Hi momuv,
I am also sero negative RA and my first symptom was in the base of my thumb. Once I got into the Rheumy, she confirmed what my PCP said and told me It was agressive and we needed to get it under control. Well I'm on 7 different prescription meds and it is still not under control. She told me to give it 6 more weeks and then we are going to Enbrel. I'm not looking forward to that if it happens. Hope you can find some relief. One thing that does help my thumb is keeping it immobilized in a splint during the day when I am prone to use it and leaving it out at nights so it doesn't atrophy. Today she increased my Lortab to 7.5/500 and I took one when I got home and I finally feel a little better.

I have read the same account about sero negative being less aggressive many many times but a lot of the people who I have come to know with sero negative RA do not fit that bill one bit. A lot of what I read does not fit MY bill either!

I wish you all the best in finding relief.

That is a total myth, in my personal experience. I was seronegative, not treated the first 2 years, and I have terrible deformities. I have RA in over 100 joints, according to the Blue Cross nurses who evaluate me.

I will say, I have only had it in my hips one time in each hip. So maybe that is what they mean by less severe. I figure if you require the strongest drugs made for RA, and you cannot get out of bed or dress yourself without meds, then you are severe, and the disease is aggressive.

Thank you all so much

I feel like I have had such a hard time lately with pain and fatigue and to have a DOCTOR telling me IT AINT SO BAD because a test is NEGATIVE was like a slap in the face.

I am so hlad that I found this forum, even with a house full of people this disease makes me feel alone sometimes, so I am glad I can come here and people understand
THANKS AGAIN!!

I haven't heard that before - I thought seronegative was the absence of a Rheumatoid Factor and vice-versa.. According to my Rhemy, the aggressive label is based on blood results and the antibodies in your blood, Severe, Moderate or Mild is determined on the amount of bone deterioration before RA was diagonised. It doesn't matter which degree, aggressive or not, seronegative or seropositive RA changes your world completely.

When I first starting reading about RA all the info said that those with a RF had a more severe case of the disease and often have had it from their youth (JRA) Not more aggressive mind you, just more severe.

I asked the doctor about it and what I could gather from him (he was little cryptic, I don't even think they know really) was that a RF factor doesn't determine the the aggressiveness of the disease, just how prominent it is in that person. Like what I read, it usually means that it's been there a while and had gone untreated. But like the sed rate, the RF can be brought down. So while it's high, it indicates a severe case, until that is, treatment is started. But it doesn't mean that it's more severe than those without it.

It's just another way this disease leaves us on out toes. I have a RF, while my husbands Aunt doesn't. Both of us suffering at the same level to an extent. If anything, she's a little worse than I am, but then again, she's had it a little longer.

I've been sero-negative for 29 years.I started with what my PCP thought was tendinitis that wouldn't go away. After a year, I saw my 1st Rheumy
who said I probably had mild JRA that was never diagnosed. I show signs in all my joins. My spine started to crumble 2 years ago. I had my right knee replaced 3 years ago and my left is going this May.I lost the full range of motion in my ankles after 5 years of dx.
My feet have been numb for years and the joints are almost frozen completely. My hands are starting to buckle. I'm still RA neg and many of the blood tests are negative. My sedrate never higher than 18 and when it's that high I'm having a flare. I'm a lab tech and know what' what with lab reslts. I go against everything I learned
I was told I could sero-convert to positive and it would be worst. I especially hate the hand pain. Nothing seems to relieve it. Good luck and hang in there. We're here for you.

I was recently diagnosed with RA and was told I was sero-negative. It took them awhile to diagnose because of this. I felt like a slap in the face also because I had all the symptoms but no positive blood tests. I finally started to notice my joints in my hands start to deform and my feet hurt so bad sometimes I couldn't walk. They finally believed me and put me on drugs. I am glad to know there are other people out there to share this with.

Shaferj your story sounds just like mine:)
Thanks for responding!!!

Thanks for postng you guys:)

Val

I am Sero negative as well. This all started in my right shoulder over 2 years ago, but was dismissed by 3 doctors because the RF wasn't positive. I also have overlapping lupus symptoms.

Hi Valrie, I'm sero positive. I've had RA since I was a child. I was dx with JRA at 9 y/o with sero positive blood work done after having blood work done for a year. Yes mine is severe. But RA is RA no matter how you look at it. I wouldn't worry whether your neg or pos... don't let your doc outspeak you... explain to them how you are really feeling at every visit. There are good people on this website who are sero neg and have some pretty awful days with this disease. I think any bad day is day that nobody should feel... this disease is a beast!! Good luck to you!

I have also read the same thing, but do not believe it. When I was first dx'd the only positive test I had was the RF and that was only 40. Now I am negative in all my tests, and the worse I've ever been.

Fortunately my rheumy treats me for my symptoms, not my blood tests!

I was so relieved to hear others have the same problem. I had a local Rheumy tell me all my tests where neg,that Radiologists called it RA because that was the dx given and it wasn't RA and we didn't know what it was. After that, he would not see me and had his nurse practitioner had to see me.She told me it was in my head and doctor would not waste his time with me. I never went back and my GP was very angry. He treats me by my xrays and symptoms as does my new Rheumy. My GP had me get xrays at a hospital in Chicago and he put joint pain for the dx. When they came back with the dx of RA, he sent them to the Rheumy with a note. (no need to get into what he said,use your imagination) Sweet revenge!!!

It is not GREAT to hear that others deal with this but it is GREAT to have people relate too what you are going through, I appreciate all your responses. I am having a HARD time lately just getting up in the morning and I know u all can relate to that, THANKS!!

Sero neg here as well.....i truly dont believe its an indicator of disease activity....there are other tests used other than RF....my dr. used anti-ccp and it was off the charts.....a good dr will also talk to you about symptoms....



Kim