Baffled after negative arthritis blood test!

[vickylou2004]

Hi all.

I had a blood test last week for rhumatoid arthritis which has come back negative.

Been suffering with sore stiff joints from neck down to feet, with upper back, neck, shoulders and arm being the worst. It's worse when I get up in the morning (eases after about 1-2 hours) and also after anything physical. Also all my joints have are constantly clicking and I suffer from Raynards.

Has anyone else been in this situation? Does it always show in the blood?

Any comments would be appreciated.

[weegiemum]

I show up -ve for rheumatoid factor even though I clearly have RA.

Have you had your inflammatory indicators checked?

[RunnerHasbeen]

I have rheumatoid arthritis but the initial tests were negative (I'm assuming you mean the rheumatoid factor tests), six months later were positive. However I had large amounts of fluid in my joints and high levels of inflammation. If it is blood tests for inflammation you have had and they are negative it is unlikely to be RA. The rheumatoid factor doesn't always show in the blood but inflammation does when the condition is active. There are other arthritic conditions though, have they said what they are going to do next?

[vickylou2004]

Hey
When you say that you clearly have RA, have you been diagnosed?
How do I have my indicators checked?

[vickylou2004]

Runner
I had rhumatoid blood tests that's all I know. What were your initial tests? My grandma was riddled with it!

[weegiemum]

I'm diagnosed, under the rheumatologists, on methotrexate which helps.

Inflammatory indicators are a different blood test which is more accurate - you might need to ask for it, or sk for a referral to the rheumatologists for it to be done.

You dont have to suffer with it - its a ghastly underreported disease. I cant feel my fingers today cos of raynauds. But still my RF blood tests are negative!

[vickylou2004]

The receptionist said no further action required!

[vickylou2004]

Oh right! That's useful weegiemum, thankyou.

[vickylou2004]

I know on the slip I had it was testing for 'rheumatoid factor' if that helps? Is that different to indicators?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

any psoriasis in the family?

[vickylou2004]

Not psoriasis but excema, why?

[vickylou2004]

weegiemum

I have just read your message properly now, sorry!!!

[TheProvincialLady]

I am in the same position. I am waiting for the next flare up and then I will be re-tested and possibly x-rayed. You need to go back to your GP though if you are so stiff all over like that. Even if it's not RA you need to find out what it is and get it treated.

[Tenebrist]

My mum was suffering appallingly from arthritic-like pain but the test for rheumatoid arthritis came out negative. Turned out after being admitted to hospital (her immobility got so bad that she fell and couldn't get up again) that she actually had gout and is now on some tabs specifically to prevent that . Allupurinol?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

because psoriatic arthritis is similar to rheumatoid arthritis, but you do get a negative ra blood result.

[CMOTdibbler]

I had swollen, stiff, painful joints, but was negative for RA and lupus - turned out I had coeliac disease and that was causing the arthritis. After diagnosis, I had no more problems after 6 months of healing

[vickylou2004]

Thanks for the comments.

Ohyoubadkitten-what exactly is it and what are the efeects?

[wonkylegs]

You can get seronegative arthritis which means you don't test positive for RF
If you are still suffering and it hasn't diminished you need to go back to the GP and push for them to look at something else. There are over 300 different types if arthritis
Have a look at //www.arthritiscare.org.uk they can give you more details about diagnosis treatment etc and there is a good support network on there to (discussion)

[Hulababy]

I have just been dx with psoriatic arthritis. My RA test was negative. I have had scalp psoaris since I was 13y.

[vickylou2004]

CMOTdibbler-now that's useful as I have bloating due to certain food intolerances, I will be asking for a test for that too.

Wonkylegs-Yes I've heard that there are lots of different types of arthritis. I've been doing a lot of research.

These comments are really appreciated.

[didyouseewhatshedid]

Op i was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last year. Similar symptons to you. Blood tests were negative. Only ever had mild excema. I would push for a referral to a rheumatology clinic.

[vickylou2004]

Thanks guys.
Didyouseewhatshedid-Yes I am going to thankyou. I had another headache last night and woken up with sore neck and shoulders again!

[didyouseewhatshedid]

One more thing OP: diclofenac will make a huge difference in the short term. One on a night, it is slow release, and it should sort out the morning stifness. Your GP will prescribe. best of luck

[MatthewWrightOffTheTelly]

Receptionist gave you the blood test result - negative for rheumatoid factor - but this isn't definitive either way. Google seronegative arthritis which can be a diagnosis in itself or one can have RA without that positive test.

Agree with all the above posters, make another GP appt, push for a referral to a rheumatologist and ask for some short term relief with NSAIDs or similar.

Good luck and hope you get some answers soon.