Blood tests for inflammation

[redrose77]

I was wondering about something I have visable inflammation in my hands and some other joints- nother severe since the prednisone but it is still not completely gone. Yet all my blood work that involves inflammation is always negative. Does anyone know why this would happen or even how? How can joints be visably swollen, the doctor can feel that the membrane around the joint is inflammed yet the blood work show nothing?

[raggedyann1]

Redrose,

My CRP and ESR always come back normal. I mean always on every single blood test in the last 16 years. It just works that way for some of us.

Many with lupus will have a normal CRP, but the ESR is usually elevated with lupus when inflammation is present.

Karen

[Mootie]

Redsrose,

When I am on cortisone I get puffy like I am retaining fluid and I always put on 1-2 kilos from a course. The puffiness subsides when I finish the course but the extra weight seems to stay :cry:


Mootie

[Anisah]

Hi, :wave:

I just wanted to add that prednisone will lower your sed rate or ESR. Prednisone is a super anti-inflammatory med. I will notice a drop in my sed rate with prednisone and still see swollen joints.

I am fortunate in that my sed rate usually reflects my pain level but I went many years without an abnormal ESR result (I say fortunate because my doctors can rely on them as well). I can't explain this and like Karen said many people will have normal lab markers for inflammation despite active disease.

With regards to the joint swelling, perhaps the soft tissue swelling doesn't always show up as inflammation in the blood? Its like some people will have severe joint pain without visible inflammation, i.e. they have arthralgia and not full blown arthritis.

I think it just comes down to the fact that inflammatory markers in the blood like ESR are not always reliable.

take care,
Anisah
:flowers:

[redrose77]

I would like to thank you for the information- all of you. I did not think about the fact that each time my ESR has been done is either right after massive doses of steroids or while I am on them. My ESR was done following a course of 40mg (plus taper) that lasted 3 weeks. I wish that the doctors would tell us this when they say the tests are neg. I will be having new blood work in August and as my prednisone is only going to last 1 more month maybe we will notice something in the inflammation testing this time.

[lin]

hi was having bad problems last year with, dizziness , and this year,went back and two the dr's, felt so horrid bumping in things really felt drunk,bad heads,
coudnt spell right couldnt think, was getting confused, Well they sent me to rheumy had bloods done, but she aslo orderd other test, one being MRI scan, that came abck with white spots, gp said rheumy couldn't understand it cos of bloods saying normal, in yet scan was showing different, so do bloods always show inflamation, my esr was showing ok, but i thought i was loosing my self or a while.
would hate that tohappen again,now on meds thank god.Hope you get sorted.

sorry got carried away then!! Lin xx