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...
Started 6 months ago with left side headache, eye inflammation, sores up nose, fatigue, night sweats, right wrist sore on and off, right shoulder was stiff. I've now got a painful right wrist and it hurts in my ulner region and further down my arm theres a hard bump. Had bloods done before lockdown and my ANA was positive, raised esr and raised ccp and rheumatoid factor was 161. I feel awful and I'm scared its cancer and not autoimmune and now going to be months to see a rheumatologist.
RA a very painful disease that deforms the joints. Surgery is needed to restore function to the joints. But the joints are not perfect, like they were before RA.
You might have lupus with your high ANA. It goes after organs right from the beginning. I've had my heart damaged by RA, and nodules in my lungs
Please take meds you are given. Meds are a big part of getting the disease under control Your disease will become progressively worse and get yourself on a cancellation list to see your rheumatologist Sooner. And read up on this disease. Someone has steered you astray with regard to how serious, deforming, painful and deadly this disease.