arthritis symtoms but negative blood test

raven2008

Hi all i registered a few weeks back as i had some queries about arthritis. (see other post)

Everything is kind of still the same as before only i feel it’s getting a bit worse. with the usual joint paints in the knees arms shoulders e.c.t I’ve developed a tingling / burning feeling when I sit down for a short period of time, more sleepless nights!!

I have been to the docs to get a full blood count and he did also check for the rheumatoid factor but everything came back negative, i know there’s something wrong with me and the doc says the symptoms I’m telling him sound like arthritis but blood would have confirmed it, he gave me 50mg diclofenic 3 times a day, co codamol 4 times a day and help ease the pain, and said he will contact me soon he wants to do some research, lol

I’m on my 4th day of taking them but don’t seem to be helping the joints...

What’s the next steps i can take to find out whats really up??

frogmorton

Good morning Raven
You probably know that negative blood tests only show that you do not have rehumatoid factor in your blood. This does not mean you don't have inflamatory arthritis - there are so many different types such as sero-negative arthritis.
Blood tests sometimes come back positive later on too and i know one oerson at least whose test came back postive at the rheumys neg at GPs.
A good Dr looks at your symptoms as well as blood results and your GP sounds like a good one. They may well send you for xrays/MRS or refer you to a rheumatologist.
I wish you luck
Take care
Toni

skezier

Hi Raven,

Not all of it comes up on bloods so if he hasn't done a referral maybe you could ask to see a Rumo? Thy have more expertises and should be able to tell which one etc via your history and symptoms.

The tablets can take a bit of time to build up so keep taking them and hopefully you will feel a little better. Take care, Cris

topgirl

I know how you are feeling.....just like i did...all bloods come back negative..but you KNOW somethings wrong...
Seronegative arthritis is where there are symptoms present but blood says theres nothing wrong!!!!
A baffled GP will send you to a Rumy( hopefully) who will look at many other things apart from bloods....
Mine was finally dignoised with a biopsy from the knee and x rays.....My consultant said even from just looking inside my knee it was inflammatory arthritis...yet the bloods he did that same day said even thing is fine!!!!!....
SO even tho its very frustrating and can take a long time you should soon be on the way to getting the help you need...although it may not be that straight forward... :shock:
I wish you well...
xxx

valval

hi waiting for rhummy app. been going through same as u doc says it oa but keep getting inflimation moving around the body popping up here and there, so went back told her how bad things getting not sleeping ect so she asked me if wanted to go. hoping to get some answers but been feeling much better since got this sorted sods law well plenty of time for new flare up as go on 6th oct

raven2008

Hi all

Thanks for all you replies.

They have checked to see if any flare-ups and inflammation in my knees but said I didn’t have any. Do get the feeling he thinks I’m making it up.

I'm not sure what he’s researching but I did ask to be referred so I could have an MRI but he replied it has to be in a pacific place to have one...

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be asking for really.....

page35

Hi Raven
my bloods also came back normal twice at doctors they done rhuemitiod factor its normal, but got sent to rhuematoligist (sorry cant spell) and they tested me for something called CCP it is quite a new test i think and if you have this you have RA, guess what i have it and its very high :roll: . but all other tests are normal. i like you knew i had something wrong with me just didnt know what.
may be you could ask for this CCP blood test? if they havent already done it.
sorry i dont know what CCP stands for.
you may not have this anyway, but worth a try.
good luck
page

raven2008

Thanks for your email

Interesting! Well how were you feeling any symptoms when the bloods came back neg...

I think I’m only at the beginning of this I’d hate to be someone who had it really bad because this sucks even with anti inflammatory.

