Is it really RA or am I just a hypochondriac?
I was recently diagnosed with RA after seeing my primary care physician, an orthopedic hand specialist and then a rheumatologist. (The orthopedic hand specialist actually "diagnosed" my first swollen knuckle as "mystery finger" which didn't sit well with me considering the amount of swelling and pain.) My RF factor, CRP and anti-CCP are all within the normal range however my rheumatologist says he is 90% sure it is RA. My symptoms which led me finally to seek some pain relief were hand/wrist/finger pain for six months and now 3+ swollen finger joints. I also have an arthritic (on top of my foot as opposed to the side of my foot - as diagnosed by a podiatrist in March) bunion (which developed in less than two weeks with extreme pain during the same six months), morning stiffness, a sore jaw "joint", swollen and sore ankles, pain along both big toes. These other symptoms didn't lead me to the doctor but may all be related. I'm currently ramping up to 25 mg of MTX (3 doses and last was 17.5 mg), taking 5 mg of prednisone daily, 1 mg folic acid and (4) Aleve daily, had an injection of corticosteroid in each wrist and I think I'll be put on Humira in the next few weeks. I'm concerned about the 10% chance that I don't have RA. With the three tests mentioned earlier could this be something else? I'm taking an awful lot of medication and I guess it just seems "unreal" that I could actually have this somewhat "scary" disease. Even though I've been in pain for the past six months (quite a few times severe but it ebbs and flows) I don't seem sick enough to have RA. Has anyone else had similar symptoms / experience? If I do have RA will it get worse if I continue treatment? Will I be on this medication forever? I guess I just need reassurance that I actually have a chronic disease and I'm not just a hypochondriac. Thank you to anyone who responds.
First and foremost, trust me - this is not all in your head. You very clearly have something going on. Secondly, there is a saying in medicine: "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras". Some people have a positive RA factor, some do not. Your rheumatologist does this for a living and if s/he is 90% sure, it's probably a horse (i.e., RA). Getting a diagnosis for a chronic disease can be both a relief because you finally get a name to put on your symptoms and really scary because you finally get a name to put on your symptoms. It's going to take some adjusting and as part of that process, you might want to talk to your doctor again about the 10%, just to put your mind at ease. I will say this, though - I've had RA for 40 years and your symptoms sound awfully familiar.
The beginnings of life with RA can be overwhelming. Being told to take a gazillion new, serious medications can be beyond overwhelming. The thing about this disease is that yes, it is your lifelong companion and will likely require you to be on one medication or another for the rest of your life. Medications will help you control your symptoms, as well as the impact on the disease (joint deformities, etc.). Most importantly, medications are a tool to help you live your life to the best of your abilities. Because that's the point off everything you going through now, all the appointments and trying different medications: to help you get back to living your life. And you will. It takes some adjustment and you will learn firsthand about just how good we humans are at adapting to changing circumstances, but once you and your doctor gets to the point where you have some degree of control over the disease and symptoms, the disease will become just another part of your life. Sometimes, it'll be a really irritating part, but you'll find a way to live with it.
Keep reading and talking here and in other online communities. You may also be able to find support groups or people who live with chronic diseases/RA in your community. Talking to others in the same situation helps a great deal. Please write again and let us know how you are. You're not alone.
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Or.....it could be a.... wildebeast? Nah!!! Yeah, I'm with Lene. I'm no expert of course but RA or no it sure the heck sounds like SOMETHING is going on. I do however understand the fear of becoming the "hypochondriac". But ja' know? Gotta give props to the benefits of complaining! My RA's been caught way the heck early cuz dang it, something wasn't right and I refused to let it go! So yeah, whatever you do DON'T let it go! At the same time DO share your concerns with the rheumy. I have been known to be a bit *cough* tenacious from time to time, but the way I see it? I'm not the dullest crayon in the box and if it's not making sense to me then someone really needs to take the time to 'splain it better.
Oh, and I've yet to visit my rheumy without prefacing a complaint with "I hope I'm not being just a total hypochondriac but....." So, I'm thinking you're probably good!
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