RF Factor levels?

[BoodyButt :-)]

I have had issues with my back and finally had a Dr do some tests on me.

I have a RF of 93 and the second test was 80.

I have read the higher the number the more severe the desease. BUT, how high is high. I know 93 is higher than normal, but is it VERY high or is that just a little high? What exactly is high?

More information.......

I also have high C- Reactive Protein and I know that means there is inflamation somewhere in my body... DUH! I could have told that that!

It is 1.29


The Bun / Creatinine sample was a little high, but that means I was a little dehydrated, so that is ok I guess. It was 23. That is barely higher than the norm of 22.

My main question goes back to the RF factor, but any information I can get is welcome.

Here is the "back" story........

I am a 40 yr old female. I am overweight, but not terribly. I used to run and play. I could run 2 miles in 20 minutes (not an olympic time, but it kept me in shape), I could do 100 situps in 3 minutes, and 40 pushups in 3 minutes. Now I can't do any of that without pain.

I woke up with huge pain in my upper back and neck on January 21, 2008. Just out of the blue I could hardly get up.
I in so much pain, there is no way I would fake this.

OK here we go, here are the symptoms:
On my upper back, right in the middle, I have a swollen hump that is red and hurts at the touch. I look like I am turning into a hunch back, but right in the middle at the top of my upper back.

If I don't take my Neurontin, MY upper backs burns REALLY bad around the swollen area and extended out from that area. IT is really sensitive to the touch when I am not on my neurontin. IT feels like I have a really bad sun burn in that area. (you know that feeling after you have been at the pool all day and you go inside to watch TV and your back BURNS ALOT that evening, but it has not turned all the way red yet... that is what my upper back feels like. You know the next day when someone pats you one the back, and you kind of let out a little scream - that is what my upper back feels like sometimes)

I have alot of upper back pain. It feels like throbbing all in my upper back and neck.
My neck is stiff and sometimes is stiffer at times than at others. Today it is very stiff and throbs alot.

My upper back sometimes feels like my spine is becoming a pole instead of a spine. It is really stiff sometimes, like right now.

My right hand and arm are weaker and are getting weaker a little at a time.

Sometimes, but not always, I have shooting pain, and sometimes "electrical" burning in my arm. BUT, not always. And sometimes it "feels" numb, but I can still use it. And then sometimes my fingers on my right hand feel "slow" or just a little asleep.

I have this strange feeling sometimes. If I move just in a certain way, I feel like I could float. I know that sounds crazy as heck, but it is true. I actually feel like I could float or sleep sometimes, just by moving in a certain spot.

And the freaking headaches. I have this type of headache that starts at the bottom of the right side of the back of my neck and goes perfectly in a straight line over the top of my head and ends about one each above my right eye. I could actually draw a line where the headache will be when it starts.

After reading all of this, I can see why the Drs are confused. I am!

OK tests done so far -

MRI - the very young resident, who never even looked at my back, but only the MRI, said I have NO pinched nerve or herniated disc and will be sending me to physical therapy for my arm and hand. I do have bulging disc. BUT for my age (40), the Drs said that is normal.

X-Ray - Nothing broken. BUT, when I was doing the X-rays, I had to hold to 10 pd bags in each hand to get a good photo - that pulling down of my arms really hurt my upper back. IT was the type of pain that is like early labor - Pressure with a little pain.

Right this very second, my upper back is throbbing with pain, my upper back and neck are so stiff, I feel like my spine is turning into a pole, and my right hand is slow.

I am open to answers and opinions. Thank you for any information you can share with me.

[slojo]

I know its not much help, But if it makes you feel better,

My RA factor is 585, yes you read it right,, five hundred eighty five....  Nice huh.....

PEPTIDE (CCP) AB (IGG)       is 199

ANA SCREEN, IF A          was Positive

ANAPATTERN           HOMOGENEOUS

ANA TITER 1:80H titer

Been told it might be RA, but theyre not sure ( over a year of Drs and specialists so far)

Dr has me taking Diclofenac and Hydroxycloroquine (Planquel) it seems to help, but I still have more bad days than good.

also just got diagnosed with scoliosis and a TON of spine and cervical neck prob's including severe forminal stenosis.... blah blah blah....

