Rheumatoid factor

[ashish7993]

Kindly advice on the following:
Can RF factor become negative from positve after treatment? if yes plz do let me know when... Also if I can be redirected to some more details as case study on this topic.

thnx & Rgds

[txsilver]

You could still have RA.  Even without the swelling - I don't get that either.  I do sometimes have areas of my skin that feel feverish.  I think the appt with a a neuro is a good idea but I also think you may want to go back to the rhuemmy who thinks you have RA and get treatment.  Docs who depend too much on your blood work can be missing the dx.  

[Lori707]

The only swelling I had was my entire hand a bit. No swelling in any joints that hurt but I do see red. Sed rate and CRP is fine for now inflammation. I went on a "arthritis" diet. No proflammatory foods..i.e. gluten, wheat, corn, dairy, soy, artificial sweetners or coloring, perservatives,etc. I try to eat only organic foods. Don't eat anymore red meat. Just a plane chicken cutlet with extra vergin olive on it. (no skin). I take fish oil that has no mercury, etc in it. I still have pain but not nearly as bad as I had it. But I've had and am having real problems with my nervious system. Painful stinging of skin and pins/needles, terrible heat radiating out of skin. Cold feet and hands. I have no fever but my skin feels hot even when inside I feel cold. Have appointment with neurologist. Hope I don't have inflammation of the nerves.
Still don't know if I have RA or not.
Question: Is it possible to have RA without swelling in the very beginnings of it?  

[txsilver]

Great thread!  Thank you for the great responses!  I would like to add that it is also possible to have negative labs and still have RA; it's seronegative RA.  While the RA factor may go down this does not mean you do not have RA.  For example, my factor is borderline positive but my disease activity is still rampant.  Labs by themselves are not conclusive.  It is the combination of symptoms, x-rays and/or MRIs and labs that make the diagnosis.  Still, it is possible to go into remission so there is hope!

[srolf11]

Yes, RA factor can become negative after being positive. Mine has. I have been taking 2x200 mg of Celebrex a day. The rheumatologists that I see do not have a dx for me, but at least the Celebrex seems to be decreasing the swelling and pain in my joints.

Good luck!

[Lori707]

Am also curious about this question. My RA Factor first came out 79.5 a few months ago, then a couple months later, the number went down to 66. A couple weeks ago it went down again to 54.  I know it's still high but what would the significance of these numbers mean? I'm not getting any treatment. I have one Rheummy stating he doesn't know what I have. Went for another opinion who said I "deffinately" have RA. Then went to a third Rhuemmy who said I "deffinately" don't have RA. ??? Huh? Now what?