Anyone here have RA?

Well, it wouldn't be real acupuncture anyways...more of acupressure. He never bites to break skin, at least.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

I'm glad you wrote all that, it's very informative! I was starting to doubt myself because the doctor said my RF was negative. I've got these strange red/purple blotches over some of my joints, and my work acquaintances who have RA say they don't look familiar.

But my CRP was 60.2. So maybe that says something. I can't move my ankle, but I'm not sure if that's joints or swelling...

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If this doctor is not a rheumatologist you need to find one. If he/she is a then you need a second opinion.

From looking at my hands my rheumatologist first suspected Psoriatic arthritis.

This is common in people with Patients who have psoriasis. This was a puzzle because I don't have psoriasis. The only way to diagnosis this in a person without psoriasis is to draw joint fluid (not fun at all) and test that.

I have read that it is possible to develop the arthritis first then the psoriasis but not likely.

I have also read that a high CRP can be a sign of other things other than RA this I believe because the time that I tested the highest was on a lab day when I had a nasty cold.

Either way a CRP of 60.2 is not good.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Well, it wouldn't be real acupuncture anyways...more of acupressure. He never bites to break skin, at least.

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The next time he tries to bite you should point out the two cats that don't have teeth and tell him they were biters too.

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

The next time he tries to bite you should point out the two cats that don't have teeth and tell him they were biters too.

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Ohhhh....good plan! Squishy's like a 16 year old, he listens to nothing I say. I tell him to sit, he stands....I tell him to knock it off, he takes it in a literal sense & knocks something off. Kids these days...

Done hijacking, I swear!

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

The next time he tries to bite you should point out the two cats that don't have teeth and tell him they were biters too.

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The psoriasis part worries me personally. I have nail pitting (no it's not a deficiency of any kind , and my nails look too nice for it to be fungus) - my rheumatologist made a kind of 'Hmm' face when I showed her last month and quickly made a note of it. I've also recently had a couple of odd little spots, I'm telling myself they were just odd patches of dry skin.

Red/purple spotting near joints might be bruising of some sort. That sounds rather worrisome. These diseases do, in some people, attack more than joints and connective tissue. Personally, I would call the rheumatologist's office and ask if they can put you on a call list if someone cancels.

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

If this doctor is not a rheumatologist you need to find one. If he/she is a then you need a second opinion.

From looking at my hands my rheumatologist first suspected Psoriatic arthritis.

This is common in people with Patients who have psoriasis. This was a puzzle because I don't have psoriasis. The only way to diagnosis this in a person without psoriasis is to draw joint fluid (not fun at all) and test that.

I have read that it is possible to develop the arthritis first then the psoriasis but not likely.

I have also read that a high CRP can be a sign of other things other than RA this I believe because the time that I tested the highest was on a lab day when I had a nasty cold.

Either way a CRP of 60.2 is not good.

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I thought of Psoriatic Arthritis, but don't feel like the symptoms match. The Dr. I saw was my regular GP. I went when I was feeling pain, but it wasn't red yet (stupid me). So she hasn't seen the ankle or swellings over the joints. She did get me into a Rheumatologist within 2 weeks rather than over 2 months that I had originally secured.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

The Dr. I saw was my regular GP. I went when I was feeling pain, but it wasn't red yet (stupid me). So she hasn't seen the ankle or swellings over the joints.

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If you end up with a good rheumatologist, they'll notice swelling on joints you may not have even noticed yourself. They're trained and practiced more at looking for that then a GP too.

Had my appointment with the rheumatologist today. It was actually very interesting. I'm having a few more blood tests, but the initial thought is that there are reasons for it to BE RA, and there are reasons that she thinks it might NOT be RA.

Pro RA - small joints, same on both sides, sudden onset, family history

Anti RA - bruising over joints not typical, relief with NSAIDs not typical

But she is keeping me on the prescription NSAID, Vicodin, along with a new drug to stop the immune reaction, and I am to see her in 6 weeks.

She didn't want to put me on Prenisone right away because I just lost 8 pounds, and one pill would probably put it all back on, LOL!

So we still dont know huh??

Well, I guess not, but even if it is, I've got a great doctor and we're moving forward!

Thats awesome!! Get everything under control and out of pain and you should be set to go!!

I'm a little relieved (maybe a little ashamed to admit) that I can keep taking the pain killer.

One more question, guys!

If you've had an exam by a rheumatologist, were you really sore the next day? I'm really stiff and sore today, knees, toes, ankles, hands. I think it's the range of motion stuff she did with me.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

If you've had an exam by a rheumatologist, were you really sore the next day? I'm really stiff and sore today, knees, toes, ankles, hands. I think it's the range of motion stuff she did with me.

