You will need to see a rheumatologist for a definitive diagnosis. From the little you say here, it's sure worth following up. Who ordered the ultrasound, your GP?

The rhuemy sent me for the scan, after my blood tests for sjogrens came back normal
I have been getting this painfor over a year it never fully goes away, my feet hurt soooo much my wrist and hands too, it is slowly getting worse. My GP said we will have to wait to see what the rheumatologist says but she called it arthritis.
I have fatigue, low grade fevers come and go generally I feel yuck

Hello. My story sounds similar to yours. For two years I had horrible pain and swelling in my ankles and feet. My GP did a blood test for RA, but it came back negative, so he dismissed it. I finally went to a very good and caring rheumatologist, who looked not just at the bloodwork, but also at my symptoms.

He diagnosed me with RA and is treating me for it. A big tip off came when I responded so well to a short course of prednisone. So now I'm on methotrexate, which seems to be helping.

I hope you'll be able to get a diagnosis soon. Maybe you could ask him if you might try a short taper of prednisone. If it helps you, that's a pretty good indicator you have something autoimmune going on.

Best of luck!

Hi Billy. It could be , but it takes quite long to make a diagnosis. It took six frustrating months for me. Between that I was shuffled from doctor to doctor. Hang in there. I hope you get some relief soon.

Hugs,
Cas

Do see a Rheumatologist, but I would bet, if your symptoms are symmetrical (both wrists at the same time, both hand or feet at the same time) that it is likely RA. Don't invite it in. Tell it to get the he** away.

I have been struggling with ever worsening symptons for 18months, seen a neurologist to rule out Ms or other neuro conditions, definitely symmetrical symptoms, already got a rhuemy who at first thought I had sjogrens as I have lots of symptoms but she refuses to diagonosed sjogrens without positive blood results, just waiting for the rhuemy to get back to me re the ultrasound results.
I am concerned about treatments for RA as I have chronic renal disease

BillyLyne, If you have chronic renal disease, just stay the heck away from Methotrexate. That stuff actually caused me to go into renal failure, but I was able to be pulled back from the brink by my kidney doctor (after about three years with him).

Nowadays, they don't prescribe oral gold much any more, but you should stay away from that (or injectable gold).

As long as you have regular blood tests to check your creatinine, etc., you should be fine. I haven't had any problems with my kidneys since using Humira or Enbrel. Also, you are probably on an ace inhibitor... that is a really good thing for kidneys.

Well we are not doctors but sounds familiar.
The fatigue & low grade fevers are common symptoms for so many.
Any visible swelling? If so take pictures. Not all doctors respond to this but many including my own do. Symptoms are not always present come appointment time. My body seems to know & behaves itself come time for appointments.
Good advice many or most with RA respond well to Prednisone. Docs use this often as part of diagnostic testing. Maybe something you can inquire about. See if it's safe for you to try.

May I ask why you were screened for Sjogrens?
It's not a well known disease. In fact had so many in medical ask me what it is. Even some doctors are clueless with this disease.
So pretty curious.

Not all with RA test positive. As fibrolizzy mentioned.
I hope you get a diagnosis for whatever is causing you these problems. Not knowing can be as hard to handle as the pain itself.
I'm not knowledgable enough about the medications & kidneys.
Be sure to address these concerns with the doctor.
These meds are different & everyone I know had a fear factor before starting treatment. Good news is although there's not a huge choice there are options with treatments vs years ago where not much was available.
Keep us updated & wishing you best of luck.
Sammy

I had been trying to find out what was causing my pain etc, my GP refered me to the rheumatologist thinking I may have lupus, but rhuemy said I have lots of sjogrens symptoms, dry eyes mouth, joint pain, small fibre neuropathy, GERD. I still think I may have it but the rhuemy won't agree due to nothing in my blood tests. It did take 18months of worsening symptoms to get the rhuemy referral.

I don't take any meds except omeprozole at the moment due to raised liver tests due to the meds I was on for the pain of the SFN
I don't take an ACE inhibitor my blood pressure is fine

I am a bit concerned that the rhuemy will do nothing as my bloods are normal, she seems very keen on getting the right blood results, but I assumed if the scan showed something then that would be the proof that there is inflammation in my joints.