How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed? | Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

Sitting down and listening to a patient’s story is the first step in diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. While swollen joints are a large indicator of Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are many other symptoms, such as fatigue, anxiety and depression, and stiffness. Doctors are diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis much earlier now, to prevent joint damage and begin treatment as soon as possible.
We would like to thank Abbvie, Inc. and Gilead Sciences, Inc. for their contribution to this program through unrestricted grants.

[@ascent8487]

So damage can happen quickly in the first two years but I have to wait six months to even get in the rheumatologists office? Awesome. Way to go medical system.

[@rj_levels3753]

Ik it’s dookie. But at least nsaids can be bought over the counter till then, otherwise I’d be dead 😂

[@robyncrouch3090]

Reading your info on ra. I've got copd. Ra waiting up till a year to see specialist have ostero arthritis waiting again to see specialist up to 2 years meantime in pain and 66 and still got to work retirement age is 67 in Australia

[@jaco0712]

It’s a horrible wait here too!!

[@mikellis2639]

What she didn't emphasize is that the diagnosis is difficult to affirm when you are sero-negative & women are more likely to not be believed & physical symptoms are written off as stress etc, etc. Wish it wasn't true but I witnessed it in my nursing practice & unfortunately personally. And as she & others have pointed out early diagnosis & treatment effects long term outcomes. I would leave the doctor's office in tears because I knew in my core something was wrong. I had many symptoms, joints & otherwise, for years. 5 years ago when my shoulder needed replacement after rapid deterioration a lab test finally converted to sero positive. Bingo, I was taken seriously & all the possible treatments were offered. In retrospect, I would have fought harder to find care instead of going home depressed & thinking they were right..I was crazy. I read the comments. We all seem to have similar experiences living in limbo. Sad.

[@EQOAnostalgia]

I went to the Dr when i was about 32 with nagging pain in my spine. They said i had mild arthritis and it's nothing. I knew it was something more, here i sit in my 40's now and it's so much worse and it's in many other areas. If you pushed down with medium force on one of the nodules in my arm i would cry out in agony. To this day i am undiagnosed.

[@TheLuminousOne]

god bless you both

[@denisep7885]

💯👏🏼

[@ascent8487]

Im so sorry that happened to you. Infuriating. How are you feeling now? I’m in the early stage. Trying to get a diagnosis. I can’t wipe, comb my hair, drsss easily. Work. Cook. I can’t walk well. Blood work indicates a problem. Positive ANA. Negative for rheumatoid factor. Possibly lupus but doubtful. It really does look like RA. What would you suggest as far as self advocacy? I pray you’re well.

[@444tiger]

You're right. I was suffering, and Dr's blew me off till surgeons took xrays and told me I had RA. I'm sero negative as well.

[@sandraschick1916]

This video is wonderfully clear and easy to understand! THANK YOU!

[@user-fk5jk9cn1c]

You're so helpful. Thank you!

[@dvb1746]

I wonder why they say over and over that finding out early helps things from getting worst, when doctors do t take you seriously enough to not even give you a referral!!

[@nerissar2466]

thank you for this, best video ive seen so far

[@bevvaor2320]

Thank you for explaining the details of RA. I wish doctors take a little time to explain some of these testing. I look at the results but I am not a doctor to know all about the lingo. Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge. God bless.

[@SS-ij7mm]

Super Informative.

[@mariafepascual5388]

Thank you for the information❤

[@allanahbriscoe3503]

Thanks for this

[@meredithsutton1485]

Thank you for explaining seronegative RA! That's what my doc thinks I have, but I didn't quite understand because of my negative bloodwork. My symptoms are pretty much textbook for early RA, and it was confusing to have my bloodwork come back negative (though with an elevated SED rate).

