I don't have any symptoms for any condition and am not in any pain. However my CRP and ERS levels are very high. I had a TAB done which was normal. The rheumatologist I'm attending is suggesting an ultra sound and if necessary injections. I'm overwhelmed trying to take it all in. Anyway just saying hello 
Bernie
Welcome, Bernie! I have no diagnosis but have symptoms and am waiting to hear if I RA. I’m curious why you were tested for inflammation markers without symptoms? Is that standard practice on the UK?
Hi Klutzy,
Thank you for your reply. I got out of bed one morning and couldn't put any weight on my left foot. My doctor gave me anti-inflammatories. It was gone in two days. But she did three sets of blood tests. My CRP was 40 and my ERS was 30 so she sent me to a rheumatologist. He did blood tests and they were 173 and 62. I have been googling ever since and came upon this site. It nice to talk to real people
Hi! Glad your foot is better. That makes sense now why they tested you. I just didn’t know if they just tested for those as a standard practice since you wrote originally no pain/no symptoms. Hope your Rheumy can help you!
Thank you Klutzy what are your symptoms if you don't mind me asking?
Joint stiffness/pain, swelling of knuckles, wrists and sometimes elbows, My knuckles and elbows sometimes get red, And a deformed finger.
Hello Klutzy - High ESR and CRP can be signs of various ailments besides RA.
I think tests would be done to check for example: haematological conditions - which, in any case, can be connected with RA, and other autoimmune diseases.
Blood tests are the first resort for almost anything - they give a great deal of information.
Good Luck!
Welcome. You are amongst friends. X
Hi and welcome
I must say you have a very proactive Dr.
I’m the opposite my bloods are good but was diagnosed due to symptoms it took a long time.
Symptoms of RA are different for everyone . For me it’s stiffness and mobility problems with some swelling rarely pain but I do get major fatigue.
This a great site for help and understanding . Don’t be shy ask any questions someone will be able to help .
Hey there J1707 really know what you mean about extreme fatigue my eyes have started to feel really heavy in the day as well.X
Hi Bernie, My symptoms are pain, swelling, heavy joints (seemingly made from lead!), fatigue and stiffness in the morning or after sitting for a long time. I can't help as to why your inflammatory markers, especially the CRP, are so high, assuming you don't have a rash of any kind such as psoriasis, which would push it up. I hope you get an answer soon and I'm sure we'll all be interested in hearing about it when you do. It must be inflammation of some sort. Take care and good luck. In the meantime stay safe.
Hi Bernie!My ra started in precisely that way: I had several short lived episodes (3 - 4 days at most) where a part of me (arm, foot, even my jaw) became very painful and unusable and then it went as quickly as it came. I was diagnosed with palindromic rheumatism. This gradually , over a period of several years, morphed into full blown ra. My crp and esr were very high during the episodes but went back down to normal when they had passed. There is lots of information about PR on the internet and even a Facebook page. I hope this helps.
It is overwhelming! Did the rhuemotologist check your joints for inflammation. Mine checked for what she calls bogginess. This is how I was diagnosed. I think viruses can cause a spike in markers for inflammation. Maybe with further investigation you won’t have RA.😀
Hello and welcome from me. I hope you soon get some answers.xxx
Inflammatory arthritis is a strange beast: some people have entirely normal bloods (including crp and esr) but very obvious symptoms, some have abnormal bloods but fairly non-specific issues with joints. As others have said, it’s good that your GP is being proactive, but what I would say is that crp and esr are not specific for arthritis, they can be raised in any condition at all where there is inflammation in the body, so keep an open mind as to diagnosis at this point. Ultrasound is definitive for inflammatory arthritis, so fingers crossed that will give you some answers.
Hey there Charlie_G yeah my arthritis was diagnosed as a result of Ultra Sound Scan of my hands and my Amitriptyline has started wearing off even though it has just been increased and my feet have been painful to walk on when I wake the Amitriptyline helped this for a year however I have the feeling it may not help me anymore the joy eh.
