[Rose76]

Yesterday, my doctor sent me for these two tests: ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and C-Reactive Protein. He did not tell me what he was looking for, but he did ask me if I had Rheumatoid Arthritis. I thought that was odd, since, as my doctor, he already knows what I've been diagnosed with. He was looking at the radiologist's report on my foot x-rays. The radiologist said that what showed up on my foot is often associated with RA.

I've never been diagnosed with RA or any other auto-immune disease. There is no family history of it that I know of. (Just severe osteoarthritis on my father's side.) For a couple of years, now, I am having tough time with muscle stiffness and soreness. I don't know what causes it. There is a good size bump on the back of my heel, and I'm more and more having trouble walking on one foot.

What I read is that those two tests are used to evaluate the body's level of inflammation. If anyone has been sent for these tests, maybe you can give me more understanding of what my doctor is trying to figure out.

I'm on Vicodin for pain, which helps a lot, but I'm needing it more and more frequently. In the morning it's all I can do to stand up straight when I get out of bed. I'm wanting to stay in bed or in my recliner for this soreness. I thought it was from depression, but when I was younger I always had depression, but it didn't make me sore all over.

Thanks for any insight.

[ginaaa22]

if you do have RA or any other kind of immune disease it would show up on those tests among other ones too...before they can dx fibromyalgia they have to rule out RA and other diseases so maybe he is trying to figure out whats going on since your still having muscle stiffness and soreness which is a symptom of both RA and fibromyalgia...

[Rose76]

Thanks, gina. I actually don't complain to my MD about the muscle stiffness and soreness. I just thought they were from getting older and being inactive. (I'm well over 50.) I never really thought of fibromyalgia. I thought that usually started at a younger age.

I've been reading about this thing called Polymyalgia Rheumatica. It sure sounds like what I am experiencing. Muscle soreness. The treatment for it is prednisone. I'ld be very reluctant to take steroids.

[ginaaa22]

Yes it could also be that..I forgot about that lol. I'm an rn and a medical coder and I work for a huge insurance company so I see all different things..fibromyalgia can happen at any age but it is seen more commonly in younger adults. I developed it at 18 so I was very young for what the "norm" is. Yes you are right that steroids are the treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica. It does work wonders for people. Worth a shot if you get some relief. Some people only take like 1mg a day...which is a very low dose. Hope you find something out

[Rose76]

Thanks, gina. I had never in my life heard of this PMR before.

[(JD)]

Steroids are not horrible if they help...and I'd be more concerned over pain medication that isn't helping and having to be increased in dose often...that's rebound pain and/or leading into addiction. That's more scary to me.

I've had those tests...but can't recall beyond that... I have myofascial pain, neuropathy, blah blah blah..the list goes on... only take a pain med that I haven't increased in over 10 ? years.

[Rose76]

I was told by an doctor of osteopathy that my neck pain is myofascial pain. Then I found out that that is what D.O. tend to diagnose people with because it is what they have protocols to treat. My regular M.D. says my neck pain is arthritic, and that's what the X-rays say.

I am using hydrocodone more often, though still at a pretty low level, and I am getting concerned about it. I guess I would be willing to try the prednisone, if that gets recommended by my PCP. If the pain gets greatly relieved in a few days, then that supports a diagnosis of PMR. It would be good just to have a diagnosis that explains why I am so sore from neck to heel. I get so little done because I feel so crummy.