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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 4/15/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I am new here....just looking for answers. I have had pain the last 5 years in my hands,wrists, shoulder, knee and most painfull in my hip. My sed rate was being watched by my primary doctor and it was 35-40. After a few years with it elevated they sent me to a rhemotoligist who checked me for Lupas, that was negative and RA witch also came back negative. Now my sed rate is up to 55. Rhemotoligist  thinks I could still have RA they sent me for tons more blood work and x-rays of hands and hips. Any-one know about any of this and how I can test negative but still have RA, and some advice on the sed rate would be great! Thanks!!!
Posted 4/15/2011 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
I think you will find that many test negative but still have RA. A good rheumy will go by your signs and symptoms too. My rheumy thinks I have polymyalgia rheumatica and maybe RA too that will surface later (lucky me). You might Google that diagnosis as I think it can cause an elevated sed rate (though mine is not elevated-go figure). PMR usually affects older people, but more younger people are being diagnosed. It is in the same disease family as RA, but does not cause joint damage. I have joint damage already from my OA.

Maybe the xrays will confirm the RA diagnosis. My rheumy also told me that lots of time can pass with negative lab tests and then all of a sudden something turns positive. It is a lot to adjust to. I am still working on the adjustment part myself.

Hope others with more expertise will reply for you also.
Posted 4/15/2011 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have a high sed rate and the only test that is positive is my ANA but my rheumy said we go by symptoms. I think he thinks I have what is called seronegative RA just from my symptoms and also I have a family history of RA, thought not a strong one. They can start treating you to see how it goes but usually the symptoms have a lot to do with the diagnosis as well. I hope you can get some relief soon.
Posted 4/15/2011 9:59 PM (GMT 0)

From WebMD: "Diseases that are referred to as sero-negative arthritis include psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, the arthritis of inflammatory bowel disease, and sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis. Of these, the first four are closely related to each other and reviewing information about these conditions may be of help to you."

Rheumatoid arthritis can be confirmed by other tests even if the RA factor is negative. I am guessing that your doctor ordered the blood work and xrays to help determine what exactly is going on.

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