RA Factor # from labwork (pain, blood, doctor, nodes)

[jaminhealth]

One member is suggesting that I could have auto immune disease and a doctor back in 2014 checked this # and on a range of 0.0-13.9, my # was 9.9 (RA Latex Turbid).

I'm going to dig deeper into this as it was NOT discussed again and this MD is on a medical leave from her work, so I'm seeing another MD but can't get there for a while for some new labs.

Comments Please.

Maybe I have a sorta answer for now..my friends' sister who deals with RA, her MD did not do RA factor testing but other antibody testing. My friend sent me this info, so hopefully I'm OK for now on the RA factor issue.

http://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoi...or/article.htm

And YES, RA factor can show up with people who do NOT have RA. I've had nodules on both index fingers for years, one finger's nodules have gotten bigger in recent yrs but hardly noticable. These nodules do not hurt and none on other 8 fingers. So I suppose I have a "mild" form of RA.

Good link above.

[Mikala43]

The test is ONE part in the diagnosis of RA, the other is an examination of your joints and information you provide the doctor.

[bluedevilz]

Originally Posted by jaminhealth

One member is suggesting that I could have auto immune disease and a doctor back in 2014 checked this # and on a range of 0.0-13.9, my # was 9.9 (RA Latex Turbid).

I'm going to dig deeper into this as it was NOT discussed again and this MD is on a medical leave from her work, so I'm seeing another MD but can't get there for a while for some new labs.

Comments Please.

Maybe I have a sorta answer for now..my friends' sister who deals with RA, her MD did not do RA factor testing but other antibody testing. My friend sent me this info, so hopefully I'm OK for now on the RA factor issue.

Rheumatoid Factor Blood Test Levels and RF Normal Range

And YES, RA factor can show up with people who do NOT have RA. I've had nodules on both index fingers for years, one finger's nodules have gotten bigger in recent yrs but hardly noticable. These nodules do not hurt and none on other 8 fingers. So I suppose I have a "mild" form of RA.

Good link above.

PainlessnNodules on the ends of the fingers AKA Heberden's nodes are almost always indicative of Osteoarthritis NOT Rheumatoid arthritis...

Rheumatoid arthritis does not typically involve the end joints of the hands

As Mikala already noted a positive Rheumatoid Factor is NOT diagnostic for RA and a negative RF does not exclude RA

[jaminhealth]

I read what Mikala said: she said RF is ONE part of RA dx.

[Mikala43]

BlueDevilz elaborated well. I am not a doctor, just been through a lot of this stuff. I honestly do not not if I ever had that test done, which would have been before I started requesting copies of labs.

Mine was quite apparent from a visual inspection and was classic PsA.

I was a hot mess when it started and could hardly walk and had loss of dexterity in my hands. I am so thankful for the strides modern medicine has made, without it I would be (literally) crippled. Things like biologics are miracles.

At this point in time (and it can, and has changed for no good reason), I feel hardly any pain and have no limitations to what I can do.