Rheumatoid Arthritis

[fruitsalad]

I visited the doctor, with all over body pain, and stiffness, he asked me, if it was in my muscles or bones, I told him the pain is in both, I am now being tested, again, for Rheumatoid Arthritis, I've had blood tests for this twice before, which I did explain to him, but he is still insisting I have another one, the pain hasn't just come on, I have had it a few years, but it's gradually, getting worse, so why would it show up now with blood tests when it hasn't in the past.

[bednobs]

it's good to eliminate possibilities when you are reaching a diagnosis. it also depends on what actual test your doctor has asked for. I could be in the middle of a flare, and only able to be in bed, but my esr and crp are low. Also, no everyone with RA is sero-positive

[Buenchico]

I suspect that your doctor simply wants to make absolutely sure that rheumatoid arthritis can definitely be ruled out before moving onto other possible causes. One of those might possibly be fibromyalgia:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/

[fruitsalad]

bednobs, may I ask some of your symptoms, I expect everyone's symptoms are different, or are they?

[Sqad]

bednobs answer is spot on.

[bednobs]

When I was first diagnosed or now?

[fruitsalad]

When you were first diagnosed, please.

[bednobs]

i had a few years of odd, unsymetrical joint pains (it might be my left thrid toe one week, or my right shoulder at another time) that's unusual i think.
I had a lot of tendonitis in my left bicep which got better with nsaids, but came back when i stopped them.
Then one day, i just couldnt get out of bed easily, i was stiff and sore and it prompted me to see my GP and "demand" some tests (in reality crying in his room) where i was found to have sero-positive RA and was taken into hospital for 3 weeks for steroid pulses

[fruitsalad]

Thank you bednobs, very similar symptoms, I have also started to get an aching and a burning sensation in my knees, although there is no swelling.