Is this Rheumatoid Arthritis?

[iris986]

Muscle pain all over, joint pain in knees, ankles, wrist and thumb. muscle spasms in legs, arms, back, ribs and feet. Double vision, urinary leakage at times.

I am currently on Methyl/prednisone for muscle pain.

[kishki]

I have had RA, Psoritic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondlyitis for 11 years. I am 48 years old. I have NEVER had urinary leakage OR Double Vision (unless I took too many muscle relaxers or pain killers).  If you have just a little drip after you pee it may just be age and kegel's may help or just a panty shield. Any more that that and  would be  concerned and make sure that you get a doctors opinion, don’t let ANY Symptom be dismissed as the slightest symptom could be a HUGE realization to the doctor!
When I developed psoriasis in my left ear I happened to tell  my Rheumatologist and he said, “Ok, NOW I know why your low back/sacrum hurts all the time!” I thought that sounded crazy but Psoriatic arthritis manifests itself similarly to RA but give you psoriasis and and infamed sacroiliac joint! How’s that for bizarre!

Everything else you describe is spot on!

I was hard to diagnose since I was camping when I woke with pain in my elbows and knees and I looked like a young person when we got there and like I was 90 when we left. Within 6 months I could not walk or even put a clip in my hair. I have an AMAZING doctor in Seattle, Paul Brown.

Anyway, I was tested for EVERYTHING. I saw infectious disease specialists and the whole gamut. But some Rheumatologists (quacks) just test for the RH factor in your blood. Mine did not show up because 30% of people with RA do not have this in their blood. However, prednisone gave me a HUGE amount of relief and this is one of the ways he diagnosed me. I started injections of Enbrel 6 months after it all began because at this point I would do anything because I was becoming house and bed bound. I felt like I had a fever all of the time and I never wanted to be awake or even go on living like this!  Within 8 months the Enbrel began to work and within 4 years i felt like I could go back to work but it has been VERY difficult because I suffer from flares all the time it seems. And the weather affects me whether or not it is sunny or rainy. The quick change to either brings on a flare.

Now concerning the "feel like a fever", this is called malaise and funny thing but they use Ritalin to treat that. I really did NOT want another medication since I was on about 12 when I returned to work but I couldn't deal with feeling sick all of the time. So I tried it and about a year later I told my doctor that I don't feel malaise any more! He said, I told you, it's the ritalin!  

So now, 11 years later, most people wouldnt think there was anything wrong with me  although it seems to be a constant struggle and everyday brings something new either good or bad, like, Uh Oh..I can’t put my pills in the bottom drawer any more because I can’t get to them in the mornings. And OH NO, my back is KILLLING me today, how can I survive!! And on those days I start a small dosage of prednisone for a week to get through the intolerable. Some days I can’t sit for more than 30 minutes and can’t stand either, so sometimes I have to lie on my chair at work with my feet on the desk just to be able to work. It’s hard but now I am getting help from the Deparment of diability in the local college to find a job for diabled people so that I can be outfront and demand ergonomics and special needs. I've learned to smile through the pain since I now feel like I'm 40 again and I have already been 90! Some days I do feel 90 but they are not so often anymore. Having a close friend with  OA has been SUCH a blessing!! Misery loves company and I love helping him get relief and he has finally started seeing my doctor after seeing one of those quacks that relied only on the RH factor! Don't let them do that to you. So, support groups may be good for you especially when you are in diagnosis and self education is critical!!

I truly hope this is not a more serious neurological problem or, god forbid some sort of fatal issue. If you have RA then you should be glad, actually, since there are so many new Biologics like Enbrel and Humira on the market. Those are now the "old" ones so there may be better ones with the progression of gene research.

Good luck to you, I will say a prayer for you.
Take care and keep your chin up!
Kishki

[iris986]

Neuro is scheduling muscle biopsy, per Neuropthamologist. She still thinks I have some type of Myositis. Even though EMG and nerve conduction were normal. I read on the internt that 31% of people with polymyositis had normal EMG an Nerve conduction test.

Rheumy went ahead and gave me Mobic for the joint pain.

[CornishGuy86]

I have been diagnosed well over a year with RA and I have thses symptoms, don't get urinary leakage though but do sometimes have urine infections.  I would deffinately go and see your Genral Practitioner and request a blood test and a bone density scan.  Hope all is alright and best wishes.

[GettingOlder]

It sounds like it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well as in other organs in the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system. The immune system contains a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, particularly infections. Best wishes!