Rheumatoid Arthritis

[Northernnugget]

Firstly a happy new year to you all 😀x

I'm just wondering has anyone being diagnosed with RA without the factor or immflamatory markers in their bloods? My worst pain is in my hands and wrists and I was diagnosed with FM back in September I had all the diagnostic imaging done by October 2021 which showed nothing and I dont have immflation in my bloods On the day of the last consultation with Rheumatology I asked how do they determine Seronegative? He said by examining the joints which were were apparently fine I feel my fingers and wrists are restricted in movement and are very painful at the joints I have a large lump on the base of my thumb on my right hand which apparently is likely to be a ganglion cyst and appeared much later afer all the scans and I feel my knuckles are becoming more prominent My worry is I also have RH and wont get treated correctly I have been discharged from Rheumatology in to the care of my GP to manage the pain I had a referal to Pain Rehab and spoke to a lady regarding the medication I'm taking for FM (Gabapentin not sure its working) I explained my sister has Polymyalgia Rheumatica though inflammation isnt present in her blood, she responds well to steroids The lady answered no doctor would give me steroids unless there was immflamation This worries me as had my sisters doctor not given her steriods she would still be in pain and probably wrongly been diagnosed with FM

Thanks for reading x

[Marzipan3468]

This is very strange - I seem to be in exactly the same position. I’ve had fibro for 7 years but more recently have been having quite extreme joint pain in my feet - I’ve been tested for RA and Lupus but at the moment, my bloods and X-rays are normal. It’s a completely different pain than I get with fibro - it feels like toothache in my bones. And I am convinced it is RA - I’m waiting for an appt with rheumy but will be at least a year. I was discharged soon after my diagnosis. My GP advised me to go private!!! Ummm nope I can’t afford that sorry Dr.

[Northernnugget in reply to Marzipan3468]

Its awful and annoyingly and chances are you'll see the same rheumatologist as you did with the NHS as they all do private work I went private with Rheumatology and after the initial £250 consutation I was refered back to the NHS and saw her as a pt there That was May 2021 I battled on and was made to feel a bit of a pest when physio refered me to Orothopaedics May 22 They sent a letter eventually to say they were going to pay for a private consultation and I finally got the appointment in October I Googled the consultant and hey presto he also works for the NHS No wonder theres no NHS appointments!!! I had lterally just had my Fibromyalgia diagnosis a few weeks before when I attended the Orthopaedics appointment and I was happy knowing my hand/wrist was going to get looked at again He asked me what was going on as the hospital I attended hadnt sent him any information at all apart from what was conveyed from physio Like an absolute idiot I told him I'd just been diagnosed with FM He visibly shut down He was very nice but told me to crack on with life, not to put labels on myself and further investigation would be pointless as they wouldnt find anything Apparently I have one last appointment with Rheumatology I'm going to insist on an MRI as one letter to my doctors stated there could be an outside chance of one

Thanks for listening x

[1whitestar in reply to Marzipan3468]

Hi I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last April stiffness everywhere even the jaw . Days where I can't move for 4 to 4 days. My bloods were rumertied positive and low markers. Consultant just said it was fibromyalgia. They took so long to help sort out meds I was in pain over a 10 it was my own gp that sorted out some kind of pain relief so I'm on duloxtine 60 mg daily and tramadol for the severe pain and that helps. Now I have an issue of swollen fingers and toes hot to touch and my hand now swells I can't move it 😫. So now I take naproxen for that but doesn't really help. So now I'm going for an xray and back to rumerthogly. .

[Northernnugget in reply to 1whitestar]

So sorry to hear this I'm in so much pain with my right hand which is my dominant one There is signs of swelling now My anxiety is through the roof x

[Loobielu]

Same experience with Rhyumatologist. She did say I have osteoarthritis in my hands though but I suspect it's elsewhere too. It's a battle isn't it. Gentle hugs x

[Northernnugget in reply to Loobielu]

It really is x

[Elizahl]

Wow strange I just read this as I am literally only home an hour from the rheumatologist consultation. My bloods have no markers but due to my symptoms they feel I may be earn on in rheumatoid development and I responded well to steroids which they gave me 2 months ago. They have decided to try me on prednisone and methotrexate on a trial bases and see me again in 2 months to see how I am doing. I would look to see an alternative rheumatologist as the first one never considered I had rheumatoid so jts always worth getting a 2nd opinion. I am going to put out a separate post looking for advice so maybe keep an eye on my replies to as it may help you. Best of luck I hope you get sorted and they are definitely wrong in saying no doctor will trial you on steroids.

[Northernnugget in reply to Elizahl]

Can I ask if they examined your joints? They said mine were fine x

[Elizahl in reply to Northernnugget]

Yes I have had every test under the sun since 2018 to now and in 2020 just before lovkdown they diagnosed me with fibro. As I was still having problems I was seen again this year and they decided with my difficulties getting out of bed in the morning with stiffness and muscle weakness he decided to try a steroid injection and one steroid tablet a day and 2 months later see how that went as it had a benefit he diagnosed me as early rheumatoid as well and now is trialling me on the meds I me tinned already and back again in 2 months to see if that helped.

[Northernnugget in reply to Elizahl]

Thank you so much I'm going to ring rheumatology tomorrow and insist on that appointment x

[Elizahl in reply to Northernnugget]

Ya do if you get nowhere try get referred elsewhere