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Good Morning,
What test or tests do I need to tell me if I have RA?
Thanks,
JB
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What Tests Do I Need
- By JayBee
- Posted February 26, 2009 at 9:59 am · 6 replies
- In Living with rheumatoid arthritis
- Shared with the public
6 replies
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- Newest first
- By CeeKay7
- Posted February 26, 2009 at 4:17 pm
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Your rheumatologist will likely have a set panel that he prefers. That being said, there are several tests that can help with the diagnosis of RA.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
- Rheumatoid Factor (RA or RF)
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide antibody (CCP)
- Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
- Joint x-rays or CT scan of possibly affected joints
- Bone scan
You can read more about these tests at http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/rheumatoid-2.html
- By JayBee
- Posted February 26, 2009 at 5:59 pm
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Thanks!
I'm giving my symptoms another few of weeks before I start testing.
JB
- By joanne53
- Posted March 30, 2009 at 9:15 am
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My blood tests were all negative. But because my pain was so bad, we did an MRI of my wrists and hands and thats how I was diagnosed with RA. I was told I have sero-negative type RA.
- By DCHAZEL
- Posted March 31, 2009 at 10:47 am
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I HAVEN'T TESTED YET. I FOUND OUT I HAD ARTHRITIS WHEN I HAD SOME EXRAYS DONE FOR KNEE SURGERY. THE DOCTORS SAID I HAVE ARTHRITIS IN BOTH NNEES AND BOTH ANKLES. I GETS TOUGH SOME TIMES.
- By stormerage
- Posted April 5, 2009 at 2:29 am
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My Mom has arthritis at 77 and I have it all over at 46. My Mom is crippled with it and her hands look just like that commercial. I am trying so hard to try and be as preventative as I can to keep from being as crippled, but our diagnosis is hard. Most doctors say Mom has RA (which would most likely make mine the same, especially with my ana titer numbers so high). BUT, the kicker, her rheumatologist says it is just an agressive form of osteo arthritis. We did blood test and lots of xrays, but no MRI. Do you think this diagnosis would be correct???
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