I recommend finding a immediate way to manage the pain, reducing stress and being restful helps. I suggest doing warm epsom salt/dead sea salt evening baths with soft light, and calming music. This reduces the stress of being in constant pain and makes your joints and muscles relax and feel better. It's a small thing but I also find it helps me calm down and reduces my depression symptoms. At the end of the day, I'm really fatigued and I have to push myself to even do this small thing, but I'm always glad I did. For long-term, find the best RA specialist you can, based on insurance and location. New patient appointments can be several months in the waiting. I'm modifying my diet to eating/drinking more healthy foods that help with RA. It's a big life-style change, take it slow and easy.
January 24
What should you do if your doctor thinks you have seronegative RA and you're hurting all over?
It sounds like your situation may be shifting from seronegative to seropositive RA, which can happen. Some people initially diagnosed with seronegative RA develop antibodies months to years later, changing their diagnosis. This Show Full Answer
What should you do if your doctor thinks you have seronegative RA and you're hurting all over?
It sounds like your situation may be shifting from seronegative to seropositive RA, which can happen. Some people initially diagnosed with seronegative RA develop antibodies months to years later, changing their diagnosis. This is actually a positive development because it can make your diagnosis clearer and help guide treatment.
Here's what you should do:
* Schedule a follow-up appointment with your rheumatologist as soon as possible to discuss these elevated levels
* Ask about starting or adjusting disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) if you haven't already - early treatment is crucial
* Request imaging tests like ultrasound or X-rays to assess any joint damage
* Keep a detailed symptom journal noting which joints hurt, when pain is worst, and how long morning stiffness lasts
Starting treatment quickly matters because there's a "window of opportunity" in the first three to six months where aggressive treatment can potentially stop or reduce joint damage. The sooner you begin appropriate medication, the better your chances of preserving joint function. Common treatments your doctor might recommend include:
* DMARDs like methotrexate
* Biologic medications
* Corticosteroids like prednisone for inflammation
* NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen for pain relief
Don't wait to advocate for yourself. The widespread pain you're experiencing is real and deserves prompt attention. Many myRAteam members have found that once they started proper treatment, their quality of life improved significantly.
January 24
Join
Your Privacy Choices
