Post by victoreah on Jul 5, 2006 8:23:29 GMT -5
Hi All! I started a thread a few days ago on the Morgellons threads asking if anyone knew if Morgellons could cause nerve damage. I posted that I have been in extreme pain in my neck, shoulder and elbow for several weeks now, saw a chiropractor, then my PCP who prescribed Prednisone, Darvocet and ordered an MRI for tomorrow morning. Several of you warned me of being very cautious or to avoid taking the Prednisone if I have even the slightest suspicion of having Lyme (which I do believe that is how this all started!!!!!!) ANYWAY - I am getting to my point here.... NOW I have discovered this hard, bony nodule on my left elbow - the one that has been KILLING ME - like I just want to cut my arm off. My aunt has bad Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). I called her and also looked up the symptoms myself last night and OH MY GOODNESS - it is all adding up. It said early indicators of RA can be a raised CRP level (C-Reactive Protein) which I have had for at least five years now. It said it can involve the fingers and wrists, but can also start with a nodule on your ELBOW! It can also involve the cervical vertebrae in your neck - which is ALSO what is going on with me. It said you can also develop a large swollen mass behind your knee filled with fluid, which can send pain down into your calf - which is exactly what I went through about 4 or 5 months ago. I went to get an ultrasound done on it, but they told me it was just "fat" accumulation there. Why would it be on one leg and not the other and does "fat" cause that kind of pain? I really don't think so!
(By the way ya'll - I have been trying very hard to eat healthy, low glycemic and exercise and of as today I have LOST 26 lbs. - people are starting to notice that - especially my husband and he is very proud of me!)
I also remember reading somewhere that there might be a Lyme/RA connection. Does anybody know anything about that?
I also read that RA tests can be NEGATIVE (Hey..... we all know the name of THAT game don't we?) and you still have RA. It said doctors use the prednisone as a diagnostic tool sometimes - if you get better and the inflammation goes down and the pain is diminished or goes away - you have RA.
ANY input here will be much appreciated. Thanks! I am going to call my PCP back today and ask to please be tested for RA.
(By the way ya'll - I have been trying very hard to eat healthy, low glycemic and exercise and of as today I have LOST 26 lbs. - people are starting to notice that - especially my husband and he is very proud of me!)
I also remember reading somewhere that there might be a Lyme/RA connection. Does anybody know anything about that?
I also read that RA tests can be NEGATIVE (Hey..... we all know the name of THAT game don't we?) and you still have RA. It said doctors use the prednisone as a diagnostic tool sometimes - if you get better and the inflammation goes down and the pain is diminished or goes away - you have RA.
ANY input here will be much appreciated. Thanks! I am going to call my PCP back today and ask to please be tested for RA.