Ive had spina bifida occulta since birth but didnt know until an x-ray in 2001.

Wish I could help more, but I hope I could calm your fears a little over your  RA factor of 93, if Im 585 and still on the right side of the dirt, you should be ok for a while too :)

Good luck !

[smittygirl]

I'm with txsilver you need to see a rheumy.  Is your knee swollen?  If so you could have a lot of synovial fluid built up that needs to be drained.  Fatigue is a HUGE part of what all of us go through with our various diseases.   I hope you find a good rheumy soon and don't stop until you get some dx.

S.  

[BoodyButt :-)]

I did find some relief for the extreme tiredness I have. My Dr suggested B12 shots, but my insurance will not cover them, so I finally found a place on the internet that is well known and reasonable in price... OK don't blast me that I am spamming, because this may be great for others.

www.mydietsolutions.com sells all kinds of B12 shots for very low price and they have a REAL Dr on hand! The B 12 pills I have been taken are working ok, so the B12 shots should be better. I just wish I could make all my pain go away.

[BoodyButt :-)]

No not yet. After the CAT scan and ultrasound, that will be the next stop.

I woke up with a few new pains today.

My left knee felt stiff and heavy this morning. It still feels "full" and a little stiff, but not as much as this morning.

The middle joint of my right pointer finger was swollen all day today and it hurts right now to type, but not so much as it hurts to bend it.


Of course my upper back and neck pain is always here. It just aches and aches.

And I AM SO TIRED! I AM TIRED ALL THE TIME!  

Not the normal afternoon I need a nap tired, but the I feel blah/sick all over tired. I feel like I could sleep all the time.

[txsilver]

Hi,  I have RA and my RF is 1/2 yours.  I also have AS and za few other things that caused a lot of confusion in diagnosing me because of the varied results.  Are you seeing a rheumatologist?  

[smittygirl]

Anything higher than 43 with titers greater than 1:20 - 1:40 are considered indicators of RA.  So the fact that your #'s are basically 2x the norm I would say RA is a possibility.  You do seem to have a lot of other things going on however.   I do not have RA but AS so I'm afraid I can't be as helpful as I'd like.  Please look at the Arthritis Foundations website, they have great info on all 100 types of arthritis that exist.  Keep us informed and best of luck to you.  As I have said to many members, please make your doctors communicate with you, ask questions so you can fully understand what is going on with your body.  If a doctor seems annoyed or won't take the time to answer your questions find a new doctor!   We all need to be our own advocates these days.   Best of luck to you, I hope you find relief soon.   Stay with us.


Sue

[BoodyButt :-)]

It does help. But, I still don't know what the upper level of the RF factor is. Is there some max level. I think the normal level is under 14 in some labs and under 20 in other labs and as you get older (60 and above) under 40 is considered normal. But, mine is 93 and 80, so I know it is high. But, if the max is 500 then mine is not so high.

I do hope you feel better! I am on neurontin at night and right now I am on Tylenol and Aleve. The Dr did tell me she did not want to load me up with different pills until we knew exactly what is wrong with me. I am going for more tests just to make sure.

Again, I would love to know the max amounts of RF factors that would be considered very high.

Thank you for your reply. I hope you feel good tomrrow. :-)

[spastic]

The (RF) test is primarily used to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and to distinguish it from other forms of arthritis and other conditions that cause similar symptoms of joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness.  It doesnt always mean you have rheumatoid arthritis though.  Although you have symptoms that I suspect are consistent with it.

Have they done other tests like ESR or ANA? To me it sounds like your RF is very high and I hope they have put you on some anti-inflammatory meds like prednisone or even some ibuprofen.  I take prednisone everyday and will until my flare is under control.  Without out I cannot function.

I am concerned about the burning pain and electrical shock feeling, and the headaches, are they a migraine type headache?  

I feel for you, I have Stills disease and it is a frustratingly painful condition.  I will get back with you with some more info.  I hope this helps some.

Your Friend,

Spastic