RA question

I will try to keep this short. Been having joint and muscle pain for the past 3 years. Symptoms: positive Ana, joint swelling, pain in joints and muscles, hair loss, mouth ulcers that come and go, dry eye. Rheumatologist says it is inflammatory since I responded well to prednisone. After almost 3 years with him and not a real diagnosis, I went to Penn University hospital for a second opinion. She says that since all other blood tests are negative, it is fibro. She made me stop arava (which did give me some relief) and increased amitriptyline. I also started aqua therapy. I am in so much pain now. It is almost 6 weeks off the arava. Second rheumy says to give it more time. Now I did read that ra can cause bunions. I did have a bunion removed about 8 years ago since it was real painful. Found out my grandmother and most of her side of the family had bunions too. Plus my toes have never been real straight. My grandmother ask I had crooked fingers. Do you think I may have ra? I feel like a hamster running circles in a wheel and getting no where.

Thanks Susie. My GI and first rheumotologist do not feel like my UC is causing any of my symptoms since it is in remission. I even went for a colonoscopy again to make sure. I went to Penn Medicine since they were listed on the lupus.org site as very knowledgeable in treating ai issues. I am considering going for a third opinion. My first rheumotologist was leaning towards a ra diagnosis but never formally gave me a diagnosis. All my labs except the ana are normal. He is basing it on symptoms. I have symmetrical pain and swelling. I see an eye doctor once a year. She is the one who diagnosed my dry eye. The doctors at Penn have made a few comments that did not sit well with me. One was if you were getting some relief with your current doctor, why are you here? Plus they keep saying they don't treat fibro patients. Then she said that she will prescribe me any ra medications since she does not think I have it and I am free to go to someone else if that is what I want. No bedside manner at all!!!!! I don't want drugs, I just want to really know what is going on with me. How can 2 doctors feel so differently? Now my legs and feet are getting pins and needles feeling along with the swelling. My right leg is worse. It feels 20lbs heavier than it should be and is sort of numb (like the novacane feeling) and it feels like ants are crawling up and down my leg. My knees are horrible. Hurt me so much last night that I could not sleep (we also had a heavy rain storm last night). I know you all understand the frustration. I know my old me will never be back, but I would like some more good days than bad.

Thanks. I do have otc drops which help a little. All my labs are from 2015-present. They didn't recheck Ana or antidsa . The only xray I have gotten is of my knees. She said it came back fine.

Hi Lisa,
Such a sad common story. It seems easier to get a neurosurgeon to remove a brain tumor than get a rheumatologist that will give the proper tests to get to the RA dx. My worst pain and swelling before dx was in my knees, like yours. I have never had an xray show anything, other than when I broke my wrist. It has to be an MRI to see the damage being done to the sonovium. But mostly, you just need the right meds, and all the time in the world won't change that. Maybe you don't have RA, but if you do, it sounds like you aren't going to get any help with a dx from where your at now. Sorry you are going to have to live with pain until you find the right doc. But eventually it will get better. Persevere my dear!
Beth

Hi Lisa Those little bumps sound like Rheumatoid Nodules Really if you can Get to a Good Rheumatologist even if you need 10 different opinions keep at it ,
has anyone tested your RF Rheumatoid Factor ?
as ANA is more typical in Lupus ect you can have RA without a positive ana
you Need to get pain relief sorted can your local Doctor prescribe you something? also RA responds better the Earlier it is treated so if you Do have it then you would want to be on something like Arava or other disease modifiers.
I Know it is So hard but its Your Body & You Know if its not right so as Alice said; Just because she's a doctor at Penn University hospital doesn't automatically make her a good doctor.
can you reach out to your Local Arthritis support group to see if they can recommend any Good Rheumy's in your Area