Hi TinkerBell, I do have both RA and Fibromyalgia. I have had it for over 2 years and I want to first say
99% of the people who replied to you all gave you good information. I have gone through what symptoms you and the other have. Ra is defined as stiffness in the joints, OA is damage already to some degree to some joints. Fibro is defined as a nerve disorder where all your body nerves are trying to fight against a low immunity. RA is generally caused by good white cells (anti bodies) trying to damage other needed good cells especially in the joints. Your joints have a synoval fluid sack that protect cartliage and bones. For an unknown reason your whites cells start to attack the good cells protecting the synoval sacks and is successful, will start to destroy cartilage and bone.
Most of the time it is Gene related, someone in your family history. I also had two RA doctor opinions. Both said I have the Clinical signs of RA but not the labs..sed rate, etc as they are negative. Someone said in a reply 20% of people with RA have this, I heard 50%.
Both of your doctors need to find that you are clinically diagnoised with RA if your labs are normal. If they can't agree, get a 3rd opinion. I also understand your Fibro problem as there really is no drug that is for it. Fibromaligia is a symptom, not a disease like RA. I too take Plaqunil which most RA patients take. I also have been put on Methotrexate after trying other meds. The Metho itself has side effects of stomach aches and sometimes severe fatigue or loss of energy a day or so after taking it. This is also the standard for most patients. The doctor will adjust the dose as needed to try to slow down and/or stop the arthritis from attacking the joints. I have been put on narcotics and opiates to relieve my pain especially from the Fibro. After awhile, they don't work as well and you don't want to become addicted to them. I have Flare-ups at times that are sooo bad, I want torip my skin off. The doctor gave me Prednisone 6 day pack to get through the flare up. Prednisone does help relieve pain and inflamation, but it can have severe side effects and you can not stop taking them unless weened off them. That is why I keep a Medose Pred 6 day pack only for flare ups.
My skin pain is getting worse and my joints are getting stiff so the doctor wants to try the Biolgics next. Like in the replies, most people take Embral with Methotrexate. Hope you have good insurance. HMO starts with Remicade IV first, and if after awhile, the doctor can request Embral.
If you don't have insurance, each shot or IV of Embral is somewhere around $1,000.00 plus per injection. I understand what you are going through and all my research on RA and Fibro say it is a lifetime problem and some of the drugs if caught early in the disease may stop or reverse the RA. I have lived with this pain and I have a support group and message boards online to talk about it.
I found if you can share your problems and pain of RA and Fibro with others, many can offer good sugestions and even venting can help. The good thing about your'e RA is your labs are negative, so the blood is not moving the RA quickly. Keeping the white cell blood count is important. You have an Immune disease that puts you more at risk for colds and illness. So keep your health up. Find out what foods to eat and exercise to do. I hope you and everyone else gets better maybe with a new drug in the works. Sorry to all who had to read my Book reply, but I am compassionate for others who suffer with this pain problem and I hope to of helped Tinkerbell in someway. Take care to all.
OH, regarding the Bone density scan, I would say it is a must. The dye shows the uptake of the areas getting damaged and the doctor will have a better idea what to do. Even helps if to get a cortisone shot into a joint that shows up severe on the bone scan. ...Steve