[@fraa888grindr6]

My 1st symptoms were Jul '22. My 1st blood test was Jan '23 - seronegative. My 2nd blood test was May '23 and still seronegative, including negative x-rays. Lots of symptoms of stiffness, soreness, pain, limited range-of-motion, fatigue and weakness, but no signs of swelling of positive test results. I'm on Sulfasalazine now for 4-wks with no effect. Prior prescribed steroids worked wonders. Maybe my June bloodwork will produce a positive test, or the Sulfasalazine will kick in? Take care!

[@evvkkk6657]

What happened now

[@rj_levels3753]

@@fraa888grindr6did it work

[@gamaltaher9714]

Thanks

[@saya6899]

I have RA and fibromyalgia living in pain is very frustrating. I have a new medication, and I hope this one helps me. Thank you so much for the information.

[@aliseegenuine6414]

@Chayo Alfaro . I was diagnosed over 30 years ago with RA & fibromyalgia. I had flare ups off & on over the yrs. in the past yr I have developed numbness in my hands & feet. I can no longer write legibly nor grasp objects & have difficulty walking. It didn’t get this severe at once, it has progressed. Do you have these issues? I haven’t seen a rheumatologist in many yrs. I’m trying to determine if what is happening is from RA or due to central nervous system. I don’t want to have to go from dr to dr seeking answers. I’m trying to find if others have experienced my symptoms or issues. My finger joints are enlarged & stiff. I, too, experience a locked joint of sorts…. I will have a finger bent & will have to physically push the finger back up & feel as though it was dislocated & I am relocating it. I’m not asking you for medical advice, I’m interested whether you have had same experiences? I would appreciate any info you might share. I know the life of pain. I have had more issues that cause chronic pain. I’m sorry you have to live with it, too. Some girls have all the fun, right?😟 Thank You!😊

[@yazbakri]

Read Dr Sarno book “healing back pain” all his patients were 100% cured without medication.

[@yazbakri]

That’s for the fibromyalgia not RA

[@powerofloveism]

do you ever wake up drenched or seem to have low grade fevers on and off ? I know I do and my clothes and my hair is sopping wet in the middle of the night at times and for years I was told my pain was fibromyalgia but my joint pain suggests RA and its on both sides of my body. I can't barely get out of bed any longer, takes me hours just to prepare to go to town , then by then I just want to go back to bed due to fatigue.

[@layalaya9367]

@@powerofloveism I have RA and do not have your symptoms ~

[@shaunadillon6507]

I was 21 when I was diagnosed. I went almost a year trying to get a diagnosed. My doctor told me, that my pain was all in my head. It wasn’t until I demanded bloodwork. Then he was like oh your have ra. So need less to say I have a lot of damage done and oh I had all the symptoms

[@epsicron9209]

yeahhh, it seems you have to push rather than professionals test for it themselves, I was 7 when I was diagnosed, kept going to the GP because it was excruciating walking to school, GP kept saying I was just lazy or that it was growing pain. About a year later of missing school veeery often, we finally decided to go to the hospital - instantly diagnosed with JIA within hours...

[@aritzv9618]

I'm 21 rn, my parents didn't think much of arthritis...my dad has it and every since I was 13 my joints started hurting and would become stiff.....i wanna get diagnosed and treated but all these comments scare me..I'm scared they would just brush it away as stress or something.

[@epsicron9209]

@@aritzv9618 I know it feels difficult or seems scary to do, but you really should try pushing it on your doctor, i believe its this, etc. you are well within your right to get second opinions, too you just have to be motivated enough to keep pushing it onto people to get a definite diagnosis, hell, it could be something unrelated to arthritis but pushing these thoughts onto a doctor who should arrange the correct tests should definitely help. it may take a while but it'll be worth it when you finally get the correct treatment!

[@maryc7830]

I have rheumatoid arthritis, it really sucks. I’m 48 years old and I can’t even move out of bed. I’ve had it since I was five years old. ❣️🙏🏻

[@erwinhaid6261]

Sorry to hear that 😢 my god keeps your strength

[@ascent8487]

I’m so sorry. I’ll keep you in my prayers. Just said one for you now.

