I am have been referred as an urgent case to a rhuematologist following abnormal liver function (for over a year) and joint pain/dizziness and fatigue. Blood tests have all been normal for ra. Does this sound like ra symptoms has anyone else had a similar experience and how were you diagnosed?
I am 35 year of age
To my knowledge there aren't any "tests that are normal for RA" - being rheumatoid factor seronegative does NOT mean you don't have RA.
Do you happen to know what liver tests are abnormal? Liver tests can be abnormal in several rheumatic conditions including polymyalgia rheumatica - the thread you have posted on.
Do you have any more muscular stiffness - the symptoms you mention don't sound particulalry PMR-ish and you are fairly young for it too, not that that means that much.
Seems a bit behindhand to decide you are urgent after abnormal liver results for a year! However, if you are in the UK, urgent just means sooner than routine so it could still be 2 or 3 months.
Eileen,
Thanks for your reply.
They have told me very little about what liver tests were abormal but I have a liver biopsy planned too. Like you say nothing is quick with the NHS. I had an mri scan of liver - this was clear.
My knees (both) are sore all day particulary at night when resting and going up and down stairs/hills. My knees crunch and click. My wrists and hips are sore and clicking, and when I get up on a morning I feel like I am walking on glass.
The dizziness comes and goes but tired a lot.
I hope you don`t mind me saying this, but my sister had exactly your symptoms about a year ago...abnormal liver readings, and the pains where you have, she has Inflammatory Arthritis, which as Eileen says....didn`t show RA, but is they told her, zero negative Rheumatoid Arthritis...she was told 70% of people show positive in blood tests, remaining negative....but the pain as my sister says is positive!! Good luck...
Hi I come from Oz, and have had PMR for just under a year but thankfully now am completely off all meds however I do still suffer from dizziness especially when I am tired and exercising is that what you are experiencing.