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Arthritis (Expert Forum)
help again
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
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.
help again
by lilwe, Jul 07, 2003 12:00AM
I wrote earlier in the week. I just needto ask some more questions.
I have swelling just under both my knees and just above my ankles. Both my shoulders hurt. My right upper outer arms throbs. It looks as though it is getting worse. I also have swelling and you can see it from myleft lumbar around to my flank. It is a bulge. My doc thinks perhaps I am having a muscle spasm. Anyways,, I am very stiff and can hardly get up from a chair, when I do I can walk ok but the swelling below my knees really is starting to hurt. Both sides(flanks) feel bloated and after bowel movements the swelling and discomfort in the back get worse. I had bloodwork done and it was normal except for an elevated RA factor of 24. I know that its not that elevated, but something seems to be going on in my body that has turned my body against me. I have had several pelvic surgeries within 12months for fibroids, adhesions, endometriosis etc so my body prob. has been inflammed and just can't take it any more. My question is, could this be rheumatoid arthritis or another form of it. I had a bone scan and it showed swelling in my arm and also some poss going on in my facet joints. Could I have an infection that is getting worse causing this, I now am going out of state once again because the doctors here just can't seem to figure this out or even try. All this started after pelvic surgery and it has snow balled from there. I am truly scared now that my body is being eaten away by whatever... Just wanted to see if this could be RA, I know when the body has alot of trauma it is poss that you can get autoimmune diseases. Thanks...
I have swelling just under both my knees and just above my ankles. Both my shoulders hurt. My right upper outer arms throbs. It looks as though it is getting worse. I also have swelling and you can see it from myleft lumbar around to my flank. It is a bulge. My doc thinks perhaps I am having a muscle spasm. Anyways,, I am very stiff and can hardly get up from a chair, when I do I can walk ok but the swelling below my knees really is starting to hurt. Both sides(flanks) feel bloated and after bowel movements the swelling and discomfort in the back get worse. I had bloodwork done and it was normal except for an elevated RA factor of 24. I know that its not that elevated, but something seems to be going on in my body that has turned my body against me. I have had several pelvic surgeries within 12months for fibroids, adhesions, endometriosis etc so my body prob. has been inflammed and just can't take it any more. My question is, could this be rheumatoid arthritis or another form of it. I had a bone scan and it showed swelling in my arm and also some poss going on in my facet joints. Could I have an infection that is getting worse causing this, I now am going out of state once again because the doctors here just can't seem to figure this out or even try. All this started after pelvic surgery and it has snow balled from there. I am truly scared now that my body is being eaten away by whatever... Just wanted to see if this could be RA, I know when the body has alot of trauma it is poss that you can get autoimmune diseases. Thanks...
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jul 08, 2003 12:00AM
, Jul 08, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - thanks for asking your question.
The normal range for rheumatoid factor is less than 20. There are several disorders associated with an elevated rheumatoid factor. They include the following:
Rheumatoid arthritis — 26 to 90 percent
Sjögren's syndrome — 75 to 95 percent
Mixed connective tissue disease — 50 to 60 percent
Mixed cryoglobulinemia (types II and III) — 40 to 100 percent
Systemic lupus erythematosus — 15 to 35 percent
Polymyositis/dermatomyositis — five to 10 percent
Non-rheumatologic disease are alsoo associated with an elevated rheumatoid factor, including chronic infection, inflammatory or fibrosing pulmonary disorders (sarcoidosis), malignancy or primary biliary cirrhosis.
As you can see, an elevated value by itself is not very helpful since there are so many things that can cause its elevation. However, you may want to discuss the other causes of the elevated rheumatoid factor with your personal rheumatologist.
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.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
Bibliography:
Schmerling. Origin and utility of measurement of rheumatoid factors. UptoDate, 2003.
The normal range for rheumatoid factor is less than 20. There are several disorders associated with an elevated rheumatoid factor. They include the following:
Rheumatoid arthritis — 26 to 90 percent
Sjögren's syndrome — 75 to 95 percent
Mixed connective tissue disease — 50 to 60 percent
Mixed cryoglobulinemia (types II and III) — 40 to 100 percent
Systemic lupus erythematosus — 15 to 35 percent
Polymyositis/dermatomyositis — five to 10 percent
Non-rheumatologic disease are alsoo associated with an elevated rheumatoid factor, including chronic infection, inflammatory or fibrosing pulmonary disorders (sarcoidosis), malignancy or primary biliary cirrhosis.
As you can see, an elevated value by itself is not very helpful since there are so many things that can cause its elevation. However, you may want to discuss the other causes of the elevated rheumatoid factor with your personal rheumatologist.
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.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
Bibliography:
Schmerling. Origin and utility of measurement of rheumatoid factors. UptoDate, 2003.
