Rhemotory Arthitis ?

[lamontino]

Im trying to find out if anyone knows about how rhemotory arthitis is dianosis......

[admiral7]

rheumatology depends largely on results of blood tests and fluids drawn from swolen joints.They generally look for the r factor in blood work.I have had rheumatoid arthritis since 1975,there are lots of good treatments nowadays for this condition.

[jbasser]

Lamontino, There are several good web sites that actuyally go into detail about RA. WEB MD, Wrong diagnosis.com, Cleveland Clinic Web site is very informative. You can even ask a DOC a question provided your lucky enough to hit at the right time.

[luvHIM]

Im trying to find out if anyone knows about how rhemotory arthitis is dianosis......

There are many disorders that fall under the heading of Rheumatological Disorders and or Arthritis.

It depends on several different factors, to include radiological findings, as well as labs. There are the Spondyloarthropathies (e.g., Reactive Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psorasis, etc.) that are all evaluated under the "Spine" by the VBA.

I am diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis with secondary Myofascial pain syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. I am HLA-B27 positive (which is not a diagnostic in and of itself but helps to rule out RA or rheumatoid arthritis).

So, in short, it depends on the type of "arthritis" that is suspected to determine the route for a definitive diagnosis. It took 20 years for me to get a definitive diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), which probably would still be under debate if not for my radiographic evidence of irreversible damage that includes bilaterally fused SI joints and other peripheral joint damage. Unfortunately, often times, definitive dx of AS is not made until irreversible damage appears on plain x-rays.

But Rhematoid arthritis and the spondyloarthopathies are two different types of arthritis, although many times treated with the same prescription drugs. Like, for instance, I use Enbrel.

[jessejames]

There are many disorders that fall under the heading of Rheumatological Disorders and or Arthritis.

It depends on several different factors, to include radiological findings, as well as labs. There are the Spondyloarthropathies (e.g., Reactive Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psorasis, etc.) that are all evaluated under the "Spine" by the VBA.

I am diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis with secondary Myofascial pain syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. I am HLA-B27 positive (which is not a diagnostic in and of itself but helps to rule out RA or rheumatoid arthritis).

So, in short, it depends on the type of "arthritis" that is suspected to determine the route for a definitive diagnosis. It took 20 years for me to get a definitive diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), which probably would still be under debate if not for my radiographic evidence of irreversible damage that includes bilaterally fused SI joints and other peripheral joint damage. Unfortunately, often times, definitive dx of AS is not made until irreversible damage appears on plain x-rays.

But Rhematoid arthritis and the spondyloarthopathies are two different types of arthritis, although many times treated with the same prescription drugs. Like, for instance, I use Enbrel.

Like you, I went to about 10 Doctors in the 70's until I was referred to a specialist who is a Board Certified Rheumatologist and I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. This is a terrible disease and you are correct, mine also was diagnosed because of fused si joints and positive HLA-B27 blood test. I have discs in my cervical and lumbar regions that are affected by this but the only option given was to completely fuse the discs with no gaurantee of less pain. My doctor has been trying to push Emberil on me, but I have read too much and actually called the manufacturer. I have a low tolerance to infections and have had some skin cancers, the Manufacturer's RN didn't want to tell me not to take it, but I managed to describe all my "other" conditions and asked her if she was me, would she take it and she said no. My Insurance agreed to pay the approx $1800 per month for the stuff but I am afrid of it, it is made from protein in chinese hampsters. The Dr had said AS could "settle down" in some patients, but mine has gone worse over time. There is not a waking moment that I am not in some degree of pain and this causes so much depression...one day at a time is how handle it.