CRP levels...

[marie66]

Hi guys I'm currently on Methotrexate 5mget steroids and meloxicam anti inflammatory. My fingers and wrists are still swollen as are my ankles toes and feet - using splints and braces- and I'm now 18 months onfrom RA diagnosis. Still waiting for scans re biologics. So....my CRP came back at 5 is that enough to qualify? What do you think? M x

[marie66]

Hi I had a dig around and found this so it looks like less than 3 is normal. M x

healthline.com/health-slide...

[helixhelix]

If you are in the UK then you have to reach over 5.1 on the DAS score (disease activity score). That's calculated using your CRP score, and the number of tender and swollen joints you have, and how you say you feel on a scale of 1 to 10.

You can use the app from NRAS to work out how you would score. Here....

nras.org.uk/know-your-das-m...

A CRP of 5 is pretty low, so you'd have to have a lot of tender and swollen joints to make the grade. Often people have to come off all drugs so they go into a massive flare in order to qualify. IT's medieval.

[marie66 in reply to helixhelix]

Yes Rheumatology said stop pred. and anti inflammatory when I get word of a scan date so you are right on that score I feel! I have swelling and tender joints galore sadly but could work in my favour! M x

[Neonkittie17 in reply to helixhelix]

Yes HH, It's bonkers .. Come off all drugs. I could rant about the flipping DAS .. inlh slightly today as I'm busy wrapping presents! About time we RD sufferers got together and made someone change the DAS tests. As for squeezing inflamed knuckles!!! ... Barmy. Yes medieval .. Just get the stretching rack or the iron maiden out next (and I don't mean Bruce Dickinson .. That would not be torture 😍) 😁x

[Chalmers]

I don't qualify for biologics, looking back at my recent blood test results for CRP they are:

October 382 then 130 (had to have antibiotic drip) later in month 49

November 35

Not got out to have this months due to bad weather.

Been told that is good as it is reducing

[marie66]

If finding so many things affect it. Coughs infection you name i suppose. I think that's why rheummy says come off everything except methotrexate when I get the scan date. Seems nothing is easy with RA! M x

[MAHGS]

My crop esr at highest was 10 - bloods normal as such but ultrasound showed my hands were lit up like a Xmas tree 🌲!

Another damaged joint in 12 months when bloods were normal put me onto biologics .

So not all about DAS - I had spent last year saying I was really ill ( after years in remission) - they finally believed me when they hand xray .

Thought I was going mad 🙈