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 family doctor recently diagnosed me as having some type of "garden variety" arthritis. I am 35 and nothing showed up in my bloodwork for rhuematoid or lupus, just slightly elevated c-reactive protein. Also slightly high cholesterol and slightly low on some thyroid test. Bextra wasn't helping me, but now Voltaren is helping a lot. My question is, do you think I should start seeing a rheumatologist? The doctor didn't tell me to, but he didn't say much of anything.
Answer Dear Grace, If your Rheumatoid Factor blood work (RF) came back normal and your tests for Lupus (ana blood work etc) all came back normal, I do not see you having to see a Rheumatologist at this point....
However, I would see a Endocrinologist since you stated that some of the thyroid tests were low.... Since I do not know which ones they were, I can't give you specific information on whether they are causing your "garden variety" arthritis... I can't even say if your doctor should be treating you for arthritis, unless he is treating you for Osteoarthritis, since this type of arthritis does not show up in blood work, only MRI scans....
You didn't tell me what your symptoms are and you didn't tell me if you are getting treatment for your high cholesterol, but I can tell you that THYROID PROBLEMS can and will cause high cholesterol...
If you can give me more information on your thyroid blood work (lab results on each test done and normal ranges since all labs are different), and your SYMPTOMS, maybe I can help you more....