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No, mine was actually fairly gentle, at least till she got to checking my SI joints - the way those are checked (one way you lay flat on your back and put your ankle over your other knee - in a figure 4 sort of) causes the muscles to be compressed and such. On a good day that still hurts me.

You must be really swollen and sore, or maybe your doctor poked a bit too hard. I have read others complaining about their doctors being too rough.
Also, how long were you sitting in those uncomfortable waiting room seats and is it cold there? That alone can make you worse if you're already sore. Nerves/stress/worry will make you feel the pain more too.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

No, mine was actually fairly gentle, at least till she got to checking my SI joints - the way those are checked (one way you lay flat on your back and put your ankle over your other knee - in a figure 4 sort of) causes the muscles to be compressed and such. On a good day that still hurts me.

You must be really swollen and sore, or maybe your doctor poked a bit too hard. I have read others complaining about their doctors being too rough.

Also, how long were you sitting in those uncomfortable waiting room seats and is it cold there? That alone can make you worse if you're already sore. Nerves/stress/worry will make you feel the pain more too.

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She was very gentle, but she did need to test the furthest range of motion I had. So I was sore. But the drugs seem pretty good so far, LOL.

Actually when I left I felt pretty good because he had the nurse give me a shot of some kind of Anti inflammatory/pain killer.

This was after he stuck the giant needle into my knee to extract joint fluid.

One time we did discuss prednisone but I would refuse to be on it for any length of time because of the side effects. I've seen skinny people who blew up like balloons. I'm fat enough I do not need to make it any worse.

When I read your post about seeing the rheumatologist I was wondering how it went. It sounds like you had a good first visit.

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

Raising hand

I have it.

My advice is find a rheumatologist and get tested. I went undiagnosed because I don't test positive on the simple blood tests.

I have been doing OK but am at a point now where I will have to go to some different drugs and it makes me nervous.

Also I haven't gotten the results of my last labs. That make me nervous. My next appointment is February 4th and I am not looking forward to it.

If you do have it the sooner you know the better your chances of slowing it down. It never goes away but you can keep it from taking over.

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By the way...how did your appointment go? What meds are you on? What labs did you have?

ETA: Oh, and I'm now on plaquinal (sp?) too. It makes me thirsty and hyper, LOL. How about you?

Originally Posted by kluchetta

By the way...how did your appointment go? What meds are you on? What labs did you have?

ETA: Oh, and I'm now on plaquinal (sp?) too. It makes me thirsty and hyper, LOL. How about you?

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The appointment was OK. He didn't give me any of the injectable drugs. Said he didn't think it was an option at this time. We had talked about it at my last visit. At first I thought I would have to make weekly visits for shots. Then I found out you do it yourself. I was not too keen on the idea of having to poke myself with needles but it would be better than weekly visits. I'm too lazy for that!

I was really worrying because I was sure my last lab would be bad. I felt really crappy that day and bad days mean more inflammation which makes the tests come out high.

Plaquenil was the drug he prescribed when I first saw him two years ago. And the one that actually made a difference in my puffy feet. I've never noticed that it made me hyper but that could be one reason that I wake up at night with a dry mouth. (because of this I started keeping a bottle of water on the nightstand)

The only change he made was to adjust the dose on my methotrexate. I started with five little pills a week. Then went to seven a week. This time he decided to split the difference and change it to six.

He also decided to go back to doing labs every two months. I had graduated to ever three. My inflammation level was down this time, in the low 30's, but still to high. This was a surprise.

The labs are primarily to test liver enzymes because the methotrexate can do damage in high doses or if taken over long periods.

I'm still taking the relafen and the only other change was because of a change in my insurance. For some reason they will not cover the Ultracet (acetaminophen and tramadol).

Well, they will but only 40 a month, I had been getting 150. So that's out. What I can get is just plain generic tramadol. So now I will take that two to three times a day and add my own generic acetaminophen. The amount of each drug is a bit different but it should work the same.

Well, that doesn't sound too bad. My drugs yesterday were only about $17, so I was pleased with that.

I have RA. I cannot take the steroids to treat it because the side effects for me are worse than the treatment. I cannot take most of the meds for it because I also have lupus, diabetes and an as yet undiagnosed liver disease. We are still trying to figure it all out. I cannot take most of anything for it right now. So far it is not too bad, except my hips and ankles hurt some at night, walking seems to help, so I walk up and down my long hallway. I am 49 and I found out about all this in 1 checkup. I am still having a little trouble accepting it.
I hope it all works out for you. Please keep us posted.