Is this a wrong diagnosis

Posted , 5 users are following.

I am totally confused I was diagnosed with RA in June last year when I had severe swelling in one knee and was given a knee wash because they thought it was septic arthritis then was put on a course of strong antibiotics left knee went down and right knee become swollen also I was having pains in my elbow my crp was 400 and i suffered with severe anemia. After sixteen weeks I see a rheumatologist diagnosed me with RA.

I started on steroids for 6 weeks and felt better I could walk again and I was pain free, my crp was back to normal levels. I started on methotrxate my hair started falling out, my skin was awful and my nails were so sore and soft. I carried on using this until 5 weeks ago and stopped taking it because my Dad said it is no good and it will distroy some of my organs.

Since I have stopped taking any of these drugs I have felt fine I have slight pain in my knee, but I think it was because I had two arthroscopy (knee wash) and that procedure has damaged my knee. If I had RA Surely I would have some pain by now please could somebody advise me into what is happening. Thank you

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Two questions:

    On what basis did the rheumy make his RA diagnosis? 

    Blood test and you were positive for the RA factor? Or clinical, where perhaps your bloods came back RA negative but he took a long look at your joints and made his diagnosis?

    Second: Did you stop the prednisolone (steroids) five weeks ago as well as the MTX or just the MTX?

    If so, how much were you taking? What was your preds dosage? and did you taper them when you came off or just stop?

    I'm no expert, but this sounds unusual.

    I can't help feeling that if you stopped them all five weeks ago and are still doing absolutely fine, then bless your stars and enjoy your life!

    If it all comes back, see your rheumy pronto!

    • Posted

      Hi

      Thank you for answering.

      After 16. Weeks of having my knee drained and other procedures my bloods was high crp rheumatoid factor was not present in my bloods diagnosis was made by a rheumatologist on my bloods also my joints especially my knee then when one knee went back pain free my other knee started swelling and I had pain in my elbows brushing my hair was painful.... I haven't been on steroids for ages just took them randomly when u was in pain and 5 weeks ago I stopped taking mtx nothing since just pain relief because I have loads of ulcers in my mouth... It's weird I am wondering if I even had it now I am 25 years old I know people get it at my age, but this is all strange .... Thanks

    • Posted

      I was taking 6x 2.5 mg every week (mtx)
  • Posted

    Hi pat

    well someone I know had what they called ' inflammatory arthritis' . They thought it might be RA and he was put on methotrexate but seems it was set off by an infection and he is actually free from symptoms now and off mxt.i m not saying yours is the same, but it is a difficult disease to diagnose as everyone is different in the way RA presents and which meds work.

    i m not sure that arthroscopy is likely to damage the knee so it's hard to know if the remaining tenderness is RA or not. But it would be good to contact your rheumy to say you have come off mxt and that you are feeling well. There is a whole system in place to monitor blood tests if we take mxt so it s best to let them know .

    • Posted

      Thank you.

      Yes, I will do that tomorrow. I continued with my blood tests and today I got them back and they come back normal so I am hoping now it's the same as the person you know.

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