Hello! Im hoping you all can help me out. Im a 45 year old female. For about 3 months I had trouble with my knees buckling under, low level pain in my knees, pain and stiffness in my hands, and some sharp pains at night. No swelling. Got blood tests back from doc - 1.64 ANA, but under 10 for rheumatoid factor. My consult with a specialist is not until February 18th. What does this look like? Im not in excruciating pain at all, but felt quite a bit of low level pain for 3 months. The buckling knees thing was strange, and my hands still feel stiff. However, my knee pain is gone. Could it ve a virus? Does it look like RA? I dont think its lupus - no rashes, etc. Any feedback welcome!!!!
Hello tamaraz. It could be RA. Not everyone has a raised rheumatoid factor. Go to your appointment and speak to the experts.
I meant so say its 1.640.....I forgot the 0 in my original post!!!!
Some virus's can cause muscle weakness and joint aches like flu but id imagine you'd have been bedridden with that, keep a list of your symptoms, where you were affected how long they lasted, anything you can think of, for the time being if you can take them anti inflammatorys might provide a little bit of relief good luck x
Just to add tamaraz pain does come and go with RA and commonly affects the hands. I have my first rheumatology appointment next month as well and reading other posts on this forum consultants regularly X-ray patients hands at their first appointment. So don't worry and rest assured you'll know one way or the other next month.
thanks Matron and Jenny - good luck to you too, matron! Its good to have people to talk to....
Let's keep in touch. Good luck
wait to see the specialist but until you do see your GP regular i have RA but a lot of these things can have same symptoms my hands feet were so painful and stiff wrists were painful but since i started meds i can move i could not stand from a sitting position i hated going to bed at night could not get up getting in and out of a bath loads of things carol