Uncertain PMR or EORA?

[Woollyback1]

Good morning,

My first visit to see the Rheumatologist referred by GP and taking Naproxen for three months. Hip pain much better but not doing much walking, shoulders heavy with impaired mobility and last four weeks hands stiff and tight feeling.

ESR was 50 in March, 76 in April. CRP was 22 March and 47 in April. My rheumatoid factor in April was also positive although titre is not too high, the titre is 25. And the MCP squeeze of my hands is positive. I was given Kenolog steroid injection 80mg at three pm on the day of seeing the Rheumatologist and told it would take 48hrs to take affect also if that didn’t work I was told to take 5mg of Prednisolone, which I haven’t up till now had to take, nearly ten days later. The morning after I had blood taken and the results were ESR 51, CRP13.3, Vitamin D normal, Rheumatoid factor 18.5.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated especially about the Rheumatoid factor and could it still be PMR with the Rheumatoid factor being positive?

Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

RF isn't a particularly useful indicator - it can be positive in a perfectly healthy person, and low or negative in someone with RA,

This

medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/c...

is far more specific - and if positive it ISN'T likely to be PMR. If it is negative, probably PMR.

Not sure I know what he thinks 5mg of pred will do ...

[Woollyback1 in reply to PMRpro]

Brilliant I’ll ask the Rheumatologist about this next time I see him.

Thanks very much for your help it is much appreciated 👍👍