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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 9/3/2019 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
38/Male...I've had symptoms over the last 6 months that pushed me to make appointments with a rheumatologist and neurologist. It started bsck in February with occasional, intermittent chest tightness. about two months ago my left knee started bothering me a little during physical activity and when I would go to get up. about a month ago my legs/feet below the knee ztarted tingling for a few days. One day that turned into more of a burning sensation. Since that time, I've felt intermittent pain/tightness in my feet and my left knee and over the past few days I've experienced mild soreness in both wrists. My doctor had me try Naproxin, which has helped but not eliminated the symptoms. I've also lost 30 lbs since January, however, I have been dieting/exercising since that time too. My Dr did bloodwork and found a weak positive ANA but nothing else. Thoughts on these symptoms?
Posted 9/3/2019 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello uazip05 and Welcome to HW!!

As you know, we are not Doctors here, just experienced with many diseases. That is good that you went to appointments with Specialists and for testing.

RA can happen to any age group. Many of us have different beginnings with RA. Some of your symptoms apply, others do not.

Any of your joints feeling painful, warm and stiff do apply. Loss of weight does happen but seeing that you have been dieting/exercising means that your weight loss may not be from RA. I haven't had tingling or burning but I have heard of others mentioning these symptoms(including my sister). Chest tightness is not a symptom. Fatigue and sometimes a low grade fever is a symptom.

A positive ANA test applies to any autoimmune disease. There are over 100 types of arthritis. I hope that your Doctor has asked you to see him/her again for future tests, exray, MRI, etc.
Posted 9/3/2019 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply! I have neueologist and rheumatologist appointments both within the week so I'm hoping for more answers soon.

One question - when you say joints feeing warm, do you mean warm to the touch or just a warm sensation?
Posted 9/3/2019 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
That's good to hear about having more tests soon, uazip05.

I mean warm to touch. The Rheumy always feels the joints for warmth.

There is seronegative and seropositive RA. Seronegative is more difficult
to diagnose. There is also mild, moderate and severe RA. I was diagnosed
with severe RA with high RF.

Good luck at your appointment and I hope that you do not have severe RA
or any RA, for that matter.

You're welcome!! Let us know the outcome please.
Posted 9/3/2019 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
At the time of your diagnosis, how bad were your symptoms (if you don't mind me asking)?
Posted 9/4/2019 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
No not at all. Thanks for asking.

My first year was intermitent(2 or 3 months with no pain) pain in several joints on both sides of my body. The pain continued into the next year in more joints and the pain was worse with limping. I also had trouble holding half full pots and our new baby. I went through 2 family doctors. The second one said that I had Arthritis of some kind and referred me to a Rheumatologist who dxd. me on my 2nd appointment.
Posted 9/12/2019 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
My results came back as normal across the board and my next follow-up is in a month. I'm not sure what to do now - just kind of searching for answers.
Posted 9/13/2019 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
Well, that is not unusual to get negative results. It has only been 6 months. Seronegative RA, as I mentioned, could be it but it is difficult to diagnose moreso than postive RA. But it's still too early. I don't get the chest tightness though. That doesn't fit.

Involvement of the sacroiliac joints or the distal interphalangeal joints of the hands can narrow the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. The other seronegative spondyloarthropathies (reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease–associated arthropathy) can mimic rheumatoid arthritis.

Perhaps you will have to wait or try another Rheumatologist.

I'm sorry. They tell people to get tested as soon as possible so that they can start aggressive treatment. Then when a person does, they get your result. It's very frustrating. Thank you for letting us know, even so. Take Care!
Posted 9/13/2019 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the reply. What is really odd is that in looking at the bloodwork, almost all levels are nowhere even near the positive range. I've also yet to have any really swelling anywhere, just pain/tenderness. I've been wondering to myself if this may be something more like fibromyalgia.
Posted 9/14/2019 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Uazip05, the rheumatologist would have told you if this could be fibro, they are the drs that diagnose & treat it. You may want to return back to your GP & discuss having your vitamin D & B12 levels checked. A deficiency of vitamin D can cause joint pain & a host of other issues. Low B12 can cause the tingling too. From what you are saying it appears you do not have RA, thankfully.

Take care.
Posted 9/14/2019 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
You're welcome. Thank you for getting back to us

Do you have any other conditions? Even Anxiety? Have you been bitten by a tick? Sometimes the person doesn't notice if he/she is bitten, say on the back for example. Lyme disease has a vast variety of symptoms.

Sorry, there is chest tightness associated with RA that I missed, Costochondritis. But, they say you do not have positive test results for Arthritis yet.

Seeing another Rheumatologist would still be a good idea. Always better to get another opinion. I would wait awhile though.
Posted 9/14/2019 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Susie,

Thank you for your reply. The rheumatologist didn't do much of a physical examination - just discussion on past history, symptoms, etc, so it left a lot open.

Would Vitamin D/B12 deficiencies cause intermittent, mild finger/wrist/elbow pain? I will ask my primary doctor about testing me for it.
Posted 9/14/2019 10:42 PM (GMT 0)

msOuchie said...
You're welcome. Thank you for getting back to us

Do you have any other conditions? Even Anxiety? Have you been bitten by a tick? Sometimes the person doesn't notice if he/she is bitten, say on the back for example. Lyme disease has a vast variety of symptoms.

