Hi Ajai - that's confusing, isn't it?  Rashes, pain and swelling.  Rashes are not typical of RA.  If it's an allergic reaction, it would be helpful to know to what, instead of just covering it up.  Have you started using a different laundry detergent, perhaps? 

    Other blood tests sometimes done include ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) which can be present in various auto-immune diseases, anti-CCP which is pretty specific to RA.  Do you have other allergies that you know of?  Another possibility might be to check with a dermatologist to see what his/her reaction to the rash might be.  If there's a 'little sack' of fluid, it might be the rash accumulating fluid.  If the rash is getting worse despite anti-allergy meds, you might need to focus on finding out what's causing the allergy, because reactions can get worse if the allergen is not removed.

   Not sure what else I can add to this...with current information.  Are there other medical conditions present?  I'm not a medical professional, however...

Ajai

10/14/09 1:38am

Thanks for the response. below are the other immune related tests and results done. all are well within reference range.

 

 

 

 

BLOOD - BIOCHEMISTRY

CREATININE: 1.0 mg/dL 

Uric Acid: 7.1 mgs/dl

 

 

 

 

BLOOD - SEROLOGY

A.S.O. TITRE 20.0 IU/ml

Method : Immunoturbidimetric

 

 

 

C.R.P. ( C-Reactive Protein 2.3 Mg/L

 

Method : Immunoturbidimetric

 

 

 

RHEUMATOID FACTOR: 6.5 IU/ml

Method : Immunoturbidimetric

 

Two things I remember I did.

 

Before the knee pain started (3 weeks before), I was sitting and working a lot in that week (almost 16 hours per day).

 

The day before rashes started, I was sitting and travelling on a bus for 12 hours and ate some raw sprouts enroute.

 

Now, I changed my posture, and work routine to be very minimal, still the pain is continuing as described earlier.

Ellen Galo

10/14/09 9:02am

Since each lab may have slightly different reference ranges, and I'm not a medical professional, one really can't make conclusions from isolated results... I was just mentioned some of the tests that are typically done by a rheumatologist, but that may also depend on what they see when they examine you, as to what tests they order.

    Changing posture, moving is always good!

From what you describe this is not the typical pattern of RA.  RA is usually bilateral affecting the same joints but can start in one joint before progressing so anything is possible.  I have RA and have had rashes as well.  I am wondering however if maybe you got a bite from an insect and have had a reaction to it?  I would suggest to keep a diary of your symptoms and continue to seek medical attention until you have a diagnosis.

Is there a possibility that you have Lymes Disease?  I'm not sure if you live in an area with deer ticks but, your symptoms sound very similar to other people I know that have had Lymes.

Sadly the tests are only about 60% accurate.  I have heard of a more accurate test in Florida but haven't been able to find it. 

I know when I was 1st diagnoised with RA the pain jumped from one area to the other but it also got progressively worse over the month.

This is Ajai... Luckly it was not RA and I am back to normal... with almost no medication...

In my case it was the winter, frequent sitting and travelling (weekly 12+12 hours) and very long sitting and working (above 12). these lifestyle aspects triggered the issue... It took a good amount of 2 months to bring it to normalcy even after I immediately made lifestyle changes.

Thanks for your support. In this process I learnt what RA is and the challenges they face...