having pain is so very difficult...you need answers and understanding i dont have ra but have oa plus spine issues. so you and i are both pain people.
my understanding is that in its early stages many of the blood tests for ra come back negative. its a wait and see game to see how the disease progresses. if you get relieve from a certain drug it sure makes sense to continue with it. i would stay with the dr that you have the most rapport with. i hope your pain gets under control....good luck....pete

hey Lori,
I can so much relate to what you are going thru. My symptoms started to appear in my mid twenties. By my mid thirties I was finally referred to a
Rheumatologist that diagnosed me with OA. I do have many symptoms that
indicates RA but my bloodwork has always been negative. I have heard that
many times it is difficult to diagnose RA. I have been on a few different meds to help control this disease. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
Take care,
Ranger

I was diagnosed with RA by the Chief of Rheumatology at a city hospital, started on methotrexate and remained okay for several years. THEN I moved out of state, saw a younger rheumatologist. He put me on Enbrel. Saw some swelling in one of my joints at first exam, no joint erosions on x-ray. A couple of years later, he decides that maybe I don't have RA. Pre fusions, I had to go off the RA meds. He decided to keep me off. I have positive RA factor and history of other positive blood tests. He decided on a wait and see approach to see if I really did have RA. Well 18 months later I have developed a deformed left wrist and the beginnings of ulnar drift!!! I went back to see him and asked "does this clear things up?". Ugghhhhhh, just what I needed to have develop. So now back on a DMARD med to prevent MORE joint deformity.

Soooo.....my opinion is that you should get a 2nd opinion. Be assertive in your care.

Best wishes to you,

Marianne

Lori, sorry to hear of the conflicting information you have received. There are a zillion lab studies that rheumies do, and yes they can be positive and then negative, and positive again. They are a guide but the patient's history and physical exam are the most important. They also look for trends, flares, quiet times.

Many people with autoimmune diseases have overlap of 2-3 processes; RA, OA, fibromyalgia, lupus are the most known about. There are also 100 different types of arthritis and connective tissue disorders. Some docs are resistant to put an exact label on your profile (unless labs are definitive) as these problems do wax and wane.....and a label can impact insurance now or in the future.

I know I was concerned about RA because of my hands and C1-2 arthritis, but my excellant rheumy initially did 16 different tests and when the results came back leaning toward lupus (not definite) he started me on Plaquanil and Vit D. It will be a wait and see scenerio. I do have OA in neck.

I was very fortunate to connect with an excellant rheumy the first time and established a great rapport. Many people find it can take 3-4 rheumy appts to find one that you truly feel a partner in your care. So I would recommend you stay with the one you feel you can trust and that listens to you!

The fact that the Plaquanil was effective is a good indication that something is going on....

Thank you everyone for the support, you guys are great! I am beginning to understand now when I read that sometimes it can take upwards of five years to get a diagnosis, at first I thought that was a misprint, LOL.
Well for me I dont know if its RA or OA but I am sure something is going on, I feel just awful right now and hope and pray each and every day that the next day I will feel better.
This doctor I am seeing now told me she would not consider changing me from Plaquenil to another DMARD because my labs are negative, in other wards if I cannot tolerate the side effects of plaquenil then its nothing. This is a very frustruating condition, but I am beginning to understand slowly albeit, the ramifications of the diagnosis, with insurance, and everything else. Considering my labs are all negative right now it makes sense I suppose that the doctors are being conserative in their treatment and diagnosis. I am just not a patient patient. LOL
Again, thank you for all your help.

Lori

Hiya Welcome to Spine Health Sorry for your pain, but we can relate to it here , so your not alone I was wondering as your pain is so wide spread as mine is, Have you ever been tested for "Fibromyalgia"? Ask your doctor about this I hope this helps you

Angie