Rheumatoid arthritis? Or not?

[whatisgoingonnowww]

Hi everyone.

For some years now I’ve had widespread pain and mild swelling many of my joints, particularly in my hands and feet but the pain is basically everywhere. I saw GP who did bloods and the ESR showed inflammation (I don’t have access to the exact readings unfortunately). GP said he thought it was rheumatoid arthritis and did blood tests for that which came back negative. Next he referred me to rheumatology, who did ultrasound scans of my hands and feet but said there was no inflammation and that I did not have RA. Rheumatologist said I have osteo. GP still believes that it’s likely RA. I haven’t got any other conditions but clearly something is wrong – can osteoarthritis really cause all this? Could I have RA in another part of my body that wasn’t scanned, and therefore it wouldn’t show up on the ultrasound? I’m only 51!

Ask for a second opinion

I have rheumatoid arthritis and I'm negative for rheumatoid factor as are 30% of people with R A

X-rays show little

My rheumatologist agrees it's R A but it's in my knees , feet , ankles , elbows and thumbs .

I was about to start methotrexate but a complication has meant I can't yet

Keep pressing . I was refused a rheumatologist referral for 2 years and yet it's clearly RA . Doctors have very set ideas on R A for some reason and it's not always cut and dried

Does it flare up and the. Die down ?

I was told I had osteo but the flare ups made me think differently

Within the space of 18 months I went from a fit active woman to unable to get up and down stairs

If it's osteo the symptoms will be present all the time but RA flares up and subsides

I found it useful to take photos when I'm having g a flare and also things like blue fingernails - I photographed them

When I saw the rheumatologist I wasn't in flare up but I showed the pics from when I was and this was crucial because whe I'm in a flare up my joints are hideous! When I rest and they go down you can't tell .

@fabmaccawhackyrhumbsaloft Thanks, I will ask for a second opinion I think. It has been constant but definitely got worse lately. Strangely, no redness or very obvious swelling so can't get a photo. I can't say I 'want' RA but it would answer alot of questions and hopefully treatment would help. It's never straightforward

Do you have any skin problems as well? Just asking because psoriatic arthritis has v similar symptoms toRA, but is almost always seronegative, and swelling is less visible too. Other symptoms include nail pitting as well as psoriasis/fatigue/joint pain. Typically starts in smaller joints.