Not sure if I have RA

I had some blood work done the other day and it said according to this test the normal rf value is less than 15, but my value is 23. Does that mean I have Rheumatoid arthritis? The test was done because for the past few years my leg muscles have been driving me crazy. They hurt all the time, like a constant throbbing. I can't sit still at my desk during the day or on the couch in the evening or in bed at night. The muscles ache all the time. My pcp thought it was rls, but none of the rls meds made any difference (I tried neurontin, requip, mirapex, Horizant, neupro patch, and klonopin... Tramadol helped for a little while). Since my legs hurt as soon as I wake up in the morning and the rls meds didn't work, I don't think it's rls. My knees hurt a lot, too, but I assumed that was from spending too much time sitting cross legged (my legs hurt too much to keep them straight for very long, have to constantly change positions). I just want to be able to sit at my desk at work with my feet on the floor and get through the day without my legs constantly throbbing and having to constantly shift my legs and cross them and clench my thigh/calf muscles and so on and so forth.

P.S. ANA was negative, but an MRI found some osteophytes in my neck.

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the reply. To be honest, I'm kind of hoping it is RA... if we know what's causing my leg pain, we can hopefully finally do something about it. Anyway, I did have an MRI of my back last year because I was also having sciatica. That MRI revealed a bulging disc, so the Dr sent me to physical therapy. The sciatica pain went away after a month or two of PT, so I assume the disc returned to normal.

RNwithRA said...
A slightly elevated RF factor doesn't necessarily mean that you have RA. I hope you do not. What other lab work have you had done? If your anti-CCP is elevated as well, then your odds of having RA are greatly increased. The type of pain and throbbing that you describe could be vascular in nature. Have you had any vascular studies?

Thanks for the reply. No, I haven't had any vascular studies done. My first appointment with a rheumatologist is in October.