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I need advice, is this Rheumatoid arthritis or regular arthritis or what?

Posted , 7 users are following.

dw09
dw09

I went to my regular pcp last year for my knees, they give out sometimes, or they hurt like someone is taking a knife and digging into them slowly, sometimes they lock up on me, feels like they are going to bend in backwards. She did some X-ray's and then said it looks like RA, set me up with a RA Doc, the appointment was 5 months down the road. for 5 months I waited for the appointment. the day before the appointment they called to verify my appointment. 

I left early because I never been there and I get lost easily, so I showed up at 1pm, checked in at 1pm when my appointment was at 3pm. I sat there waiting. they didn't call me back until 4pm and then by 430 pm the dr came in, said he didn't get my x rays from the dr then asked what was going on, I told him, he said it doesn't sound like RA and said RA doesn't effect the knees. Then he said who diagnosed me with RA, I told him my dr did, he said she doesn't have a license for Ra and never studied for it so she couldn't know what to look for. Then told me I needed to pick up the x rays from my dr and bring them back to him, that he needed the films and they didn't send them over. At this point I just got up and left, I got so ticked off by his attitude, the incompetence of the entire staff. They could told me that after noon I needed to get them before the appointment, they could told me the day before when they called to verify. and I just up and left because of his attitude in general. I dunno if this is RA or not. can anyone give me an idea if it is? 

**Edit:** I even had a disease specialist who did some blood work on me for something else even said I had an auto immune disease most likely RA. She said it showed in my blood work, the Autoimmune disease part.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH dw09

    Posted

    That's the first time i have heard a doctor claim that RA doesn't affect knees and I know people who have needed knee replacement surgery because of RA! And there are other forms of inflammatory arthritis that involve the knees. 

    Time for a search for another, less arrogant rheumatologist - good luck!

  • diane77471
    diane77471 dw09

    Posted

    Omg. How awful. My ra was diagnosed with blood test. I am sitting here now with awful knee pain. Very little swelling. It's the Ra. Please shop around for another doc and ask to be put on cancel list so they can call you if they have a cancellation. Good luck.

  • kathleen89227
    kathleen89227 dw09

    Posted

    I can't tell you how many times my RA caused my knees to become so painful and inflamed that I've had them drained and a steroid injection given. I've had RA for 30 years, and NEVER been told such a load of old tosh as you have been told. I'm glad you walked out, but I hope you get a better and more efficient rheumatologist soon. cry

  • gsehealth1
    gsehealth1 dw09

    Posted

    Extreme conditions of RA. My mom RA has not an extreme. Doctor is trying to give treatment by medicine and She is fine now.
  • Gloria814
    Gloria814 dw09

    Posted

      Good you walked out.   How rude of that doctor.    And of course RA can be an issue with knees.    Did that doc even examine  you or suggest blood tests to determine what was going on .  Well no longer matters,  find another RA doc soon 

     

  • janice67212
    janice67212 dw09

    Posted

    I know exactly how confused you feel!  I have arthritis in my knees my back,hands, feet, toes and now hips. My pcp sent me to a rheumy because my blood counts were up. The rheumy said all my arthritis was osteo and prescribed meds that made me nauseous.  I went back several times and he said he felt I may have palindromic RA but that the stiffness in my legs and all my joint pains were from osteo. My pcp has seen me during flare ups and says I am not taking this disease seriously. I need to be on meds.  I went to a rheumatologist for a second opinion. He said the stiffness in my legs is called gelling and typically people with RA get that. He also said a had way too much osteo for someone my age.  He did an ultrasound on my hands and said there was inflammation but not enough to meet the standard protocol for RA. When I went back to my pcp he said he feels i have RA and wanted to start me on methotrexate. At that point I was willing to try anything to relieve the pain. However, I constantly question who is right and should I be on these meds.

    So bottom line 3 doctors 3 different diagnosis and 1 confused patient!  Anyone else feel the same?

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