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Arthritis (Expert Forum)
is this rhuematoid arthritis?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions and support regarding arthritis issues such as: Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease, Bursitis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Myositis, Neuralgia, Osteoarthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, Tendinitis, Vasculitis.
is this rhuematoid arthritis?
by !Sandy12345, Nov 12, 2006 12:00AM
dear doctor,
I am a 34 year old female and have been experiencing joint problems. my problems started around 18 months ago when I had a 3 month spell of arthritis in my ankles(doctor said some kind of inflammatory arthritis). After being prescribred voltarol this disappeared and never returned.
this year (dont know whether relevant) i started experiencing breathing problems which has now been diagnosed by a consultant as seasonal asthma(this is good at present). throughout the summer i have been experiecing extreme tiredness and intermittent upper backpain that i put down to the asthma.
now the asthma is better, my joint pain has got much worse.
it started with my right knee swelling up and pain coming in waves,then my wrists and elbows, these are better, but now pain has gone to upper back and neck and is unrelenting, i am taking voltarol from last prescription, and using gel which i think is helping a bit.
what is really getting me is i keep on feeling fatigued and weak in the knees and elbows. I am straining to get in and out of cars and bending down etc.i am also getting pain in neck at night and struggle to turn in bed
I should mention that I have had pain in my left hip for about 10 years dont know what it is, but gets worse when other joints play up.no pain in feet (only for 5 mins in morning)
asthma appointment showed haemoglobin count of 10.1. im obviously going to visit my doctor soon but does this sound like ra to you?(im quite suspicious that a hepatitis b booster may have precipitated this becaue knee pain started same day)
any ideas.
thanks in advance
I am a 34 year old female and have been experiencing joint problems. my problems started around 18 months ago when I had a 3 month spell of arthritis in my ankles(doctor said some kind of inflammatory arthritis). After being prescribred voltarol this disappeared and never returned.
this year (dont know whether relevant) i started experiencing breathing problems which has now been diagnosed by a consultant as seasonal asthma(this is good at present). throughout the summer i have been experiecing extreme tiredness and intermittent upper backpain that i put down to the asthma.
now the asthma is better, my joint pain has got much worse.
it started with my right knee swelling up and pain coming in waves,then my wrists and elbows, these are better, but now pain has gone to upper back and neck and is unrelenting, i am taking voltarol from last prescription, and using gel which i think is helping a bit.
what is really getting me is i keep on feeling fatigued and weak in the knees and elbows. I am straining to get in and out of cars and bending down etc.i am also getting pain in neck at night and struggle to turn in bed
I should mention that I have had pain in my left hip for about 10 years dont know what it is, but gets worse when other joints play up.no pain in feet (only for 5 mins in morning)
asthma appointment showed haemoglobin count of 10.1. im obviously going to visit my doctor soon but does this sound like ra to you?(im quite suspicious that a hepatitis b booster may have precipitated this becaue knee pain started same day)
any ideas.
thanks in advance
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Nov 13, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 13, 2006 12:00AM
Rheumatoid arthritis can be considered with this presentation. You can consider blood tests like a sedimentation rate, ANA level and rheumatoid factor to help with the diagnosis.
X-rays of the affected joints can also be suggestive of arthritis.
A referral to a rheumatologist or discussion of these tests can be considered to discuss these options.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
X-rays of the affected joints can also be suggestive of arthritis.
A referral to a rheumatologist or discussion of these tests can be considered to discuss these options.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
I have searched the web trying to find out ranges that rheumatoid factor may show up as on lab results. I understand that <20 is considered normal, but other than >20, what might be considered as a low high, medium high, or super high? What might be the top most number that the factor can be elevated to?? When might a practitioner consider a referral to a rheumatologist, based on an elevated lab result?
Thank you,
Northern
Thans for any help
Sue