Understanding Elevated RA Test Results: Symptoms & Next Steps

Question
I have been seeing a orthopedic doctor for my foot and my issues where a stress fracture that would not heal, ganglion cyst, and tendinitis. The other day when i went for a follow up, i told him (this has been going on almost a year), that my foot was a little better but still aches and now my legs and back ache. I have noticed stiffness in joints in the morning and fatigue. He did a RA test that came back abnormal. The numbers on the test were in the high 20's and that he recommended i see an RA doctor. Does this mean that i may be in the first stages of RA? Thank you!

Answer
Hi April.  I'd be glad to try and answer your question.  Actually this is a question very similar to what I'm going through with my dad.  He also had a positive RA with numbers in the 20s.  He has an appointment with a specialist in a few weeks.  To help answer your question, in patients with symptoms and clinical signs of rheumatoid arthritis, the presence of significant concentrations of RF indicates that it is likely that they have RA. In other simpler words, this means that the doctor must take into account your symptoms also when dealing with a positive RA test.  But also, positive RF test results may also be seen in healthy patients and in patients with conditions such as: endocarditis; systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus); tuberculosis; syphilis; sarcoidosis; cancer; viral infection; or disease of the liver, lung, or kidney.  I would recommend seeing the specialist, he may do more testing, or he may diagnose you based on your previous test results and symptoms that you're currently having.  Hope this helps.  Good luck!