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Is reactive arthritis diagnosed in blood tests ?

Posted , 5 users are following.

frances02122
frances02122

Hello, i am desperately searching for answers to my severe knee pains that started about 5 weeks ago. Its in both knee joints and at one point the only way to get upstairs was pulling myself with the bannister as the pain was so bad especially in my right knee. My doctor just said it was a virus. I  have had some tenderness in bottom of feet, hip joints and shoulder joints and a bakers cyst at bottom of finger plus a sore throat. The knees eased after a couple of weeks (80% better) but last night it flared up again worse in left knee this time. Blood tests were normal and i am now waiting for knee x ray. It feels more like joint, muscle and cartlidge than bone. Any idea's please ?

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • susan84637
    susan84637 frances02122

    Posted

    Have u been diagnosed with reactive arthritis?
    • frances02122
      frances02122 susan84637

      Posted

      Hi Susan thanks for replying, no i have not been diagnosed with reactive arthritis. I did ask the doctor who looked at my blood test results if it could be this and she said it would have showed in blood test results. I am a bit confused as  some people have had negative results but still had it. I am having to explore all possibilities as i seem to be getting nowhere with doctors.
  • roy40659
    roy40659 frances02122

    Posted

    yes Riters Arthritis ( reactive arthritis ) is contacted by sexual contact is a blood borne virus which cannot be detected througn blood work ( tests) people who first experence arthritis pain in the knees back wrists doctors first belive it to be arthritis problem the have blood work done comes back clear because Riters is undecteble in the blood which makes ID what the problem impossible, I had a test for HIV as they are similar in being a blood borne virus  there is another type of Riters Arthritis which is different as it is caused from eating unhealthly food which is curable but causes lo of problems and people have tostay in hospital for treatment as it can cause death. hope helps, cheesrs
    • frances02122
      frances02122 roy40659

      Posted

      Hi Roy, thanks for reply. I am having to explore everything that could possibly cause my health problems as doctors dont seem to have answers. They just offer blood test which come back negative, i am now waiting for an x ray of knees.
  • del88302
    del88302 frances02122

    Posted

    Hi Frances

    My son gets reactive arthritis on exposure to streptococcus bacteria and my friends son gets it on exposure to viruses. A number of variables can cause it and the issue is trying identify what...

    If bacteria does cause your flare they can detect it in bloods; as antibodies to the bacteria will be present in higher concentrations. However; you have to do the blood test at the right time or it wont show up; so it can take a while to get a concrete diagnosis. Throat swabs can also help confirm.

    Very painful condition which is poorly understood.. record your patterns (i.e any symptoms the week prior to knee flare) as this can help with diagnosis.

    Good luck!.

    Adele

    • frances02122
      frances02122 del88302

      Posted

      Hi Adele, thank you for reply. I do seem to suffer sudden sore throats  so maybe there could be a link. I can understand that bloods need to be taken at the time you are feeling your ill , but usually by the time you get the doctors appointment and then book to have bloods taken its always the case you dont feel as bad. I will try and keep a record of daily symptoms so i can give them to doctor. 

      Frances.

    • del88302
      del88302 frances02122

      Posted

      Know that problem well. Our solution was to have an agreement with the practice that the nurse would slot us in for bloods and throat swabs immediately if we were having a flare. This was how we managed to get solid blood results. That in combination with the daily diary led to diagnosis. It did take quite some time though.

      Adele

  • roy40659
    roy40659 frances02122

    Posted

    perhaps we  are talking about diffrent reactive arthritis , Sexual reactive

    arthritis !

    was discovered by a Dr Hans Reiter a german in the first world war who was  Nazi a number of years ago the name was changed to Reactive Arthritis ,when I contacted this virus though sexual contact 50 years ago  at time and for many weeks durning the time spend in the hospital there were many blood tests as l was realy in bad shape with the red eyes, and such great pain in my right knee almost no energy in my body over the years it has come back and with the blood tests taken there was no indication of the problem being Reiters even though everyone belive my problem was Reiters Arthritis

  • Anon
    Anon frances02122

    Posted

    They can test for a gene to see if you have genetic factor. Its called HLA-B27. Its best to be seen by a speacialist like a rhuematologist. You should be able to get referal from doctor. 90 % of people have the gene they say. I do not have the gene but have ReA. Did you have a bacteria previously, if so the blood tests will be important so you can see if it is bacteria causing your problems.
    • frances02122
      frances02122 Anon

      Posted

      I am going to mention this gene test to my doctor and ask to see a Rhuematologist as well. I have had full blood tests including Rhuematic one but came back negative. Maybe i need testing for any bacteria as often get sore throats and have read that  Strep throat is a trigger for it. My knees have been extremely stiff and painful for 7 weeks now and not getting any better. 
    • Anon
      Anon frances02122

      Posted

      Good luck. I hope you get some relief in finding whats wrong and to get better as soon as possible. This illness can be much better living with when you learn how to manage your symptoms the best you can. I dont take any medications anymore. in the first year I took anti inflamatory which helped a bit
    • Anon
      Anon

      Posted

      well I got injections for frozen shoulder. As a result of dislocation. These injections helped and so did massage/physio. Nothing else really helped to be honest. anti inflamatories did nothing
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