[@powerofloveism]

I think I have it, started two months ago I woke up with pain in my thumbs my joints in wrists , my hand joints and the balls of my feet, that morning I was so stiff and could barely walk, it hurt so bad under my feet to walk. my thumb was jammed straight, I couldn't clench my fists, or fasten buttons on my shirt, put earrings in or pull jeans up and on without my hands hurting so bad, I try to grasp objects and turn door knobs it takes several attempts before I can get it right. Opening lids to water bottles, and omg ankle pain and knee pain. I even had blood shot eye's. My doctor was unavailable as he had surgery so I went to my pharmacist with my concerns he examined my hands and said yes he could feel that my fingers are starting to develop nodules. I have had lumps all over my body for years and no one could tell me what they are or why they are there. I have had terrible bouts of inflammation for years that moves around my body so far I been given Naproxen. Last year I hurt my back at work and I was given Prednisone for the pain and inflammation, it was the first break from pain I have had in 24 years.

[@bhavyagulati1152]

Hii plz i m totally stressed out plz can i contact u by email or some means plz🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@user-db9ov3bt8n]

I have to do stretching before I get out of bed. I can’t walk unless I stretch. I have a knee that is feeling significant damage. I fear I will loose the use of my legs. I’m sorry you are in extreme pain.

[@elissetteg58]

Not one rheumatologist has ran any of these tests on me two years later I cannot move my hands my fingers are swollen and stiff

[@EQOAnostalgia]

First off, God bless you, and may he give you peace and bless you. Keep trying, i find that it's kind of like teachers. Remember the one or two teachers who seemed to actually care when you went through school? Those people still exist in all fields today, just more and more rare because of how corrupt the world has become.

[@blazefairchild465]

@@EQOAnostalgia make another appointment tell him you are having a hard time moving your fingers.If people go to the Dr because of pain it's the first thing they mention of course! My Dr told me over 50%that come to him are faking,just to get pain pills that they can take or sell. So they must be very careful. Tell him more about what you can't do anymore. I remember telling my Dr .I had to wake up two hours early for work,& soak in a tub of ebsoms salt to be able to get myself going in the morning. Then after dressing my husband had to button blouses , pants tie shoes and make the coffee every thing was very slow moving & crampy hands and feet didn't help. ( Of course it was painful but I didn't say it I waited for him to ask. I said of course it's painful I usually have tears in my eyes on the bus hanging on to the hung. I the told him my pain was worse in the morning but that sometimes the pain would be so intense it would wake me up. I was 21 then & I was very fortunate to have twice since the have 2x gone into a pain & swelling free recession. Each time it lasted about two years. I was pregnant & then breast feeding and my Ra was practically dormant. I would of course had more children had I noticed at the time 😃 looking back I would have loved the children had they come ,but the fear of passing a ra gene creeps me out. After speaking to my dear niece who was in severe pain yesterday.😔

[@jaminschmitt]

I can't see a rheumatologist for another 2 months to get a diagnosis. They are hard to find.

[@jennibean71]

I understand that frustration. I had to wait 4 months for my appointment. Good luck. I hope you get help.

[@janhavijadhav1920]

Mam pls reply anti cpp neg crp esr negative hlb -27 negative ra factor negative still pain n swelling in joints what is wrong

[@quit293]

My pain is unbelievable.I got autoimmune disease for other conditions but Imy doctor seems skeptic maybe I should go to different doc.

[@cynthiacullen9695]

Is granuloma annular ? Part of rheumatoid arthritis?

[@Jade_902]

What are the symptoms of??

[@lifestyleandcrafts6686]

I have had pain in my joints for almost 3 years. The orthopedic Dr whom I have gone for check up didn't told me that I have rheumatoid arthritis but the medications he prescribed me include one for rheumatoid arthritis. If I don't have rheumatoid arthritis, will those medications be dangerous for me

[@blazefairchild465]

How are you doing did they ever give you any RA blood tests ?

[@colleenzeglin4974]

Turn off the music it is hard to hear you speak

[@pbshumanity8977]

Having trouble separating the sounds?

