After over 3 years of symptoms, I was diagnosed by my orthopedic doctor with seronegative RA this week. I have an appointment tomorrow with a new rheumatologist (I’ve seen two previously).
I’m a 69 yo male and have been active all my life but have been unable to golf or do many of the things I love for over a year and a half.
I’m not 100% convinced that this is the proper diagnosis because my initial symptoms were not typical of RA but are listed among those in a smaller percentage of cases. Examples: Numbness and tingling in my lower legs and face bilaterally, PVCs, shortness of breath, swallowing difficulty, fasciculations, muscle weakness and stiffness.
This has progressed to joint pain especially in my shoulders, wrists, and thumbs. My quads are very stiff and weak. The numbness and tingling persist but the fasciculations have almost disappeared but occur faintly when I’m very tired. Fatigue is off the charts.
The only abnormal blood markers have been a consistently elevated rheumatoid factor (but only in the low 60s) and a one time low CK at 20.
A couple questions:
Has anyone had a similar experience in terms of symptom progression?
Is there a chance that treatment may allow me to golf again?
I have a lot of atrophy in my left wrist area with thenar wasting and my grip weakness is why I had to stop golfing.