Welcome Bernie 😀
Hello Bernie.
You might not have RA. Sjögren’s is a much more likely contender for high inflammation without the obvious signs of RA.
This was exactly how mine started ten years ago, misdiagnosed for 5 years as RA. Later came sicca, neurological and vascular involvement and now a specific antibody for systemic sclerosis. My main disease progression ten years later has been in my gastrointestinal tract, my small nerve fibres all over my body, terrible fatigue and in my kidneys. My rheumatologist has arranged a full body CT to hopefully exclude malignancy associated with hyperviscocity and I’m monitored annually now for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
My joints are undamaged by the years of polyarthritis but my persistently very high inflammatory markers show Hyperviscocity suggestive of Vasculitis and these haven’t really responded yet to treatment - although the renal disease is being kept at bay.
Here’s a link which may be worth keeping hold of because it’s taken me ten years to find a good rheumatologist who has identified my risks and understands how to monitor and treat them. I hope your rheumatologist is a keeper but where rarer rheumatic autoimmune diseases are concerned, many aren’t.
My first rheumatolgist never even mentioned Sjögren’s, Raynaud’s, Erythromelagia or Scleroderma - although I’m guessing he knew I had these. He was seemed to think “non erosive RA” with a better prognosis was a suitable umbrella for me, and was interested ONLY in inflammatory arthritis, which I no longer have much of the time.
Much harm was done through his negligence and my prognosis certainly isn’t better for not having erosive RA.
sciencedirect.com/topics/im...
“Autoimmune disorders commonly manifest polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Among these, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögrens syndrome cause the most profound polyclonal increase in gamma globulin”
Hi Bernie and welcome. I hope you find out soon what the problem is. My diagnosis was made on ultrasound as my rheumatologist thought it was reactive arthritis but once the US was done he said there was no doubt whatsoever that is was RA. My GP at the time was very good too and I think she thought it could be RA and referred me straight away - at that time the wait was still three weeks 😲. Good luck. 🤞x
Welcome here all are lovely hoping they they find the correct treatment for you take careX
I just had a sore finger and a good GP. I'd not look for problems as it might really frighten you and Dr Google is dreadful if I put in my disease I'd be on my death bed but actually I'm well, active and at the moment filling in time before going to babysit my granddaughter whilst they both have a day off to go paddle boarding. Fact is because RA is systemic no two people get it the same. So be patient, forget looking for problems and be reassured that although it can take time there are some very good medications and remission is achievable. It may even be that you never get any symptoms as some with RA test negative and some without any active disease test positive. Enjoy todays sunshine and try not to worry as stress may well make you feel a lot worse. xx
Morning Bernie and welcome!Mine started with my feet (both of them) like walking on glass in the morning when I first got up, but by the time I got to work I was ok. Over the months it progressed to my hips, then my knees, hands and fingers red and swollen, shoulders, eventually I was struggling so much (this all happened over a Christmas period) so I had to wait for bloods, X-rays etc. Eventually RA was diagnosed and I was put on steroids and Methotrexate. My CRP remains normal, but my ESR is always high, although it has gone down considerably nw to what it was.
As everyone on here has said, RA manifests itself very differently for everyone, it’s tricky to diagnose.
I hope you get some answers, but everyone on here is most helpful and always happy to talk.
😊
Hi new girl, it is overwhelming and a lot to take in with not knowing what is happening. My diagnosis happened in February. It took me numerous attempts to get through to my local doctor and then all appointments were drawn out, Covid being blamed naturally. There will be good and bad days, some staff better than others. Good luck and I wish you well
Hi Bernie, I hope it's not RA, but if it is that's not the end of the line. The best advice I can give you is to ditch Dr.Google and get your information from well researched and reliable sources like NRAS, VersusArthritis or similar. NRAS have a huge knowledge base about all aspects of RA and a help desk that really can help!I was diagnosed in 2009. The first 18 months were hard, with lots of ups and downs, pain, fatigue and tears. Once I was on the right combination of drugs things got a lot better and since 2014 I am in remission and don't think about RA most days of my life. With todays drugs the outlook is even better, and the information on self management(which is as important as the medication) is extremely useful. You'll find that on NRAS as well. All the best.
