Hi all! I’m usually on the MS board but it turns out I probably have RA as well. Both my knees puffed up so bad 2 weeks ago I coundn’t even stand, much less walk. I got a steroid shot and some medrol for 5 days. Since then my wrists, ankles, finger and toes have been very painful and sometimes puffy.
They also took blood work and my CRP=15 and RF=21 (0-14 normal).
What can I expect at my first rheumy appt?
Hi there. Similarly to neurology, rheumatology is rarely a black and white science. Your swelling may be definitive enough for a diagnosis. However an RF of 21 is only a weak positive and it is likely that the consultant will want to run more specific antibody tests for RA, Lupus and Sjögren’s and other rarer connective tissue diseases before deciding.
I had higher test results than you did when I was originally diagnosed with RA 7 years ago with RF of 28 and CRP of 30 plus synovial swelling and pain in hands and knees.
However after a few years I started having symptoms that both my then rheumatologist and neurologist thought were MS.
In my case, after a lumbar puncture, brain MRI and lip biopsy plus significantly positive ANA - it turned out that they now believe I actually have Sjögren’s as my main disease. This was only confirmed in a new hospital under a 3rd rheumatologist who was very experienced in connective tissue diseases and explained that both Sjögren’s and Lupus can imitate RA and MS to the point of misdiagnosis of both.
Hopefully whatever happens at your appointment, things will be clearer one way or the other. But I just wanted to tell you my story (to date) in case you are still left with uncertainty as I was. If so then this link might prove helpful. Best of luck.
There are a few previous posts on this if you look at search box top right, like this one
Hello and welcome to the forum. Your height and weight will be measured and possibly blood pressure taken. You will be asked about any family history of autoimmune disease, a timeline and details of your symptoms and current health and medication. Keeping a diary will help you remember what and when and any photos of affected joints would be helpful. Your joints will be examined so wearing clothes that are easily removed/rolled up/rolled down will make things easier. Oooh. I nearly forgot. May I suggest wearing your best undies? You know, the sturdy unrevealing sort of serviceable scanties. Having an unreliable memory, I find making a bullet-point list helps me remember details and reminds me of any questions or worries. I hope this is helpful but I'm sure others will be able to help if I've forgotten anything. Hugs
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