Thursday, May 31, 2012

"What's goin on with me?"

By TEE Monday, July 27, 2009

   Hi everyone. I thought I'll write, because I have couple things on my mind. I got my blood work back and the doctor said my Sed rate was 22. I dont understand because both of my knees are swollen and painful. I also was diagnose with OA. Could this be coming from the OA? I am changing my Rheumy because she swears the Enbrel and Methotrexate is working. The communication between the two of us isn't making me feel comfortable with her decisions. How do I know if what I am feeling is RA or OA symptoms? It all seems the same when you have both at the same time and for less than a year. Please help

How can i piece this all together and be in control again
Anonymous
Anonymous
7/30/09 10:50am

Hello. I have OA(three years), RA(new) and fibromyalgia(1993). I can put down the swelling in my knee(OA) to the inflamation that happens with all these conditions and so as you have stated it is really difficult to tell just what is effecting what. I am beginning to think that the OA and Fibro may have been misdignosed, as I am seronegative and my RA dosen't (or hasn't yet) shown up in my bloodwork I may have had RA all along and the damage to my knee is RA related. Having said all this, and confusing you further, I do have differnt pains that I have associated with the different conditions. The allover flu like pain(fibro) The cramping joint(OA) and the stiffness and fire in my joints(RA). I don't know if this is any help but I wish you the best outcome and Know there are others sharing some of your confusion.Smile

7/31/09 2:12pm

I know a person who got their knees replaced in her 30s or 40s.  Must have started very early.  Although OA isn't generally associated immediately with inflammation, it can develop.  Sounds like you do need additional help and/or another opinion, however.  To say "it's working" and still have those symptoms - well, obviously something isn't working!  That said - my sed rate is about the same as yours, and I still get pain in my wrist depending on what I've been doing.  Because of the damage already caused by the RA (within 3 months, before diagnoses was even confirmed), I now have OA there as well.  There might be a possibility of checking the joints (knees) themselves through x-rays, MRI and joint fluid aspiration.  Even if your overall sed rate is down, there is obviously something wrong.  Is there any possibility of reactive or infectious RA?  Do you get other blood work?  (CBC for instance) that shows something is off?

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By TEE— Last Modified: 09/21/10, First Published: 07/27/09