I could phone the docs and ask them to leave a note for my doc to refer me to a rheumatologist

I’ll let you all know how I get on

Peter

page35 wrote:

Hi Raven
my bloods also came back normal twice at doctors they done rhuemitiod factor its normal, but got sent to rhuematoligist (sorry cant spell) and they tested me for something called CCP it is quite a new test i think and if you have this you have RA, guess what i have it and its very high :roll: . but all other tests are normal. i like you knew i had something wrong with me just didnt know what.
may be you could ask for this CCP blood test? if they havent already done it.
sorry i dont know what CCP stands for.
you may not have this anyway, but worth a try.
good luck
page

elnafinn

Anti-CCP, which stands for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, is a new and exciting blood test to help doctors confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

I love googling

Luv
Elna x

elnafinn

I had a blood test at my surgery that came back positive for RA and had always been told for years I had OA. A consultant requested I had the test before my TKR operation. Went to a rheumi and he aspirated fluid from my knee and said you have OA. The fluid was the wrong colour for RA.

Luv
Elna x

elnafinn

Has no one suggested it may be Osteo Arthritis. Have you had xrays of your knees, etc?

Elna x

raven2008

elnafinn wrote:

Has no one suggested it may be Osteo Arthritis. Have you had xrays of your knees, etc?

Elna x

Haven’t heard of that one.
No one has said pacifically but only said the suggested symptoms suggest arthritis..My symptoms include
Sleepless nights/tiredness, Tingling sensations (throughout my body when I sit down for too long but then when I sit down transfers around my body to pacific places like knees)
Nagging pains in my both knees
" " in my ankle/shoulders/wrists/and elbows and a constant stiffness in my back with some stabbing pains occasionally which all ease off during the day i have got more but cant remember them all off my head lol

raven2008

raven2008 wrote:

elnafinn wrote:

Has no one suggested it may be Osteo Arthritis. Have you had xrays of your knees, etc?

Elna x

Haven’t heard of that one.
No one has said pacifically but only said the suggested symptoms suggest arthritis..My symptoms include
Sleepless nights/tiredness, Tingling sensations (throughout my body when I sit down for too long but then when I sit down transfers around my body to pacific places like knees)
Nagging pains in my both knees
" " in my ankle/shoulders/wrists/and elbows and a constant stiffness in my back with some stabbing pains occasionally which all ease off during the day i have got more but cant remember them all off my head lol

rheumatologist it is then

frogmorton

Did you look at the thread palindromic arthritis - there's another one i didn't know about.
GPs know very little really.
Good luck with getting your referal - we will wait to hear more
Take care
Toni x

raven2008

frogmorton wrote:

Did you look at the thread palindromic arthritis - there's another one i didn't know about.
GPs know very little really.
Good luck with getting your referal - we will wait to hear more
Take care
Toni x

no i havent ill check that out, Thanks, and yeah ill let you all know how it goes

suncatcher

I was seronegative for eight months and not given any thing they just phobbed me of i eventually got test repeated and they soon had to get me to a rhoumy quick. :roll:
Keep on to them dont let them phobe u off. :shock: I hope u can get some help soon as its a worrying time waiting for them when you know there is something wrong.
sending you my best wishes and keep us up to date on your progress welcome to site. from joanne

raven2008

Had a letter from the docs today he’s referred me to a rheumatologist hopefully they be able to detect it. At least I’m going somewhere now lol (Wonder why it took him over a week to think of that lol)

eckstardeluxe

elnafinn wrote:

Has no one suggested it may be Osteo Arthritis. Have you had xrays of your knees, etc?

Elna x

This is what I was thinking Elna, wouldn't show up on a blood test. The tingles etc could be nerve related due to OA. I'd be looking for an xray or even MRI.

raven2008

eckstardeluxe wrote:

elnafinn wrote:

Has no one suggested it may be Osteo Arthritis. Have you had xrays of your knees, etc?

Elna x

This is what I was thinking Elna, wouldn't show up on a blood test. The tingles etc could be nerve related due to OA.

i have been starting to get inflamation on the top of my right knee i think its slowly coming :?

woodbon

Hi, Not all athritic conditions, show up in blood tests, also in the early days even something like RA dosn't show up during the first blood test. If you have pain, their must be something the matter, Osteoarthritis, which is what I have, is negative in the blood tests, but is present on the x-rays. Its all a confusing thing to get your head around in the early days! :shock: Try not to worry too much, we've all been their and had to wait for diagnosis or treatment, go back to your GP, if you still have the problems and they will look further to find the cause and give you the best treatment.

Hope all goes well, love Sue