Seronegative late onset rheumatoid e

[Grams2020]

hello all,

Has anyone been diagnosed with Seronegative late onset rheumatoid arthritis? If so, what treatment are you on and how were you diagnosed?

[Connie49]

Hello, there. I was 62 when I was diagnosed with Seronegative RA following blood tests, X-rays, ultra-sound scans and physical examination. My symptoms were pretty classic - raised CRP and ESR and swollen, hot, very painful hands, wrists, shoulders and feet. I was initially treated with steroids then methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and folic acid. I have remained fairly stable since, though have just come through a small flare triggered, I think, by a virus. Is there any other information I can help with?

[Grams2020 in reply to Connie49]

Thank you Connie. You have been very helpful. There doesn’t seem to be much info on Seronegative late onset ra. I don’t have any physical signs of swelling and my crp and est are normal. Some finger joints ache and are stiff in morning and especially in cold weather. I’m not sure what a flare feels like 🤷‍♀️

[Connie49 in reply to Grams2020]

I promise you, Grams, that if you had a flare you would know about it! They can be excruciatingly painful, much as I have described above. I do hope you continue to have only mild symptoms. Best wishes.

[Gilliancheche]

i was about 62 when diagnosed by ultrasound. Am on MTX and Cosentyx. Still not fully controlled but hopefully heading in the right direction

[Grams2020 in reply to Gilliancheche]

Thanks Gillianheche. I hope it gets under control for you.

[oldtimer2]

My sister did not develop it until she was 70, diagnosed following Giant Cell Arteritis (and a loss of a little sight). She is now on sarilumimab injections.

She was quite cross - having seen me with it since I was 37, she knew what she was in for!

[Grams2020 in reply to oldtimer2]

Thank you for sharing

[Mostmoses]

Well, I started symptoms @60, 2 years ago. It started out like polymyalgia rheumatica, mostly in my back. Evolved to feet, when my rheum thought maybe rheumatoid arthritis, but I have no symptoms in my hands. Current tentative diagnosis is seronegative spondyloarthropathy. I have cycled thru hydroxy chloroquine (gave me heart attack symptoms within a week), methotrexate (went from pills to injections, then stopped when I experienced a spike migraine and possibility of stroke). Was prescribed lefludomide but then never took it because this class of drugs is clearly unfriendly to me. Now on Cimzia, which is probably helping and so far not trying to kill me. Have not had a serious flare-up for almost a year, but the last flare was really serious! You will for sure know if you have a flare-up. Best of luck with your disease and meds!! It is liveable-with, given meds that work for you; the tricky bit is finding the right meds for you.

[Grams2020]

wow!! I , also, had a bad reaction from hydroxychloroquine. Presently not on any meds bcz it is tricky with having a liver disease too. Glad you found something that works for you.

[KittyJ]

I’ve never heard of “late onset” in reference to RA, you can get it at any age there is no usual age 😊 That said you’ve got lots of people here who can support you, hopefully you’ll get some treatment soon.

[Grams2020 in reply to KittyJ]

thank you

[Barrister]

My Dad was 78 when he was diagnosed seronegative RA (even though he had a slightly raised RA factor) . He is just taking MTX.

Clemmie

[Grams2020 in reply to Barrister]

Thank you for your response. It makes me feel less alone. I understand it’s more of a challenge to treat in the elderly

[Zallyforth]

I was diagnosed at 61, though had been having some symptoms for several years before. Rheumatologist used X-rays, blood tests, and I also had a nerve conduction test done. Symptoms included sore feet, swollen joints in hands as well as redness and was starting to show signs of trigger fingers, general morning stiffness, and peripheral neuropathy in hands, face, and feet. Initially treated with steroids to see if reducing inflammation would help. It did. So they started me on hyroxychloroquine, which helped a little. They added methotrexate and folic acid. It helped a lot, but I was constantly catching colds and viruses. Dropped the methotrexate/folic acid and am now on sulfasalizine/ leucovorin, in addition to the hydroxylchloroquine.

[bedfordlodgers1 in reply to Zallyforth]

I have only just read your note and was interested to see you have peripheral neuropathy . I have been struggling with this problem from my toes to my thighs and find it very difficult to cope with as no one seems to know how it happens. Something to do with the nerves dying but no one seems to be able to tell me anything about it. I suppose I will end up in a wheelchair but hey ho if thats what happens. Has anyone out there got it. am on sulfasalizine.