Can a primary doctor diagnose lupus?

In some cases, years can pass before a patient gets an accurate diagnosis. In nearly every case, a primary care provider will be the physician who first recognizes the signs and symptoms of lupus in a patient.

What kind of doctor can diagnose lupus?

Many people who have (or suspect they have) lupus see a rheumatologist (or pediatric rheumatologist if a child or teen). This type of doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the joints and muscles.

How do I get my doctor to test me for lupus?

If your doctor believes your signs and symptoms point to the possibility of lupus, he/she may recommend a referral to a specialist doctor who has training in the group of autoimmune diseases that includes lupus. This specialist is called a rheumatologist (ROOM-ah-TOHL-ah-JYST).

When should you suspect lupus?

Rashes that develop on the face and upper arms after exposure to sunlight, unexplained fevers, and painful, swollen, or stiff joints are all common lupus symptoms — and are symptoms you should tell your doctor about, says Neil Kramer, MD, a rheumatologist at the Institute for Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at ...

What can lupus be mistaken for?

Here are the conditions that are most likely to mimic the symptoms of lupus and how to make sure you get the right diagnosis.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis. ...
  • Rosacea and other skin rashes. ...
  • Dermatomyositis. ...
  • Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. ...
  • Hashimoto's disease. ...
  • Sjögren's syndrome. ...
  • Fibromyalgia.


Diagnosing Lupus



How hard is it to diagnose lupus?

Diagnosing lupus is difficult because signs and symptoms vary considerably from person to person. Signs and symptoms of lupus may change over time and overlap with those of many other disorders. No one test can diagnose lupus.

How does lupus show up in blood work?

Antibody blood tests

The test you will hear about most is called the antinuclear antibodies test (the ANA test). 97% of people with lupus will test positive for ANA. ANA connect or bind to the nucleus or command center of the cell. This process damages and can destroy the cells.

What is lupus pain like?

Lupus can also cause inflammation in the joints, which doctors call “inflammatory arthritis.” It can make your joints hurt and feel stiff, tender, warm, and swollen. Lupus arthritis most often affects joints that are farther from the middle of your body, like your fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and toes.

What is borderline lupus?

Borderline lupus, which can also be known as unspecified connective tissue disease, or probable lupus, or latent lupus, would define a patient who may have a positive ANA without a DNA or Smith antibody (blood tests used to diagnose lupus), who has arthralgias rather than arthritis, a brain fog or memory loss, and no ...

Does your whole body ache with lupus?

Pain and aching in your muscles is common with lupus. You'll usually feel it in your thighs and upper arms. In about 5%-10% of people with lupus, the disease advances to myositis, which can cause painful muscle inflammation, especially in your shoulders, upper arms, hips, and thighs.

Does lupus make your back hurt?

Lupus and other causes of neck and back pain

Lupus can cause neck and back pain, however, because muscles can become inflamed by lupus. Furthermore, the muscle pain syndrome called fibromyalgia that can cause pain in these areas is commonly associated with lupus.

What does a lupus flare feel like?

During a lupus flare, you could expect to have rashes, joint pain, and possibly a new symptom, too. Some common symptoms of lupus flares include: Painful and swollen joints. Rashes.

What are the top 5 signs of lupus?

The most common signs and symptoms include:
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
  • Butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body.
  • Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure.


Can you have lupus for years and not know it?

Lupus symptoms can also be unclear, can come and go, and can change. On average, it takes nearly six years for people with lupus to be diagnosed, from the time they first notice their lupus symptoms.

What are the 11 criteria for lupus diagnosis?

Lupus can produce a variety of symptoms in different individuals. Based on the symptoms, the American College of Rheumatology has developed some criteria.
...
The eleven criteria for lupus include:
  • Malar rash: ...
  • Discoid rash: ...
  • Photosensitivity: ...
  • Oral ulcers: ...
  • Nonerosive arthritis: ...
  • Serositis: ...
  • Renal disorder: ...
  • Neurologic disorder:


What foods trigger lupus flare ups?

Alfalfa and garlic are two foods that probably shouldn't be on your dinner plate if you have lupus. Alfalfa sprouts contain an amino acid called L-canavanine. Garlic contains allicin, ajoene, and thiosulfinates, which can send your immune system into overdrive and flare up your lupus symptoms.

How do I know if I have fibromyalgia or lupus?

There are no definitive tests for either fibromyalgia or lupus, so differentiating between the two relies mostly on a thorough history of your symptoms, a physical exam, and sometimes blood tests or imaging to rule out other conditions.

What are the first signs of a lupus flare?

Before a flare, your symptoms might get worse, or you might get new signs and symptoms, such as:
  • Feeling more tired.
  • Pain.
  • Rash.
  • Fever.
  • Stomach ache.
  • Severe headache.
  • Dizziness.


How do you know if your lupus is active?

Common symptoms that indicate a flare are:
  1. Ongoing fever not due to an infection.
  2. Painful, swollen joints.
  3. An increase in fatigue.
  4. Rashes.
  5. Sores or ulcers in the mouth or nose.
  6. General swelling in the legs.


What are the symptoms of lupus in a woman?

Common symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, sun sensitivity, painful and swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems. There is no one test for SLE. Usually, your doctor will ask you about your family and personal medical history and your symptoms. Your doctor will also do some laboratory tests.

What are the four stages of lupus?

When people talk about lupus, they may be referring to the most common form—systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, there are actually four kinds. Click or scroll to read more about each of them: SLE, cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus.

Can lupus affect your hips?

Lupus attacks your hip in several ways. The condition causes joint inflammation, or arthritis, that can affect your hip. If you have lupus, you have a greater chance of developing osteoarthritis, too, and its attendant hip pain. Less commonly, lupus sufferers experience infections that occur in the hip.

How does lupus affect the legs?

Kidneys. Lupus can inflame the kidneys, causing permanent damage. This can lead to swelling in the legs and high blood pressure.

Does lupus make your feet hurt?

Some two-thirds of lupus patients complain of having arthritis in their feet. Additionally, tenosynovitis and tendonitis often coexist, leading to widespread foot and ankle pain, causing considerable disability.

Does lupus come on suddenly?

Lupus affects people differently. Signs and symptoms of lupus may come on suddenly in some people, and gradually over time in others. Signs and symptoms of lupus can include: Butterfly-shaped rash that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose.