Viral arthritis, but now questioning if RA

[Juliehh73]

Hello all

I am new here and I’m hoping that I can pick your experienced brains? Three weeks ago I developed a very definite viral rash on my arms and legs, followed a few hours later by painful stiff joints, mainly my hands, wrists, feet and knees. My GP informed me it was a virus which had got into my joints.... viral arthritis. Three weeks on and still in incredibly pain, mostly in my hands and wrists and rash gone, my GP has sent a batch of bloods for a first check for RA.

Has anyone experienced or know if this? My knowledge is limited as I thought RA was a progressive disease. I would be really grateful for anyone who could enlighten me, please and thank you.

[helixhelix]

Well we're not doctors so can only tell you our experiences, and stuff we've picked up from living with this type of disease.

My understanding is that viral arthritis usually disappears v quickly, but sometimes it can turn into reactive arthritis which can last for months. That's what happened to my lodger, and he had a very miserable year. But then was totally fine, and still is.

Unfortunately it could also turn into RA. And yes that's a chronic, incurable disease. But these days it isn't as progressive and disabling as treatments are pretty good. However, don't worry about what might never happen. Focus on looking after yourself to give your body the best chance of shrugging it off - sleep, good food, etc.

[Juliehh73 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for your reply. Do you how the doctors would know the difference between reactive arthritis and RA, are the test similar?

[helixhelix in reply to Juliehh73]

Diagnosing these diseases requires doctors to be a bit like detectives as they have to piece together clues from physical symptoms, blood tests, medical and family history, sometimes gene tests, and what you say about how you feel. There isn't a neat flow chart that leads to diagnosis a or diagnosis b. Generally that's why you need your GP to refer you to a rheumatologist as they are the specialists. Or ideally for it all to vanish when you wake up tomorrow!

[Juliehh73 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you, yes ideally I would like just to wake up tomorrow and it be gone. I am already coping with chronic daily migraines and underactive thyroid, it would be rather greedy of me to have something else 🤪🤪🤪

[NBer55]

I was diagnosed with RA 5 years ago. For 15 years before that a simple virus sent me to the ER multiple times with life threatening symptoms. The first time it happened I spent 10 days in the ICU with Pericarditis, CHF, and fluid around my lungs and heart. The doctors always told me it was caused by a virus but nothing else ever showed up in my bloodwork until 5 years ago. I think they are related.

[Juliehh73]

Further to my originally question, my GP has just informed me there has been a bit of a ‘mishap’ with some results coming through so have to have my bloods redone, but has also informed me there’s no hurry and it’s early days.

With this in mind please could you tell me if you experiences when RA was first suspected and how quickly/slowly your healthcare was taken care of from that point?

Many thanks