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...

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momuv6boys 03/15/2011

Hi all

I am diagnosed with a few things. One of which is Sero Negative RA, I have had that dx for two years, and it is a HORRIBLE disease that I just cant seem to take control of.

I have been undergoing testing for MS as well. The neurologist informed me yesterday that Sero Negative RA is far less aggressive that Sero Positive

I was shocked at that. I know that I have days when I cant stand, open a door, fasten a button. Thats pretty aggressive!

My PCP said she knew I had RA from my symptoms and swelling so that is why she sent me to the rheumy. My rheumy says that I have a pretty aggressive disease course going on even when I am on my meds faithfully.

So I am wondering if anyone else has a TAKE on the whole Negative vs Positive thing, I have been a member here for over 2 years but I rarely post because I have soooo much hand pain(especially the base of my thumbs), But I read all the time
Thanks for your input!!

Valrie

CharlieBaxter 03/27/2011

SN or SP, call it what you want, it is all Pain and life changing. In my limited experience the doc's are just as baffeled as we are. Last time at my rheumy, my left foot was swollen again and I had a lot of pain in the toes and ankles. He kept mumbling, MTX, Remicade, and still in pain------left with multiple injections in toe joints and the right ankle. It is what it is, painful and obviously hard for the docs to get it right if there is such a thing as getting it right. Hugs, Charlie

deleted_user 03/27/2011

There seem to be a whole lot of seronegative ppl here - supposedly only 15-20% of RA sufferers are seronegative. I am seronegative but my doc is now questioning my diagnosis (?)...like Charlie, I am on 2 meds, MTX and Enbrel, and still have the swelling in my hands. Maybe it's too much to expect to be pain and swelling free with this disease?? Are the meds only supposed to help prevent future joint damage? IDK, trying to figure this out. And the other rub is that the sed rate is supposed to be an indicator of inflammation level - although there are also ppl here who've had low sed rates and very severe RA. I'm starting to learn that RA is quite variable from person to person. No case is alike. And things they say are predictive of worse course- hmmmm.....

lovemygirl 03/27/2011

I'm seropositve for RA and my Anti-CCP levels are greater than 250. On the report it read, "CCP levels grossly elevated." My rheumy told me I can have a very crippling form of RA...just what I did NOT want to hear. Anyway, this is what I read about Seropositive at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center website.

What is Seropositive RA?

Question: I have RA for 10 yrs and have just been diagnosed with having seropositive RA what is this and what does it mean.

Answer: Seropositive simply means that your rheumatoid factor blood test is positive. Some also count the anti-CCP positive test as seropositive. In general, patients develop positive rheumatoid factor within one year of developing symptoms. Overall, patients who are seropositive have a more severe disease course with more joint deformities, x-ray damage, disability and inflammation outside of the joints. However, there are many exceptions to these rules.

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