About Karen Brawner Expertise I can answer questions regarding osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. I can also answer questions regarding other autoimmune diseases of which rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.
Experience I have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis and I myself suffer from osteoarthritis. I also suffer from systemic sclerosis and CREST syndrome which are also autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.)
Question my mother, in early 50's, has recently experienced many symptoms of severe arthritus. what makes it unusual is its severity and rapid onset. although she has previously occasionally experienced mild discomfort and inflammation in joints - ankles and hands mostly - 2 weeks ago she complained of extreme pain in all her joints. it happened in a matter of a few days and now she can barely move. she is being tested by doctors in nogales, and they are unsure what she has but they suspect it is viral in nature. any ideas?
Answer Dear Asks, Unfortunately, I don't.... If she has Rheumatoid Arthritis, a simple RF blood test can diagnose this... However, I would strongly suggest that they also do an ANA blood test and other blood work to check for possible OTHER autoimmune diseases.... I am sure they have already run the common blood work like white blood count, red blood count, platlets, etc, but autoimmune disease blood tests are not commonly done by doctors unless all other blood tests fail to confirm a diagnosis and even then, the doctor MUST be experienced in making an autoimmune disease diagnosis.... There are several autoimmune diseases out there that cause these types of symptoms....
Please go to www.aarda.org then click on patient information and then scroll down to search the more than 56 possible types of autoimmune diseases which might help in helping the doctors determine your mother's proper diagnosis...
