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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 8/17/2013 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I had posted before about my Fibromyalgia, however, my blood test came back in May this year with high strong positives.

RF: 17 IU/mL (they said high, not sure tho with this number)
SED Rate: 53 mm/h
CCP: >250 units
C-Reactive Protein: 5.36 mm/h

I had been having symptoms but wasn't sure as tests were negative before and rarely any problems. Looking back at my blood tests just now, not sure why it wasn't suggested I may have RA in previous tests, since my SED rate (44 H) and C-reactive protein (3.7 H) levels where high on 1/7/13.

I have been referred to a Rhuemy, but there are non in my area except five counties over. So the insurance is trying to locate one closer. They said they will make a decision and that can take up to two months. So I wait. I just received a new medication Nabumetone, but I don't think it's working too well.

What I'm wondering is when you all talk about symmetrical do you mean right then, at the same time? This I can't figure out, now matter how much I read. There have been about two times that both sides were affected which were my hands and my elbows. Ouchie yeah! It was three days of swelling and about a week of just soreness, etc. Does this sound right? Should it always be this way? Recently, everyday there's something going on. I mean it will be some joint somewhere that is having an issue, then after a few days, it will be another joint. Right now, my pinky finger is swollen and barely movable, a few days ago it was my thumb. LOL My feet now seem to have issues everyday tho.

Do you all have issues with the swelling, etc., both sides, both joints, or is it random with one joint at a time? I guess I'm having a hard time with this condition, but I really can no longer distinguish rather it's RA, OA, or the Fibro that's giving me trouble. Thanks in advance, Dixie

Post Edited (DixieDarlin) : 8/17/2013 7:12:41 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/16/2013 9:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dixie, It can be very confusing when you are first diagnosed with RA. Other people's symptoms may not resemble your own experience. In my case I suffer from a combination of symmetrical and non-symmetrical joint pain. Some of my joints are affected both at the same time for example my ankles, wrists and elbows but not always with the same level of pain or stiffness. My hands, fingers, knees, feet, toes and jaw are usually not affected at the same time. Both sides do flare up at different times but usually not with the same level of pain. I am very familiar with your description of the pain moving from one joint to another. Before your diagnoses it can feel like you are going just a little bit crazy when a new pain in a new place shows up every few days. This is quite normal though. Like you my feet are almost always painful especially when I go to bed. The length of time a flare up lasts can vary. Flare-ups can last for a few hours, days, weeks or months. You could experience any variation yourself. Let's hope your's are the few hour type. everything you have described sounds very RA to me. I hope you get on the treatment road soon. Good luck with everything. Neenaa
Posted 9/16/2013 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Neenaa, thank you so much for the reply! Yes, sometimes I feel like I am going crazy, but I also think I'm in a bit of denial. The tests results all point to it, but I still don't seem to accept it, well, until I've done too much and I'm in the bed for a day. Everything I have read says "symmetrical" and I'm like, well it's not! So I was confused. Thanks for explaining.

Like you, I rarely have equal sides of swelling. The only thing that seems equal would be my feet (sigh), and elbows. My jaws come close but hopefully that won't become reality. The jaw pain is in a class all its own.

Again I'd like to thank you very much in your response, it has put my concerns at ease. Have a great day. Dixie
Posted 9/17/2013 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, when I was first diagnosed with RA I would flare on one side say my middle finger of my right hand and then my left middle finger of my left hand would flare up but not both at the same time. Other joints did the same song and dance and my general physician had no clue what was happening. Only when I finally was referred to a Rheumatologist did she say yep classic RA symmetrical flare up.

My worst areas are my hands and feet. It can be absolute agony getting out of bed in the morning after tossing and turning. I relied heavily on ibuprofen for about 20 years before it finally got the better of me and messed up my upper GI. I can't even look at one now without 2 days of stomach pain. I would make sure to talk to your doctor if they want to put you on NSAIDS about something that is relatively easy on the gut. Now, I rely on pain meds mostly for relief in the evenings and I have concerns about dependence on them and have been looking at alternatives.

I hope you get in to see a Rheumatologist soon and I am praying that you are pain free in the meantime.

-Don
Posted 9/17/2013 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much Don. It's certainly been an experience. I knew something was wrong, but didn't know what. I just kept going to doctor after doctor, all kinds of tests, upper and lower GI scopy's, blood test, heart test, etc. Finally, this year, the pain management doctor said Fibro, and now when the blood work finally came back strong positive, he's referred me to the Rheumatologist. He said that probably the RA caused the Fibro....I can't even tell what's Fibro or RA anymore. Seems like one big mess! Haha.

Right now the pain management doctor has me on something called Nabumetone 500 mg, twice a day, but I can't see that it is doing anything at all. Still have the swelling, pain, stiffness, and zero energy. I had previously been on Mobic for years for OA.

Thank you for the reply and well wishes. It is greatly appreciated. Dixie
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