is this rhuematoid arthritis?

[!Sandy12345]

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

[Kevin Pho, MD]

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_

[Northern]

Hello,

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

[Sue compton]

I am 53 and have had fivromyalgia for some years. This last few months I have had pain and swelling in knuckles, hands and now shoulder, I have had a blood test and am due to see Dr today, very painful now all the time and pain killers do not help pain in hands etc. I think it may well be RA - should I see specialist? I do not think it is to do with my Fivromyalgia. The Dr may think it is and miss some thing. Symptoms are - swelling in joints, burning, red rash in area, pain all the time, goes for a day or two then comes back, started in hands, then wrist, now upper body, hands puffy and swollen, stiffnes - can blood test help, what should I ask Dr?

Thans for any help
Sue

[lakemom4]

A related discussion, Is it ra, lupus, or fibromyalgia? was started.

[slundin]

A related discussion, rhuematoid lung disease was started.