Deer in headlights needing some guidance

[Green-finger]

Hi everyone, I hope someone can please shed some light. I have had painful swollen joints to both middle, ring and index fingers and a burning sensation in my wrists. My doctor checked my rheumatoid factor, ESR and CRP all of which were normal and now he is fobbing me off saying this is all in my head. Some of my joints and red and hot to touch. My question is, can rheumatoid arthritis be present with normal bloods? The pain, stiffness etc is progressing and it’s been over 10 weeks now since it started. I am a 34 year old female with no other health conditions. I’m not sure if I should ask to be seen by someone else? Thanks in advance.

[helixhelix]

(#@ rude words for your GP). It is entirely possible that you can have an inflammatory disease without it showing in your blood. Doctors who go on blood tests alone and don’t take into account real physical symptoms are (@# more rude words).

Look at this,nras.org.uk/have-you-got-th... And there’s other useful stuff on NRAS website too.

If it’s been going on for 10 weeks you need to go back to GP and ask to be referred. And if they say no, then push why not as you have signs of early inflammatory arthritis. No signs in blood is not certainly not enough of a reason - maybe paste the S factor poster to his/her forehead. You can be sero negative, and have normal inflammatory markers, and still have the disease.

[Green-finger in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you. How do they go about diagnosising if bloods can be negative? Would a X-ray at this stage show anything?

[helixhelix in reply to Green-finger]

Physical symptoms, past medical/family history, ultrasound and the specialist’s experience.... a rheumatologist should be able to feel even low levels of inflammation in hand joints.

I hope it is something else, bit you need to be properly assessed.

[Frankiefocus]

Hi Green fingers I actualy changed my doctor as he told me after blood tests that I did not have RA. So I paid to see a rheumatiod consultant and she diagnosed I did. My knees were so swollen and painfull I was woddelling like a penguin. GPs are not trained for this so please get a referal or see consultant.

[Hidden]

Hi had similar symptoms. But problems with my feet and chronic tiredness with brain frog I also had regular flu like symptoms. GP dismissed it said I was depressed .knew I wasn’t . Eventually sent to a Rheumatologist who said my bloods were clear and told I didn’t have RA. Continued with symptoms and GP visits for 5 years each time made to feel I was a hypochondriac.was starting to feel it was now a mental issue. A new GP at the surgery took one look at me and said you Definitely have RA. I was referred and diagnosed with s- negative which didn’t show in blood tests 5 years ago. In those five years diagnosis had changed. Rheumatologist said consultants were miss diagnosing then and GPs are not well up on symptoms and diagnosis even now.

You know your body don’t give up . I’m no longer afraid of being a nuisance . I know my body.

[Mmrr]

As people on here have said, yes it is absolutely possible to have RD, but have normal bloods. Around 1/10 (depending on what you read do).

I to was labelled depressed rather than having RD by an unknowing GP, which caused delays and nearly 2 years of fighting back to get proper care.

You need to be strong and visit another Dr, with some knowledge, ask directly could I have seronegative rheumatoid arthritis ? And ask for a referral to rheumatology. I wish you well.

[Stowe]

I hope you get the answers you deserve, I too had symptoms, that kept flaring kept going to the drs and was told it wasn't RA, had 2 steroid injections in my wrists as I was so much pain, begged the drs to do more, pushed them to refer me to a rheumatologist on the NHS, went to a&e as I could stand as the pain in my knees and feet was getting so bad, the hospital consultant put in a urgent referral to the hospital for me, but I was told my NHS app would still be months away so I went private. Literally the consultant talked to me for 30 mins and said yes it RA and yes you can have normal blood and still have it, he said over a third of patients have normal blood have RA. Now on steroids a d start my medication on the 23rd May. Good luck and you have to push for what you want otherwise you'll end up waiting ages in pain.