Joint pain can be hard to cope with and it's important that you learn how to treat your pain. If you are diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis you should be pleased with the diagnosis.

You see this is a milder form of rheumatoid arthritis that is not as debilitating. Your physician will be able to give you a diagnosis.

Your doctor will measure what the level of the rheumatoid factor is in your blood. This protein is produced when your body attacks its own immune system.

The minority of sufferers have this type of arthritis so as a diagnosis this is really great news. Although not nearly as severe you can still develop joint damage. The treatment is basically the same but your doctor will ensure your treatments are designed specifically for you.

The rheumatoid factor whether present or not is just an indicator of what type of disease you have but it's not the only indicator. A positive factor all on its own doesn't mean you have rheumatoid arthritis.

For example if you have TB, leprosy, syphilis, or chronic infection can make you show positive factors. Chronic liver disease and pulmonary fibrosis will also show a positive factor.

There are many different types of rheumatoid arthritis so your doctor will use a variety of lab tests, exams, x-rays, and symptom verification of your symptoms. Different types produce different symptoms. If you get this particular diagnosis you should be thrilled as it is a great diagnosis compare to other possibilities.

Symptoms to watch for are:
1. Joint pain in the knees and ankles or other large joints
2. Inflammation of the sacroiliac joints or the spine
3. Inflammation of the tendons, joints, and ligaments
4. Inflammation at the eyes, heart, or large bowel

Some of the treatments used are:

1. Analgesics - will help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation which are the most important element of treatment. Acetaminophen is commonly used but too high of dosages can result in liver toxicity so you need to be careful.
2. Topical Analgesics -There are many topical analgesic creams on the market which help reduce swelling and pain.
3. NSAIDs - Are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and are commonly used to treat arthritis. These include COX-2 prescription drugs.
4. Corticosteroids - Are injected into the affected joint and are used to treat symptoms that do not respond well to other drugs.
5. Surgery - is considered a last resort and is used to replace joints that are very worn. It may also result in fusions.
6. Education - Learning as much as you can about your disease will make it easier to learn to manage it.
7. Diet - There are many foods that have good antioxidant properties which help reduce inflammation.
8. Exercise - Mild to moderate exercise is an excellent method of helping to control your arthritis. It will help strengthen the surrounding muscles and provide better support for the joint.

If you must have a type of rheumatoid arthritis then seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is the best possible diagnosis you could have.