Did anyone else have normal blood work?
Hiya Just wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with normal bloods. I have definite arthritis in both talonavcular joints which has been currently suggested as being osteo. However I am now getting the same pain in hands, knees and back. Some minor redness to joints on feet and swelling. Pain and stiffness that lasts all day regardless of rest. I'm utterly exhausted. RA has been queried a couple of times because of symptoms. Bloods are totally normal though, no rheumatoid factor but crucially no sign of inflammation. I have a rheumy app coming up but it has been 2 years since initial onset of pain and I'm keen to make sure everything is investigated and I've asked all I can to get to bottom of it!
I should add Im 35 and gp feels without the inflammation markers then it's unlikely. I feel like its just in my head but I struggled on with my feet til I couldn't and when they finally xrayed me, the joints are both totally obliterated. I'm just keen therefore to get answers.
Hi aja1. Sorry you are having these issues. We have had some community members comment on having no positive blood work and hopefully someone will chime in with their experiences. In this article one of our contributors writes about seronegative RA, including the fact that up to 30% of those with RA are seronegative: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/seronegative-ra-blood-tests-dont-tell-entire-story/. For your protection, we cannot give medical advice over the internet. It is good that you are going to see a rheumatologist. This article from the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine discusses the difficulties diagnosing early RA, including the fact that "Inflammatory markers such as the ESR or C-reactive protein (CRP) are normal in about 60% of patients with early RA:" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1079582/. Hope you get some answers soon and, if you like, please feel free to let us know how you are doing. Best, Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)
Thanks Richard, that's really helpful. I understand completely the reasons you can't give medical advise and appreciate the response. Im keen not to jump to conclusions but also to push for answers - I don't think I did enough of that in the beginning and 2 years down the line, I so wish I had.
Im going through same thing. I have positive ANA but nothing else so they are not calling RA. However 25 years in medical field and my symptoms tell me it is. I have appointment with Rheumatologist soon my yearly follow up with him. He has never mentioned seronegative so i will be addressing that him. My advice to you is keep talking to your doctors about your pain and symptoms sooner or later they will get to root of the problem to help your pain.
Hi Kelly,
Sorry to hear you're.going through this. It's so very frustrating and upsetting when you know your body. I hope that the conversation with your rheumatologist proves useful.
