So I'm in a Pickle Guys...

lawriejaffa

Hi guys, so i'm a guy in my late 30s. For the last 6 months i've had intermittant pain / aches on the ends of my fingers, toes, upper back and neck. They came and went, eventually i had an ana blood test which came back as positive (but low) with my gp suggesting i might be borderline for something autoimmune. But because my symptoms weren't worse, that no referral was possible.

Fast forward to now, my aches became more consistent.... And then the bottom (tendon) areas of my index and middle fingers have become swollen. In addition i was experincing new aches in my wrists from time to time, and elbows etc. Sometimes feeling aches/spasm behind my knees.

So I got a private ana test last week, which has come back with a titre of 2560... Ive got pvt tests for rhematoid factor/crp, enabpanel as dsdna indicator for lupus. I did this as these tests on the nhs couldn't be performed before mid June!

So... Im hoping these results combined with the ana result might hurry things towards me seeing a specialist and getting a diagnosis.

However, id really appreciate advice on what to do, or should do. Especially in respects to managing my current symptoms, and to getting a diagnosis sooner!

[Deleted User]

Hi Lawriejaffa,

Welcome to the forum, I’m sure you will find lots of help here to start your arthritis journey. As you encounter any difficulties be sure to post them - I’m certain one or more of our members will have found some solution for them and by very pleased to share with you.

Here’s the leaflet on rheumatoid arthritis, one of the family of inflammatory arthritis' which it seems you may have. The treatments are very similar for most of these so it should be useful whatever your final diagnosis.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/

Have you been back to the doctor with your results? That would seem the best way forward. I opted for a private consultation with a rheumatologist to see one sooner, and he then treated me on the nhs.

Let us know how you get on and on any specifics we can help with

Take care
Yvonne x

helpline_team

Hi lawriejaffa

Many thanks for your forum post and I apologise for the delay in replying. I’m sorry to hear that your aches have now become more consistent than previously.

Yvonne seems to have been helpful in her reply which leaves me with little to add.
As your GP would be the pathway to a referral, it would be a good idea to make an appointment to discuss your results and a referral to a rheumatologist, who would then be able to discuss the appropriate treatment.

I can see that you have been given a link to rheumatoid arthritis information, you have also mentioned lupus, so here is a link to that, which may be useful: https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/lupus-sle/

You will get further responses by posting on the living with arthritis forum: https://arthritiscareforum.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=8

You are very welcome to give us a ring on our helpline: 0800 520 0520 (weekdays 9am-8pm) here we can take our time to talk things through informally and in confidence, which can be helpful.

Best wishes
Lynda
Helpline advisor

dreamdaisy

Hello, I am just an ordinary forum member and don't understand the technical terms in your post but that could be because the tests have changed since I began my auto-immune arthritis back in 1997. Despite my having markedly raised CRP and ESR figures (measures of inflammation) rheumatology were adamant that I wasn't eligible to be in their gang. I proved them wrong.

The kind of auto-immune arthritis I have is psoriatic, related to psoriasis of which I have very little. It traditionally begins in the smaller joints such as the fingers and toes (which mine didn't), causes inflammation in the entheses (which mine did) and is a sero-negative form which can confuse those who are not fully acquainted with the ins-and-outs of auto-immune arthritis (in my case including those who should have been). I don't write this to confuse but, hopefully, to further inform. I am not an expert but am well-versed in the struggles of diagnosis. I wish you well. DD