My RA factor is positive but I don't have RA -likely Sjogren's as many with that disease also have a positive RA test.
Flutebell

I also have positive RA factor. Currently no symptoms of RA. ?? No idea what that means. ??

That's also what my doctor thought for a while. They found the RA factor years ago with no symptoms of the disease. As of lately I'm showing signs. Morning stiffness in my feet and hands....now its in my wrists and its picking one big joint to affect at a time. He didn't say you have RA....but I assume its very probable and thats why he's sending me to the specialist. :(

Oh no! You don't need this just when you were feeling better. I hope you're feeling better soon (with minimal side effects!). Hugs.

I have both MG and RA. RA appeared first, followed by MG 18 months later. I'm currently taking methotrexate 25 mg weekly but it's not keeping my symptoms under control so my rheumy suggested rituxan. it should help both the RA and MG, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am seropositive for RA but seronegative for MG. go figure! I only take prednisone for flares, low doses. high doses of steroids put me right into crisis.

I have also had to see the rheumatologist, because although I do not test positive for RA, I text weakly positive for ANA and anti-dsDNA, which together are enough to diagnose lupus.

All the little pesky things seem to run in packs. I'm currently on prednisone, so I totally get why you want to run for the hills when you think about going back on it! It's vile!

Hang in there.

Tamara

This is a great discussion as I feel it won't be long until I see a specialist .

As some of you know I've been drug free since this passed August and my neuro believes I'm in strong remission however I've been having a lot of discomfort in my joints , head to toe essentially. It's very different from myasthenia symptoms as its discomfort , not weakness.

Although I went thru a very slow prednisone taper , my neurologist is treating me for prednisone withdrawal as he believes my adrenal glands aren't quite up to speed yet. I think it could be Athritis as that can be a long term side effect of being on prednisone .

Time will tell as my gut feeling that it's Arthitis caused by long term use and it's very frustrating to me as I've been functioning on a high level for quite sometime.

I hear all of you and hopefully for all of us relief is in the very near future .

Chris

For the past few months I have been having extreme joint pain in just about every joint I have. My RA factor was low, but my G.P. is sure it is RA though I've been told I have sjogrens in past. I see a rheumy next Friday. Its been a painful wait, but I've refused prednisone.

I just saw the rheumatologist last week and she is saying she doesn't think its characteristic of RA. Although...to me morning stiffness in hands and feet, sometimes other joints + other joints being sore is enough for me to think so. She said that my joints aren't swollen enough but I also am on a high dose of imuran. My RA factor was 179 when normal is 14. Pretty alarming if you ask me. She's trying for some other autoimmune diseases now. In the process of getting results back. God eh! Can't catch a break :(

Hi I'm new to this support group. I've had RA since my early twenties-am now 68. I took prednisone, gold shots, imuran at the onset and treatment was fairly effective for many years. Later tho, I needed joint replacements for better function in fingers, toes, wrist and elbow. My attitude has always been okay as I can do things with some limitations. Diagnosed with OMG in 1991 with remission a year later,then coming back 4 years ago, I now take mestinon (generic) 3x daily, but only 2 mg prednisone and a baby aspirin for RA. The OMG has not made the RA worse.

Well I'm seropositive RA. My luck...

ShanAlis, what are your symptoms (RA)? I am currently in the diagnostic process for MG, but was diagnosed 6 1/2 yrs ago with RA (severe). Am now in "clinical remission" and off all meds for RA.

My understanding is that RA factor can be positive without having RA, so I was wondering if you are having RA symptoms??

Hopefully you can dodge the bomb!!

As you noticed in this discussion that being positive for any factor or gene doesn't mean that you will develop that disease. It is only a indication that you have little more chances of getting it compared to others. As far as medications, prednisone is a generalized medicine and works in all these type of conditions. It should work for RA too.