yep me too...took me 6 months to get diagnosed early last year but once they did ultra sound on my hands and it showed up synovitis they confimed it. I have just started on humira as well, had my third injection this week. I had a flare a fortnight ago so have had a prednisilone shot but am feeling really quite good now, dont know if is the humira kicking in or the steroid though. My hands feet wrists and elbows are affected. Good luck hopefully the humira kicks in soon

I have had a negative RA factor also. I had a severe case of Lyme disease and was told that I had Lyme arthritis. After 9 years on tramadol and my stomach not being able to handle the meds I went to a Nationally known RA Specialist in Marshfield , WI. He is the one that told me the Lyme bacteria triggered the Rhematoid Arthritis in my body. It had spread to all my joints and had attacked the ligaments and tendons in my neck and shoulders. Good luck to you and hope you get some relief from the pain.

I don't have the RA factory either, nor do my cousin or father who also have this dreadful disease. I know you are new to this and it can be daunting but just remind yourself that everyday is your new normal. Enjoy your good days and fight through the not so good ones. Heating blankets help keep you warm and not so easy to stiffen. Mine goes off and on all night year around now. I wish you gently hugs and a daily new normal.

I also don't have RA factor.

I'm waiting on my next Rheum. appointment to hopefully get my medications changed. I'm allergic to Flexeril so I take Skelaxin on the bad days but it destroys my stomach. Mobic used to control the joint pain but the last two months it's been increasing. I'm still not officially diagnosed at over 5 months since I've been seeing my last Rheumatologist. It took another four months of tests and my insistence to even get that original appointment.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

What a sensible answer KimWrathellKing....every day is my new normal..my new mantra!