General Arthritis Q & A

What does the term inflammatory arthritis mean?

What does the term ‘enthesopathy’ mean?

Hello: I have had severe joint pain and intermittant swelling in my hands, wrists, elbows, neck, shoulders, knees and feet for 3 months. I had a very hard knot develope on my wrist. My mouth is extremely dry. My joints pop and crack. I have had a low grade fever for 3 months. BUT MY EXTENSIVE BLOOD TEST RESULTS ALWAYS COME BACK NEGATIVE! My rheumatologist has not seen the swelling, and cannot diagnose me. What other tests can be performed to diagnose ra? Can a CT scan show that you have ra? Can an ultrasound? I cannot have a MRI due to interstem device implant. Can the doctor have lab testing done on synovial fluid? Will this show ra when blood work does not? I am desparate for an answer and help. I am a very active person, work full time and college full time, and am a single parent. This has stopped my life. I thank you in advance for an answer. Sincerely, Wendi Foster

What is negative zero arthritis? Does this have anything to do with the metabolism of the body?

I am 30 years old and as of yet, no doctor has been able to figure out exactly what’s wrong with my joints. The “best guess” is RA as of now, although my blood work has always been and still is negative for the RA factor. The only medication that has given me any kind of relief has been a steroid anti-inflammatory. I can deal with the pain in my knee and the occasional finger (it comes and goes for short periods of time), but my jaw (only the right side) is unbearable. I haven’t been able to yawn in 15 months and eating is always painful. We know it’s arthritis since the steroid made the pain go away completely. Is there anything I can do (like physical therapy) or take (prescription or supplement) that can help with this? I really don’t want to spend the rest of my life in agony.

1. What age groups of people does arthritis affect most? 2. How serious of a problem is arthritis for people? 3. What are the treatment options for people diagnosed with arthritis? 4. If someone doesn