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Posted 3/29/2009 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have horrible joint pain, and my doc says there is nothing wrong with me.  I have had a bone scan which showed increased uptake in the SI joints, talus bone, and middle foot and in the knees.  And these are my CRP levels since Nov. '07

Nov '07 .453 mg/dL
Nov '08 .802 mg/dL
Mar '09 1.1 mg/dL

I have swelling of my ankles and fingers and am stiff in the morning for at least an hour.  There are other symptoms, but I dont want to bore you.

I have been to 2 rheumys and 1 GP.  All say there is nothing wrong and I just have fibromyalgia. 

Where do I draw the line and just give up and say the docs are right?  I just cant believe that with all the pain and stiffness its just fibro.

Are the CRP rises significant?  Or are the increases just normal?  My doc says any1 my age (35) would have the same issues I do.  I just find that hard to believe.


 

Posted 3/29/2009 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hey MellyMell!!! I am sorry you are having so much pain! What are  your other symptoms? A lot of times we have to go through a lot of doctors before we find the correct diagnoses. I am usually in the lupus forum but occasionaly like to come to the arthritus forum because I suffer from arthritus due to Lupus. There are also a lot of people the have fibro on the lupus forum that have had it for years and would be able to tell you if the pain is normal fibro pain or if it could be something more.
Posted 3/30/2009 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Your crp is not elevated enough to indicate any systemic inflamation.
By the way fibromyalgia is not nothing. It is believed to be autoimmune in nature, it is a central pain disorder and would explain your pain. It doesn't cause inflamation but you could be retaining water from more systemic AI involvement.
Also, it often takes a while to get definitive diagnosis with these disorders since they like to reak havock on the body for a while before settling into any diagnosable patterns (I had normal blood work for 9 months while I was so sick my doc wanted to put me in the hospital until they could find a diagnosis and treatment).
Posted 4/2/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
MellyMel, I have Crohn's with arthritis and I can tell you that I may have four joints swelling (so there is obviously inflammation) but my CRP levels come back low, so I don't put much faith in those numbers.  A lot of times, you have to base things on how you feel, not what the numbers say.  If you still believe something is wrong, try to get another opinion.  I'm on my third GI for my Crohn's disease and I think I finally have the right one...sometimes it takes awhile (took 8 years to diagnose my Crohn's disease).  Find a rheumy who will take the time to get the right diagnosis and treatment.  Good luck. 
Posted 4/17/2009 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! CRP tests aren't significant for inflammation. Normal is 1.0.
Usually people have to go through a lot of testing, they are finding out now though that having an anti-CCP test will show up a lot quicker than a positive ANA or RF. It took years before I had a positive RF, I had severe pain and chronic fatigue and for years it kept coming up negative.
Now its been years since my diagnosis and we still can't come up with the right combination of drugs. I am on my 3rd biologic along with MTX, and many other drugs.
So far Enbrel seems to be helping a grea deal along with MTX, Lyrica (for FM), Vicodin and a few other drugs.
Keep after your dr. you have to be your own advocate!!
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