Letter from consultant

[sallym123]

Received my letter from consultant yesterday regarding steroid injection. He said my bloods are still showing no inflammation. He's having another appointment sent 2 me. The nurse told me if the injection took the pain away I had inflammation somewhere, was she right?

[helixhelix]

Yes... there are quite a few of us (myself included) where inflammation doesn't show up easily in the blood tests. If I'm flaring now my results rise to about 9....which is considered normal by most labs.

Luckily I have a rheumatologist who looks at me, not the piece of paper. I've also kept a spreadsheet of my blood test results over last 7 years which is very useful. Even tho' my numbers are low in the first years post diagnosis you can easily see things like the impact of steroid injections.

[sallym123 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank u 4 the reply. He has said it's arthritis but isn't sure which 1 due 2 no inflammation. Just hoping I start getting answers soon. I hope u get a diagnosis soon. Keep in touch with ur progress

[helixhelix in reply to sallym123]

I was diagnosed straight away - 7 years ago - it's just that the inflammation didn't show up in bloods. But everything else was obvious! Hope you get a result soon.

[Hidden]

I’ve had flares where my crp has been very high and others times it’s been almost normal, it’s odd isn’t it?

I hope you get some answers soon. Sounds like your rheumy is listening.

Kikidee

[Downtime]

Yes I think if the steroid injection makes a big difference it proves there’s inflammation, I have never had inflammatory markers in my blood and all my tests are normal, but I still have RA . I’m on Mxt and have steroid injections too but I’m on a trial period of a Humira (biologics) starting soon.