Can an RA Test False Negative?
Recently, a foot doctor said I had rhematoid arthritus. I tested "negative" for RA. He still says I have RA. Saw two more doctors who put a lot of stock in the test and have diagnosed me to not have RA. The foot doctor insists all the signs are there and that, even though the test was negative, he believes I have RA. Is this possible?
The process of diagnosing RA can be a bit tricky and isn't just limited to the results of a blood test. If you click on ths link (the blue highlighted text), you'll find an article on the RA test and the criteria for diagnosing arthritis that might be helpful for you. If you believe the foot doctor is right, keep going back to your doctor, ask for a referral to a rheumatologist and hopefully, you'll get the answers you need.
Good luck!
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Unfortunately there are many, many factors that go into diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis. The short answer to your question is yes. You can be diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis and not test positive for a rheumatoid factor. In fact this is called seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and is made up of 20% of all rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. The good side of this is that this usually indicates a less severe course of the disease. Now as far as the doctors are concerned, which one did you feel comfortable with? Did any of the doctors sit with you and in depth discuss their findings? You know your body better than anyone, so do you feel like you should get another opinion. Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis is so hard sometimes, and definitely frustrating for the patient. I wish you luck in your journey! Good luck and best wishes!
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Unfortunately, the answer for me has always been yes. I was diagnosed at 5 and have never tested "positive". I have a pretty severe form of the disease, in every joint in my body with severe deformity in the feet and hands and limited mobility everywhere.
The most important thing is to be comfortable with your rheumatologist. I searched for 5 years to find my most recent one....and don't be afraid to ask questions, lots of questions!
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Thank you all for your responses. It has helped me to hear from each one of you. Deep down, I was pretty sure there is "something more" going on than just arthritus. Am positive I was hoping for a diifferent answer :-) It does mean that I will need to find a doctor who can treat me. We live in a rural area and doctors are four hours away - but considering this is my future... Again, thank you. You have been angels.
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