Sorry, there is chest tightness associated with RA that I missed, Costochondritis. But, they say you do not have positive test results for Arthritis yet.

Seeing another Rheumatologist would still be a good idea. Always better to get another opinion. I would wait awhile though.

Thank you for your reply. I have been diagnosed with GERD and IBS in the past.

I don't typically have anxiety (I don't think anyway) but these symptoms and not being able to explain them has made me anxious. I haven't been bitten by a tick that I know of.

What is throwing me off is, to this point, the lack of any kind of swelling, warm joints, etc but still having foot pain along with intermittent finger/wrist/elbow pain/soreness (usually one area at a time, relatively mild) and not knowing why.
Posted 9/15/2019 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for your next appt. I went through a year of off and on pains before I was dxd. The first Doctor(walk in clinic) said that I was biking too much. He was wrong!

You did say a weak ANA result. That's something. That's an impressive amount of weight that you lost, if you were trying to.

Try to relax(easy to say) an not worry too much. Take Care!

I should add that I have RA in most of my joints and Osteoarthritis in the first digits of my fingers(didn't swell), left knee(didn't swell), right knee(did swell), Lower back(didn't swell). Weird!

Post Edited (msOuchie) : 9/14/2019 10:00:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2019 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
My weight loss sticks in my mind because I really did try to lose it - changed my diet, exercised, etc - but now I wonder if something medically assisted that, which stinks to think about as I was reajly proud of the loss. I've fallen off of the diet a bit the last two weeks - haven't lost additional weight but didn't gain any back either.
Posted 9/15/2019 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Losing weight, if you were over-weight is still a win. Less weight on the joints is a good thing in a disease that damages joints. On the other hand, there is usually a lot of inflammation before diagnosis which can cause weight-loss. Loss of appetite can cause weight-loss too. I went down from 120 to 102 pounds at age 26 without trying.
You haven't lost anymore for 2 weeks. That's a plus.

I do not believe you mentioned fatigue or feeling like you have a flu. Both are very common side effects.

Odd also that your ESR and CRP was still in normal range. I do hope that it stays there. No point in worrying about something that you may not even have. Correct?? smile
Posted 9/15/2019 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
I've had fatigue for sure. Not debilitating or anything but I've been more tired...I always chalked it up to getting older.

With my weight loss, I lost 10 in the first month and 5 lbs each month in February, March, April, and May, going from 212 to 182. From May til now, I've hovered around 178-182. I really did try - I changed my diet significantly and exercised more - but now I've questioned it. Never loss of appetite though - if anything, the opposite.
Posted 9/16/2019 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Getting older? You're only 38 for heavens sakes. smile Most guys(my hubby and son included) your age eat a lot still. Your weight is fine also. As long as you stay around that. You've done well. Fatigue is normal for many health issues. Or working, exercising too much or not getting enough sleep.
Posted 9/17/2019 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Some new info that may or may not be helpful:

My ANA Titer was 1:80 Homogeneous and Speckled. Meaningful at all?
Posted 9/17/2019 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hello :

You have revealed a good amount of information. Thank you! Unfortunately, your short-lived symptoms and test results do not answer the question of your condition. I'm sorry! As you mentioned, the ANA is too weak to tell.

It is tough but you will have to wait for your next appointment with the Rheumatologist. It is not far away.

Take Care!

Post Edited (msOuchie) : 9/17/2019 2:03:40 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/18/2019 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Uazip05:

As you probably know by now, you do not have Rheumatoid Arthritis. This a good thing....believe me.

Your test results showed zero evidence and you have no swelling. Unexplained swelling in at least one or 2 joints is on the criteria list for an RA diagnosis.

I truly hope that you soon receive a diagnosis for your condition so you can start treatment. Best to you.

Post Edited (msOuchie) : 9/18/2019 2:17:38 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/19/2019 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
One other thing I will put out here since you are a male. A few years back a male close to your age was suspected of having fibro. After a myriad tests that did not produce anything, his GP finally checked his testosterone level & found it to be pretty low. He was put on a supplement & his symptoms disappeared once his level got to normal range. Google low vitamin D level & read about the various things that can happen.

Like Ms. Ouchie said, be glad that you do not have RA. A low positive ANA can be caused by a variety of things not related to an autoimmune disease, including being a false negative.
Posted 9/19/2019 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both so much for your answers, insight, and support. I did see a second rheumatologist to get a 2nd opinion and they were much more thorough than the first but came to the same conclusion - that it is highly unlikely I have RA, Lupus, or PsA. She suggested getting my Vitamin D checked as well.

Additionally, I did recall that back in 2018 I had some elevated blood work in regard to my parathyroid. I plan to ask my doctor about doing some blood work for both the Vitamin D and that as well.
Posted 9/20/2019 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
That's Great news uazip05!! Thank you for telling us that. We're happy for you. Funny how Susie and your new Rheumy came to the same conclusion. smile Good Luck with the treatment and feel better. You are Welcome! Nice talking to you.
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