Welcome to the gift that keeps on givingRA! A pain in a different body part to keep you guessing swelling to cause you displeasure ands tiredness that turns you into sleeping beauty. On the plus side you will become the most informed patient ever with the heart of a warrior so congratulations you have joined a weird and bizarrely fantastic new family 🌺
Hello there 3570, it's all very bewildering and frightening and I do remember that feeling. At least your team are on board with your readings and we are here to help as well, crp and a no of other readings from a blood test such as bone profile, liver profile, are usually taken about once a month. If you don't like the suggestion of needles you could ask if there is any oral meds you can take, though they can carry side affects.
Hello. I'm a new girl too. I hope you find the answers to your questions. My RA took years to diagnose as I already had extensive OA. Later after RA I was diagnosed with Fibro. Everyone's symptoms cover a wide range and some people are quickly diagnosed.
My GP was hung up on the fact that there was no family history of RA, even though I already had one autoimmune disorder( coeliac disease).
Do update is on what happens and you never know you may be lucky enough not to have RA.
Hi everyone . I hope you all get to see this. A simple thank you feels inadequate at best for the support you have shown me. Please know it's much appreciated XX
Hi, Bernie. I’m interested to know how old you are. My granddaughter will be 16 in two weeks. She has been telling me how she gets pains that come and go in her ankles and knees and hips. I worry that my RA may be hereditary to her. I spoke with my rheumy and she said my granddaughter should be tested as she is in an age group where symptoms do begin to appear. I wish you all the best in your outcomes.
Hi Bonnie,
I'm sorry to hear that you have that concern...she's so young. I'm 66 I thought RA was for much older people. I hope you and your grand daughter are both spared that diagnosis Xx
Hi, Bernie. I had many aches and pains in my childhood. They called them “growing pains” back then. I know we have younger people who follow this group and I was as surprised as you to find that out.
I remember that term well I haven't heard it for years. I looked up RA in children and apparently it's the commonest form of Arthritis in children under sixteen. Hopefully they'll come up with a cure soon
You’re like me Bonnie, I was always at the doctors after I had septic arthritis at age 7. Always told it was growing pains even when my joints were so swollen and I had to use crutches. Hopefully that wouldn’t happen to any child now and doctors would be more clued up on testing and the possibility of RA.
Kitty, Your comment about being 7 brought back a memory. I was about 9 when I almost died from an illness after a bad bout with influenza. They tried the only thing left, a new medication, and i survived. Perhaps the illness or the medication brought about my problems. Who knows. Glad for this group and the help it provides so many.
We will never know probably. My SA was after tonsillitis and ended up with me being hospitalised. I’m glad there’s places like this now for people to get support. It must help alot.
Yes. It’s good that people are now more open with their needs and getting professional guidance along the way.
Welcome Bernie! I’ve been diagnosed with early RA in the last few months, after having pain/aches in my feet and hands since Xmas, as well as showing up as seropositive in my blood test. This forum has been so useful and everyone here is incredibly friendly / supportive / knowledgeable.
Thank you so much. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis particularly as it seems to be complicated. I don't know what I have yet but I think my rheumatologist is leaning towards GCA despite a normal biopsy and no pains or aches. Waiting for ultra sound at the moment. I can't take steroids so he says I can inject the big medication (his words). The side effects worry me a bit. I hope you're getting pain relief from whatever meds you're taking
Hi Bernie and welcome. You might find our website nras.org.uk/ a useful source of information and our helpline 0800 298 7650 is open Mon-Fri 9.30am to 4.30pm if you would like to talk to a member of our team.
Hi Janet, Thank you. I'm going to check it out now and might phone before my next visit to the rheumatologist. I don't know what he's going to tell me. I heard that you can have both RA and GCA at the same time.
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