Connected Rheumatology

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Deciphering the Rheumatoid Factor: More Than Just a Blood Test

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Understanding the Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and its relationship with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) isn’t as easy as the names imply. You might think that a positive RF test result spells out RA without a doubt, but as with most things autoimmune, it’s not that simple.

The Rheumatoid Factor autoantibody

The Rheumatoid Factor is an autoantibody, which means it’s a protein produced by our immune system that mistakenly attacks our own tissues. Our immune system is constantly producing autoantibodies, however we also have a built-in regulatory system that finds these autoantibodies and destroys them – making sure they don’t cause trouble. When an autoimmune condition, like Rheumatoid Arthritis develops, it’s because our regulatory system is faltering and isn’t doing a good job of getting rid of autoantibodies and other autoimmune factors. 

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5 Essential Rheumatoid Arthritis Questions for Your Rheumatologist

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Your relationship with your rheumatologist will set the stage for your rheumatoid arthritis progress and the best way to ensure that relationship is tight is by asking questions! Go beyond the basics with these 5 questions that will help you understand how your doctor thinks.

Understanding Your RA Diagnosis: How Certain Are You?

First things first, let’s talk about the diagnosis. RA can be tricky to pin down, and it’s essential to understand how certain your rheumatologist is about your diagnosis. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like, “How did you come to this diagnosis?” and “How confident are you about it?” Knowing where you stand can help guide your treatment plan and ease any uncertainties you may have.

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The 5 reasons you have a swollen knee

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If you’ve ever woken up to find your knee looking more like a balloon than a joint, you know it’s no walk in the park. Knee swelling is one of those things that can really throw a wrench in your day, leaving you scratching your head and wondering, “What on earth did I do to deserve this?”

The Sneaky Culprit: Overuse Injuries

So, picture this: you’ve been hitting the court hard, playing pickleball like a champ, or maybe you decided to lace up your running shoes and go for a 10-mile jog instead of your usual 3. Sounds like a recipe for knee trouble, doesn’t it? Well, it just might be.

You see, overuse injuries are like the silent assassins of joint pain. They sneak up on you when you least expect it, leaving you unable to keep active. And if you happen to have osteoarthritis, well, consider yourself even more susceptible!

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The Anti-CCP Test: A Breakthrough in Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

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Let’s explore how this simple blood test has revolutionized the early detection of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), offering new hope and insights for patients and practitioners alike.

Understanding the Anti-CCP Test

Let’s start with the basics. The anti-CCP test is a crucial diagnostic tool used in the evaluation of RA. But what exactly does it measure, and why is it so important? The test detects the presence of autoantibodies (antibodies that attack your own body) against a class of proteins that have undergone citrullination. Citrullination is a process in which the amino acid arginine is converted into citrulline, one of many ways our body is able to produce this vital amino acid. 

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When hands change: Hand Arthritis

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“My hands are deforming just like my grandmothers.”

We don’t think about how much our hands do for us until they start giving us problems. We assume we will be able grip our steering wheel, type on our keyboards and button our shirts. But for many of us, usually in our 40’s (although it can start earlier), we start to notice changes in our hands. A day of work at our computer ends with our hands sore. We can’t quite open jars as easily as before and we may notice seemingly random shooting pains and numbness in our fingers. These symptoms can go unnoticed until we start noticing our hands LOOK different and rings don’t fit. Shoot….time to see a doctor!

When someone ends up in my office worried about their hands, I know their number one concern is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). A quick visit to Dr. Google, informs everyone that RA could cause hand pain and lead to “deformities.” For most of us with hand pain (including myself), RA will not be the culprit, but instead, osteoarthritis (OA).

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