Question
What is an Arthritis Panel? My husbands doctor ran blood work and it listed this and I am not sure what it is. My doctor is on vacation and before he went he talked about doing testing for RA. He wanted to wait to see of my joint pain and swelling went away after antibiotics he gave me for Colitis. Only a week later I woke up with my elbow so stiff that I nealy screamed everytime I forced it to move. It also swelled up twice the size of my other. I informed my husbands doctor of what my doctor said about testing for RA, but he wanted to test for reiters syndrome and I don't have any other symptoms besides joint pain and swelling. I am worried he didn't test me for the right thing. What all is invovled in the Arthritis Panel? Should I just wait for my doctor and if I should is there any specific tests I should push for? If I had the right tests done and they come back negative should I have it done again and/or should I have tests done for something else? Is there anything else that causes these same symptoms? My joint pain moves aound constantly and I nomally have less sever stiffness and mild pain after waking only this last time it lasted all day. I really need to find out what is wrong I have three kids 4,5,and 6 months old and I need to be able to move pain free to take care of them and clean my house. I would really apperciate any insight you can give me!!
Thank you

Answer
Heather,

An arthritis panel consists of these tests.

   * C-reactive Protein
   * Rheumatoid Factor
   * Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
   * Uric Acid Test
   * Fibrinogen
   * Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Reiter's syndrome is also referred to as reactive arthritis, which means that the arthritis occurs as a "reaction" to an infection that started elsewhere in the body.

It is interesting that your husband's doctor suggested testing for Reiter's syndrome since there is not specific test for it and since you are already being treated for it.

Sometimes diagnosing different types of arthritis can be difficult. Many times you have to start by ruling out different forms since so many have similar symptoms. The most important thing is for you to be aggressive in seeking a diagnosis.  

Start a medical journal. Keep a list of questions you want to ask your doctor in it. It is easy to forget all the questions you want to ask when you are in the office. Here is an article about keeping a medical journal.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/367973/keeping_a_medical_journal_can_im...

When you see your doctor tell him or her that the antibiotics did nothing for the joint pain and you need to find out the cause now.

I wish you and your family the best.

Rusty
http://arthritis-symptom.com/