds like what you are going through and if so, did any one have normal labs in the beginning but still suffer from RA? Thank you for your time!

I can just feel sorry and wish you a speedy recovery. RA, as if starts with the symptoms reported by you. Kindly take your body pain to have regular checkup and do that with a local Rhuematologist at your area and find one to stay off from more pain.

[crimson]

[B]You need to see a Rheumatologist, not a general practitioner, in order to get a clearer diagnosis.


This is a good advice from Kageyd, Don't just talk to one doctor you need to have a second opinion for it.

[leighdu]

Agreed....my sister's work came back normal for a few years until she was finally diagnosed. I would get a 2nd opinion and if the results are still the same, maybe wait 6 months and try again.

[leesie]

It is possible to have neg. result at first. Your symptoms sound very similar to mine, I probably put up with it for too long before getting tested which is why my results were positive when I finally had blood work done. It is important to get diagnosed early so you can work out a treatment plan and minimise any long term joint damage.
The advice of the others to get a second opinion from a rheumatologist is well worth following up. I wish you luck and hope you get some relief.