RA and deformed joints

jeanneac

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2009

Posts : 1930

Posted 2/27/2017 3:52 PM (GMT 0)

So, I have been told I have seronegative RA and was put on plaquenil. It took a while but I do believe it helps. My RA has not been disfiguring though and I am starting to wonder if I really have it. I had pain and swelling but no redness in my hands, feet (toes) and other joints. So, I guess my question is do some of us have a milder form of RA? One time my RF was right at the cut off.

I may have to go off plaquenil though-

I had a visual field eye test on Friday and I think I flunked it with one of my eyes. Ugh!

I also have Sjogrens but the plaquenil doesn't seem to help with that.

BadDay

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2011

Posts : 1087

Posted 3/1/2017 2:40 AM (GMT 0)

Hi you can have RA and Not have redness or even swelling then one day bang you will get both it all depends on how Your RA acts
I have Always Been Sero Positive with my first test coming back at 160 then over the years it fluctuates different at different times, and even when it was up high I did not have joint redness and only mild swelling However I did get Internal Swelling but I Always had stiffness, pain & fatigue then years latter all of a sudden I got swelling rolleyes:

Plaquenil can be very good I only took it for a few weeks as I had a Huge reaction to it - stevens johnson syndrome - oh boy was I Sick
all started with a Sore Throat & Fever ended up in Hospital delirious with ulcers in my mouth & throat on an iv & unable to eat solids for weeks.
I guess keep a watch on all your blood tests and keep your eye checks regular but if you are finding improvement all should be good

jeanneac

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2009

Posts : 1930

Posted 3/1/2017 1:52 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you for your reply BadDay! I appreciate it!! Despite feeling poorly and having joint pain, I sometimes wonder if I really have RA. I did have an uncle with it and I've had two rheumies tell me I had it but one told me he thought my x ray erosions were "over-read." I don't think he knew what he was talking about, he was pretty inexperienced and young-

I am guessing some of us have it but it isn't that aggressive. I am assuming that would be especially so if you are seronegative. Not that I want to see red, swollen joints! The pain and stiffness I get before storms and general joint pain is enough for me. I also get swelling but not redness. Lately, my knees have really been bothering me. I hope I don't have to go on methotrexate but if I can't take plaquenil anymore, I don't know what they will do. I work in health care.

Sorry about the awful reaction to plaquenil. I had a friend who had a Stevens Johnson reaction to a drug and it was awful!!!

My eye exam last week might have shown some problems in one of my eyes. The tech told me but I don't know what the Drs. opinion will be. I've been on 400 mgs of plaquenil for about 4 years.

msOuchie

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2011

Posts : 601

Posted 3/2/2017 6:11 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Jeanneac:

If you haven't had RA for very long but have been on RA drugs for 4 years(or more), I wouldn't expect you to have any deformity. Hopefully, you don't get any. I do not recall having red joints. A medium to dark pink, yes.

You are right! There are mild, moderate and severe RA. Years ago my Rheumy declared after my tests had come in that I had, Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis - Seropositive. One of my net friends has mild RA for about 20 years. He hasn't suffered much from it and has not been on any of the tough drugs that most of us have been on.

There are many RA medications, so you and your Rheumy still have a choice, if you need to stop the Plaquenil. If it is causing you an eye problem, that is. And yes, some of the meds do take some time to start working. I was on Methotrexate(oral) for many years. My Rheumy switched me to Methotrexate injections not long ago. I was off the Methotrexate(oral) for about 4 years. Feel better!

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