MS and RA Butt heads Need help!

[PAPSTISY]

I was being treated for possible RA because of the swelling and bone destruction in my hands shown by MRI and Xrays. However, when the meds didn't help my RA Doc said these exasperations are not going away. He started me on Humira and still they didn't go away. He said something doesn't seem right. With the meds your swelling and deformations should have changed.
He said he needed a brain MRI before continue treatment because of non results with meds. I questioned and said ok.
I had a Brain MRI and the report stated I have 1 large lesion that is Demyelinating in nature.
After RA doc. reviewed, he hulted all my RA meds and shipped me off to a MS specialist. The rheumy said he could not treat me until Neuro gave the green light. He said it is because of MRI and weakness on one side of body.

In the past I contributed my weakness/pain and tingling on right side to possible nerve damage from 2 Micro D back surgeries on my L5 S1. DX Failed Back Surgery

I have all the symtoms of MS with the exception of eye problems and headaches.  I walk with limp, I have problems with balance, I walk to the right, my fingers and feet tingle, weakness, muscle pains, joint issues and breathing issues. And thats just the start. My memory is fogged and my speech is sometimes real mumbly. I twitch all over at all times and my joints are always stiff and cracking. I now have bladder problems at times and all my other doctors still tell me its Inflammatory related as well as possible nerve damage.

Anyway, I saw the MS specialist he first said with 1 lesion I wouldn't worry, you could have been born with it. He then did his tests in the office. He said your right side is real weak all limbs.
I told him the deal with my RA doc not going to help me anymore without a green light from you! And I'm stuck in the middle because of this MRI.
He informed me because my right side weakness and right foot toe raise he wanted to do a spinal tap on my. He did and all was normal. He said he called my RA doc and I'm ok to be treated again.

Well, When I went back to my RA Doc he still saw sthe welling all over my hands. I said something needs to be done ASAP because I'm loosing my hands. He said I'm hard to treat. I have a elevated ESR however, test negative for RA factor and am Seronegative and by law there is steps he has to follow. He then said I will also give you Methotraxate now since Neuro gave green light and we will see what happens at next follow-up

Well, the day came and his eyes pooped out his head. He could not believe with the high powerful meds I'm continuing to get exasperations I now had a pinky that is totally mangled. He added a steriod and I have yet to see him but so far it doesn't seem to help.

Now that you know everything!

If I had a Inflammatory Arthritis Disease wouldn't you think things would have hulted or slowed down by now on those types of meds?  What If I do have MS and that would explain why the current meds are not working and actually making things worse.
At what point do you say STOP! These meds don't work and maybe MS should notbe ruled out and MS meds should be used instead.  What bothers me so much is the Neuro said if spine tap was positive he could provide me a med that would hult my problems and possible improve them. Not to mention make me feel alot better.  Thats how he got me to go for the spine tap.  
So being treated for MS was hinged on a spine tap. Is that right?

I just don't know what to do. Both are inflammatory in nature so many signs are the same. However, the drugs that treat each problem are major different. Not to mention many of the RA meds can cause MS.

Im stuck and need advise. One last thing. MY PM doc did EMG's. He did my spine, arm and leg. Both types of nerves. He said the numbers come out borderline meaning possible nerve damage or possible nerve loss. but I didn't mark high enough to make it definitive.

I went back to see my primary doc and explained everything to keep him in the loop. He said all I can tell you is your condition is inflammatory in nature because before the RA doc I gave you Sulfa and you had positive results. He said we can do one more thing and I will have the MS specialist review. So I had a C-spine and T-spine MRI and those were normal and reviewed by specialist.

So what do I do? All I know is I contiue to go down hill. I just turn 40 and I have a 5 year old son and a wife who sit there and watch me fall apart by the minute.

Please your help and advise is needed.
Thank you for your time.

[Alroman]

Sounds like you have psoriatic arthritis. Can cause swelling, joint destruction, with negative RA factor. It is a Seronegative arthritis, I believe. It can also cause lower back, facet joint pain. Do you have any nail issues on hands or feet or any psoriasis??

[PAPSTISY]

I have had every test you could possable think of. Including lymes. Igenxx I believe did the testing.
Prior to surgeries I complained of problems but was not being taken seriously because of the test results always negative. And the rheumy at the time said OSTEO or possible Fibro I believe.
After I finally got over the fact my back is bad for life/surgeries I decided to focus on other health concerns.
I went back to see my Rheumy and again couldn't find no problems. I complained of coccyx pain everyday and finally my family doc gave me sulfa. he then said I had a inflammation problem because the med helped. I fired my rheumy and got a new one. My new one ran all the same tests came up with blanks until one day I woke up with a bent thumb and by the time I saw him I had swelling really bad and thats when all the MRI's and Xrays took place.
At that point I was classed as SeroNegative again because they could find nothing in the tests.
I guess pictures don't lie on films. At that point they had to treat me serious! And of course thats when my blood work continued to show Elevated sed rate.

Anyway, The have done all tests possible even cancer tests Blood types vacular types you name it. Thats why I know some of the lingo.... which I'm not proud of.
I guess more then anything now that I'm older and have things to care about I need to put my health first so I'm there for them in the end.

I'm racing against the clock. Because so many bad things are happening. It's like cancer but you never really get sick enough to die.

I was hoping someone would say either ya or na even though I new thats almost impossible to do.

If you were me would you stay the course to correct some type of inflammatory arthrits or MS?

[COBOB]

Have they ruled out Lyme's Disease?  RA drugs will not work against that and Lyme's can cause demyelinating lesions.  There are other things that can cause joint destruction and brain lesions.  They should consider some other lab studies besides just a Rheumatoid factor and ESR like  STS/RPR, CRP, etc.

They need to consider a broader range of thing besides just RA an/or MS.

Bob

[Wobbly]

wow.  My goodness, I wish I could help and give you some advise, you seem to be seeing the Dr, but I would keep on searching and seeing other Dr if no one can give you answers.  Your body is not doing well, to put it easy.... and you need some help.  What else does your GP say?  Any other route too take?

sorry help much, but my thoughts are with you.  Let us know how things progress.

Hang in there and take care
wobbly