Rheumatoid Factor test

[Bardda1]

Hi
I hope someone can advise me here. I am 53 years old and have been suffering from chronic pain for many many years. About 10 years ago my doctor ordered a rheumatoid factor test and it came back elevated. I don't remember the exact number but I think I remember it was somewhere in the low 50's? My doctor said that it wasn't "high enough" to be considered RA. At the time my doctor had decided that I had fibromyalgia although I sleep very well and have never quite accepted that this pain is fibromyalgia. About 6 months after the first blood test my OB/GYN sent me for blood tests and I asked her to include the RF test again. It came back a little higher, in the upper 50's. Each time my SED rate was checked and was always elevated although I don't recall how much. My CRP was recently tested and the first time is was 5.4, then a few months later it is 6.9.
My biggest problem is my hips and lower back. I wake up every morning almost unable to walk due to pain and stiffness. My husband says I scream in my sleep when I turn over. I have to hold on to furniture to get to the bathroom. I work full time and I have to get up at least an hour before I need to start getting ready or I would not be able to do it.
Also, I have very limited range of motion in my neck and I am scheduled for an epidural injection. However, I have very little stiffness or pain in my hands which I think it is the most common site for RA to strike. Both of my knees hurt when I stand up, but not too terrible when I walk.
At this time I am SO TIRED. I have absolutely no energy. The thought of having to work another 9 years before I am old enough to retire is overwhelming. On the weekends when I don't have to go to work, sometimes I don't even get dressed anymore, I just don't have the energy if I don't have to.
Also, I have been having sporadic episodes of hives for no known reason. Mostly on my palms and fingers, but also on my scalp and lower stomach. This morning it was just on my right forearm. The hives on my hands is the worst. Even when the itching stops, but burning is intense for days.
I know I sound depressed, but I'm not. Does all of this sound like it could be RA or is it consistent with fibromyalgia? I just want to know if I should demand further testing and if so, what tests should I ask for? We have been seeing the same doctor for over 20 years and he tends to treat us like we are still in our 30's.
Thanks anyone for a response.

[deni1234]

Hey,
I think you should definitely see a rheumatoid doctor. Don't just see your regular Doctor. I am 29 and have RA. I have had it for 5 years. My symptoms were different, but that does not mean anything. There are different typs of RA. Make an appointment with a RA doctor. Hopefully you are near a bigger city' just because there are more to choose from, and I feel they are better.

[ToBeFreeToRoam]

Hi Bardda1,

I agree with deni, but to a much great explanation. I like to write long posts!!! :>

I have arthritis. I was first diagnosed with osteo arthritis. Just the last three months, I have diagnosed with Rheumatoid arithritis. My sed rate was elevated. Not by much, buy my doctor jumped on it!!! There is no such thing as a sed rate not being high enuf. Tests do not always show that you have arthritis. She does blood tests about every 6 mo. or when I tell her that I am still in pain on the meds she is giving me are not enuf. Blood tests are usually to rule out other things.

You need to see a rheumatologist doctor. Their specialty is arthritis (one of many). If you are not already seeing one, go. It sounds like yall need to change doctors too. Sort of like he/she is ignoring some of the things that you say?!

It takes (around here) several months to get in to see a rheumy, so you need to go ahead and make an appt. You sound sort of like me before my family doctor referred me to a rheumatologist. The new doctor (specialist) is great and seems to know what I need. She is still trying to keep me off of the strong meds and painkillers. But, I am taking more meds than I was a year or so ago. I still have pain and use heating pads and rice socks and sometimes frozen peas. But, I am a lot better.

I know what you mean about getting up earlier. I have to get up earlier to get my body to "get going"! I hobble in the am and part of the day too. Whenever my meds are not in full force. I do not have every hour of the day covered, but am doing much better.

I hope you make an appointment on Tuesday (if you are in the U.S.). You will be glad that you did. In the meantime, use your heat and your ice. And sometimes a little massage (by my own self) does me a little good. I also do stretching exercises that my doctor gave me. Mostly hands, arms, legs, knees, elbows and neck.

Take care and I hope that you will feel much better this time next year.

Wannabe

[fused1]

Hey Bardda1

I am 33 year old woman and I had very similar things happening to me. Same deal with the doctor I had the same doctor for 27 years. He told me I had viral osteoarthritis...ross river, warren river and put me on celebrex had all the test done, nothing. Then he told me sometimes they just don't find the cause. I kept going back and back and in the end he got bit agro and said that I just have to put up with it. He put me on anti depressants.The pain and tiredness just got worse and worse. Then I had enough I kept a diary and out of 19 days I had one good day. I took this and this list of all my other symptoms to a different doctor and he thought I had fibromyalgia, but referred me to a Rhuematoligist. The Rhuemy told me to throw away all medication a put me on Prednisolone, that night I was doing housework...for the first time in months. Keep trying, keep changing doctors. Don't let them tell you it's in yor head.Ask to try cortisone. Ask to se a rhuemy!! Here is the list of things my doctor told me was in my head.

________________________________________ __________
Sore jaw from time to time...jaw locks up and makes a clicking noise and is painful when eating..lasts for about 3 days.

Stiff sore neck, lasts for about 3/4 days.

Sore shoulders quite often..did right rotor calf muscle Mothers Day, did rotor calf muscle few months later.

Tender elbows, not to painful.

Extremely sore tender, weak wrists, most of the time.

Extremely sore tender, swollen hands, most of the time.

Sore hips, rarity.

Sore knees, not too often but becoming more frequent.

Sore, swollen painful feet most of the time.

Most of these occur mainly in the morning and after about 5.30pm.

Allergies to ibuprophen and Panadol. Seemed to have developed recently. Rashes

Need pain management plan. Ways of dealing with pain.

Sensitivity to cold.

Fatigued.

Sore throat feels like its near the glands. Hurts to swallow, gets bad in the evenings and early morning.

Sadness, because I am unable to do things with and for my family and friends. Doesn’t feel like depression.

Hope I don't sound like a drill sargeant... I just can't belive that you have been in that much pain for so long and your doctor won't help you...give him the flick. Good luck.

[creinha]

Ask your doctor to run an Anti-CCP test. It's fairly new and is "highly" specific for Rheumatoid Arthritis.