The difference is that a lot of people don't get treated properly with sero-negative, because of a lot of misinformation that most rheumatologists have been taught.

Sero-positive will mean you get rapid and good treatment. That may stop the disease from becoming serious. I was sero-negative the first 4 years, wasn't treated or diagnosed at all for 2 years, then poorly for 5 years, and I now have ultra severe RA. You don't want to have that!

But, if you hit it hard at the beginning, which is the new protocol, you will have a much better outcome for your disease.

This is not a fun disease! But with good meds, these days, many people go on to live a good life, even working and functioning normally. So make sure you get on strong meds, skip the simple drugs, and you may be ok.

And fie on that rheumatologist for scaring you to death for no reason!!

Thank you for the reply. I don't know if I've been on strong meds or not but this far none have worked. I started flaring yesterday actually so bad my steroids & opiates haven't helped :( I've tried methotrexate, enbrel, & arava. Hopefully soon starting orencia to add to the mtx & arava. I've heard great things about it so I'm looking forward to it!

I know from my own experience that being sero-negative isn't RA lite. Mine is severe and like most, progressive. There have been some major shifts in protocol and theory over the last decade. So, many doctors haven't updated their knowledge base with the new data.

That makes sense too. I have a old school doctor which some days I love some I hate. But she is very black & white with no gray area

Seronegetaive here and it took me a year and going through two Rheum to get treatment. Most of that year was spent in great pain a decreased mobility with no help. Finding the right doctor is key!!

Does everyone have progressive ra? What things put you in the progressive category? I've had it 3 years now & still don't have a med that works does that make me progressive or just unlucky?

The only arthritis that I know of that isn't progressive is Palindromic. The pain from the flares is just as bad as RA, but it doesn't cause damage. And 50% of people get better, and have no damage. I had this to start, but got worse and it became RA.

All RA is progressive, but with the right meds, you can slow it down greatly. I remember when I first got RA, I was not taking my meds properly, because I was afraid of them. I had a pharmacist tear strips off of me, about it. She said that because RA is progressive, the meds slow down the disease and the progression, tremendously! So instead of getting bad deformities in a year or two, it might take 20-30 t0 get to the same point.

I truly believe if I had not gotten on stronger meds, I probably would have died of RA related things. And the meds do help so much. My cousin and her grandmother had basically untreated RA, back before good meds. I remember her grandmother in a wheelchair with a lap tray to hold her in. I was very young, and had no clue. Now, instead of remembering the wheelchair, I can only imagine the pain she was in. I guess in that case, death would be a relief. So glad we have good meds, these day!