Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
to give a little history....I have Addison''s disease and I also have Interstitial Cystitis.
I have been having such terrible pain for the last 5 months. Primarily my neck, elbows, and knees. of course I have had finger pain for years especially in my thumbs. any way I finally went to my GP about this because I couldn't even sleep anymore.
my lab tests show that I have borderline RF factor it was 1.5 above the high normal. the doctor said I could or could not have RA. I don't know what to do PLEASE a little feedback would be so helpful. I'm tired of hurting at night. when I get up in the morning I hurt for about an hour. this morning a new place my right ankle hurts so much even when I'm sitting! does this sound familiar or is it something else?
you know I have 2 major auto-immune diseases now and I've learned that if you know what you're dealing with it helps a lot!!
THANK YOU............
I have been having such terrible pain for the last 5 months. Primarily my neck, elbows, and knees. of course I have had finger pain for years especially in my thumbs. any way I finally went to my GP about this because I couldn't even sleep anymore.
my lab tests show that I have borderline RF factor it was 1.5 above the high normal. the doctor said I could or could not have RA. I don't know what to do PLEASE a little feedback would be so helpful. I'm tired of hurting at night. when I get up in the morning I hurt for about an hour. this morning a new place my right ankle hurts so much even when I'm sitting! does this sound familiar or is it something else?
you know I have 2 major auto-immune diseases now and I've learned that if you know what you're dealing with it helps a lot!!
THANK YOU............
Did your doctor test your inflammatory markers? I am seronegative, meaning I have a negative RF factor. My C-reactive protein levels have been elevated for years, and my sed rate is usually elevated, although my latest test was normal. I was diagnosed based on symptoms and inflammation markers.
I bet you know that once you have one autoimmune disease, you are more likely to develop others.
I also have secondary adrenal insufficiency from long term steroid use. I may just be picking your brain about adrenal issues at some point. I am stable right now, but am supposed to take another teeny tiny step down in my prednisone dose, which is scary to me.
That frustrates me. Yet your left aching & wondering.
Any other symptoms?
Exhaustion, fevers ( which Is rare for me), swelling etc.....
Sure sounds like it may be a possibility but your doctor needs to confirm one way or another.
If you indeed have it you want to treat it.
I don't get some doctors. I do wish you the best of luck.
Sammy
Just the opposite of eemonkey, my SED and CRP (the inflammation markers) have always come back normal on all my tests even when I visibly had inflammation, but my RA and anti-CCP are off the charts.
I've been on methotrexate and Celebrex since October or so, and almost all my symptoms have subsided (fingers crossed!). Just went to the rheumy this week, he upped my MTX another pill (total of 7 now), in hopes of knocking out that last little bit of symptoms.
So, get in to see a specialist, get going on a treatment program, and hopefully you will be back to your old self soon.
Hope you get some positive results soon
first let me say to eemonkey feel free at any time to pick my brain about AD. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with primary Addison's disease. it's a total bummer!!
I know that the blood test are important but it seems everybody's are kind of different. It seems that the symptoms are the mostly the same with everybody. it sure does hurt though.
Yes, autoimmune diseases seem to prefer coming in pairs, trios, etc. I have both IBS (5 years) and RA (12 years). I'm a sero negative RA just like my mother is, as sed rates were only elevated during a super flare period.
While some patients find success with drug cocktails, others like me have found incredible success with diet control or the Antibiotic Protocol. Regardless of which you choose, educate yourself on all potential benefits and side effects of any treatment that you try. These can be found on WebMD and the drug company websites. Make sure that to YOU the risks are worth the possible benefits.
Good luck in your journey...