Help!

[treeplant]

I’ve had a mri which has shown a huge amount of synovial swelling in the joints they viewed which they have concluded is inflammatory arthritis. My anti cpp was well in normal limits - 1.4, my RF negative and my crp was 20. They are not sure what I have - could it be rheumatoid if my anti cpp is normal? Any other ideas? It’s all so frustrating. I’m on steroids at the moment as they don’t know what medication to prescribe me. I am seeking a rheumatologist who will really look into it for me SE based or in London. Any strong recommendations? Thanks so much.

[FunBalloon]

Hi I'm sorry to hear that you have to join this group but at least you now have an answer to your symptoms. First of all you can have RA without a positive ccp antibody and RF. So it's possible that you suffer from RA. It's called seronegative RA. The positive CRP indicates the presence of inflammation in your body but isn't specific for RA. What I'd like to know is what body parts did you have an mri scan of? Your hands, get, back..? Because there are other types of inflammatory arthritis as well. So maybe you don't have rheumatoid arthritis but psoriatic arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis because they often don't have any specific antibodies in the blood. I hope you aren't suffering too much

[treeplant in reply to FunBalloon]

Thank you for your reply. I’ve got a stiff elbow which is massively swollen in the joint - my other elbow is also starting to swell. I also had my right foot looked at in the mri. It has swelling on the metatarsals and on both sides of the ankle. I’ve had lots of pain in the tendons and recently have had pain in the sticky out bone. I knew you could have RA if you had a negative RF but I didn’t realise you could have it with a anti cpp in normal limits. It’s all so confusing and I can’t find a rheumatologist who seems to know what’s wrong!

[FunBalloon in reply to treeplant]

I'm seronegative (so no ccp and RF), and it can be tricky to get diagnosed but your images should be speaking for themselves. It sounds as if you are suffering quite a lot. To be honest your symptoms could match rheumatoid arthritis and you should be seen by a rheumatologist to be put on the correct treatment. The steroids are great at calming down the inflammation but unfortunately do not stop the joint damage. I can't give you any advice with regards to a good rheumatologist in SE London but maybe someone else here can. You could also give the NRAS helpline a ring to ask for some advice. They are brilliant

[treeplant in reply to FunBalloon]

Thank you

[charisma]

Hi treeplant

RF and anti CCP are antibody markers that do not have to occur together or show at all for a diagnosis of RA.

CRP measures inflammation in the body.

ANA testing is used to detect Lupus.

Your symptoms certainly seem to point to inflammatory arthritis of some kind.

I cannot help with London area Rheumatologists either but the sooner you are referred the better.

I hope you quickly get the professional medical advice you obviously need.

And welcome to this community!

[treeplant in reply to charisma]

Thank you x