Question
I was told by a doctor next to our doorstep that I have to consult a Rheumatologist and undergo steriods medication.  I have been suffering from low back pain for the last one year and have stiffness on both the legs especially during night time.  I am waiting for my MRI report by tommorrow by 17 00 hrs.

What is your opinion ? What sort of autoimmunity it triggers in my blood stream ?

Thanks

Answer
Dear M Eswari,   Since I am not a doctor, I only know that rheumatoid arthritis is just one of 60 other autoimmune diseases and that it is caused by the body's own natural immune system to turn again it's own body thinking that the immune system is attacking a foreign invader....

SInce this doctor is sending you to a Rheumatologist, I assume that this doctor THINKS you have Rheumatoid Arthritis and has done the Rheumatoid Factor blood test and an ANA blood test to prove it....  It could also be Osteoarthritis which does not show up in blood work but only an MRI....  

As for steroids, I am not a believer in them because they themselves can cause many medical problems...  The old saying the cure is worse than the disease holds true when using steroids....

I would wait for the results of the MRI, find out exactly what the MRI report says and if it is Osteoarthritis and not rheuatoid arthritis, I would see an Orthopedic specialist instead of a rheumatologist.....

thank you,   karen