help

[assusam]

IS THERE ANY TEST TO CONFORM RA PLEASE HELP

[teacher517]

Yes, I think so.  My dr. tested me.  It is, however, very expensive.  My insurance company really questioned it.

[carolanivey]

RA can be hard to pin down. There is no one, definitive test. A doctor should look at a wide range of evidence, including blood tests, x-rays, possibly MRI, and most important, laying eyes and hands on your sore joints.

For a complete list of types of diagnostic blood tests, see the Arthritis Foundation web site. Among other things you'll be tested for Rheumatoid (Rh) factor, but - and this is very important - a "negative" Rh test doesn't mean you don't have RA. Many, many patients are what's called "sero-negative". If a doctor looks ONLY at blood tests and insists you don't have it, find another doctor.

Because there may be some lag time between your symptoms and when you can get in to see a specialist, keep a pain/swelling diary and take photographs of your swollen, sore joints. Document what joints are sore and when, ranking pain level from 1 to 10. Note if the joints are hot to the touch and red. Note if heat or cold makes them feel better. Note what time of day and after what activities that it seems worse (or better). Take all this evidence with you to your appointment, because symptoms can very day by day, even hour by hour. RA is famous for "going into hiding" right about the time you leave for your doctor appointment.

Hope this helps, good luck!