Is it definite?

[Twinboys]

Hi there. At the doctor I told her I had lower back/upper butt pain and then pain that went down both sides of my outer thighs which I thought was siatica. Also the outside party of my left thigh is numb and a little bit on the right thigh. She did blood work and some nonchalant nurse called me and said "you tested positive for RA so go see a rhomatologist. I was taken back. Does that mean it's definite? I mean there's also an exact name for the numbing outer thighs (can't remember right now) but it is in correlation to siatica. Thanks for your help.

[cheshcat]

No. It's not definite. Talk to the rheumatologist. They told me it's a clinical diagnosis (that a rheumatologist has to diagnose) and the blood work is only one thing they look for. I hope you don't have RA.

[sylvi]

I hope you don't have RA and i would report that nurse for trying to be a dr when she isn't and its not her place to diagnose you. If you do have RA it is not the end of the world and if they start you on drugs straight away it can stave off some of the worse things with ra.xxxxx

[Matilda7]

Suggest you make an an appointment to see your GP to talk about the blood test results. It's poor practice for the nurse to intervene in the way you describe!

[helixhelix]

Sciatica is when the sciatic nerve gets squashed, pinched, or compressed and you get pain running down inside your legs. There's another nerve called the lateral femoral nerve, and if that gets squashed you get pain running down the outside of your legs. Sometimes called paresthetica. Could that be what the doctor said? But it's not really a common symptom of RA.

I think it's about 30% of people who have positive RA factor and don't have RA. As cheshcat said it's a clinical diagnosis, so a rheumatologist would look at the results of your blood tests (and not just the RHeumatoid factor but the rest too), your physical symptoms and what they can see and feel on examination. It needs more than one of these to be sure you have RA. So it's quite likely that you don't have it. However, RA can appear very slowly so it would be best to be sure. If it is, and you catch it early then that gives you the best chance to get into remission and have no more problems. Go to the rheumatologist and get it checked out. I think the nurse was just being cautious and thorough.

[Twinboys in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks so much for your reply. I actually told the doctor I think I have paresthetica or siactica. My joints do not hurt or any of of the symptoms that RA has. But she did a blood test and a nurse called me to see an rhmotologiest. So I guess that's the next step.

[Hidden]

That tingling can actually be several things I'm afraid. I have the same and they tell me it is peripheral neuropathy, which is a part of RA and Fibro as well. Unfortunately, you will find that when it comes to the whole RA / Fibro / ETC. things there is much that is common between them.

Your rheumatologist will check you over, probably poke on your joints and ask if it hurts, etc., look at your lab tests and make at least an initial call. We'll keep our fingers crossed that it is not RA, but if it is, please feel free to join us here. You will find a lot of help with any questions you have.

[Twinboys in reply to Hidden]

Hi there thanks for responding. Although I have a slight numbness on my outter thigh I do not have tingling. I looked up PN symptoms and they listed 10-12 of them and I don't have any of them other then that slight numbness on my skin of my outter thigh when after 3 weeks seems to be lessening and now I feel what I thought was the siatica more again. None of my joints hurt at all. I'm 48 years old. I will make an appointment. Thanks.

[Hidden in reply to Twinboys]

Actually that is a great thing. Best of luck with your appointment!