[@RSumm2teach]

I have had blood work done and I have the RH factor, my rheumatologist ordered more blood work. I was supposed to go in and see her in December to set up a plan. Her office called today and they wanted me to come back sooner. I'm scared. I only discovered I positively have it less than a year ago. Should I be worried she wants to see me sooner? I feel like the blood work showed something more serious. I'm 54,

[@layalaya9367]

no, she might have had a cancellation ~

[@dvb1746]

Is it true that bc my ra test was negative in 2022 the fact that my symptoms are worst does it mean I could now have a positive ra?

[@layalaya9367]

ask your doctor ~

[@Eowyn3Pride]

What if we're 70% certain we have RA, went for blood tests, tests were negative, joints are starting to show signs, but the doctor refuses to send us to a specialist... I know, that I won't get help until I look like a twisted tree trunk-by then it will be too late. 😔

[@purplepheasant4776]

You need a new internist or primary doctor who will write you a prescription if you have an HMO.

[@dvb1746]

I have arthritis diagnosis. How can I know if I have RA if I can’t get a referral for a reuhmatologist?

[@layalaya9367]

your doctor should give you a referral ~ sooner the better ~

[@a-k9161]

I feel pain if I'm holding the phone for 10 min.

[@EQOAnostalgia]

I have issues with controllers as a gamer. Stinks because i grew up with an Atari joystick in my hands lol.

[@blazefairchild465]

@@EQOAnostalgia just keep trying to find ways to make things better & share them.

[@marymarsh2937]

Ugh my rheumatologist never touched me let alone do a joint count. :(

[@rosac2833]

Thank you for your inf. Some times the drs. Dont believe what is going on in our body even if you are telling and showing then the fact. I do have all the symptoms and still she said that doesn't know what I have. So know I will be seen by a neurologist.

[@bhavanimudhiraj5718]

Madam ra factor negative , anti CCP negative but have positive ANA is it positive RA

[@mamashiraz]

Since they aren’t responding to questions, a positive ANA doesn’t mean RA specifically. It could be any number of autoimmune disorders or it could mean nothing because many healthy people have positive ANA. More testing needs to be done. Hope this helps.

[@barbiegirlthrifter6841]

Do the use of medications, like ibuprofen interfere with the blood test results?

[@epsicron9209]

I don't believe so, I've always been told to ALWAYS take paracetamol + ibuprofen by both general practitioners and rheumatologists, and it's always clear on blood work. Then again, I'm not a medical professional but I've lived with JIA since I was 7, and have had thousands of tests at this point

[@woodcris74]

I have most symptoms of ra! Even visual symptoms. But every test is negative. Im so over life :( this one has no quality. :(

[@Rylie169]

I am in the same boat right now and I have been trying to get diagnosed for almost 3 years now, hang in there :,(

[@geegee4010]

Me too

[@EQOAnostalgia]

Do you know Jesus? He has carried me the past 4 years. I haven't been diagnosed yet but i know what this is, my aunt has had it for many years. It's in our family. I hurt every day but the Lord gives me strength and peace. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

[@blazefairchild465]

I once had a positive test for lupus, I was pregnant and I asked will the baby be okay if I do nothing until after the baby is born .The Dr said no come back after you give birth hmmm nope no lupus . So come to find out some tests have to be done & redone

[@janhavijadhav1920]

​@@Rylie169 hey have you found anything now?

[@civlengr68]

Eye-ver-mec-tin. The truth will set us free from pain.

[@user-sj6ky2gd7s]

Nice explanation sir, RA care pack by planet ayurveda is very good in managing this condition.

[@vishalchaudhary-nf6gr]

Using Planet Ayurveda's rheumatoid arthritis medicine has been a turning point in my health journey. It's a comprehensive solution that goes beyond mere pain management.

[@pnr2736]

Yooo

[@Amritpalsingh-mc4kx]

My uncle have this problem but after taking treatment from Planet Ayurveda he is recovering fast. Thank you Planet Ayurveda