Does this treatment for arthritis diagnosis sound plausible to you?

Question:
I told my doctor that I had pain in my left jaw, shoulder, bicep, chest and elbow. The pain has been around since the late fall or early winter. Sometimes the pain seems to shoot down my forearm toward my hand. Since the pain was mainly on the left side I worried about my heart (I'm 35). Over the last few weeks I have also felt twinges of pain in my right shoulder and elbow. I went to see the doc and he did an EKG which showed that I have a very healthy heart (phew!). Next he ran some blood tests which all came back within limits (except cholesterol, but that's nothing a low fat diet and some exercise can't cure at my age). Next he ran more blood specifically running tests for arthritis, inflammation, RH Factor and ANA. All came back within limits. The doctor has no diagnosis for me. Instead he says that my pain might be caused by some unknown virus. He prescribed Naprosyn (1x500mg twice per day) and said to check back with him in 30 days. I pushed him for a diagnosis and he said that a med school professor once told him, You don't need to lay an egg to make an omellete. Huh? This seems odd to me and to others with whom I have spoken. What about you? Is it time for a second opinion? Does this diagnosis sound plausible to you?

Answer:
Arthritis of any form (except gout) is not diagnosed by blood tests alone. It is a clinical diagnosis that also includes blood test results to help form a full picture of what is going on, but you do not diagnose by blood test in isolation. Not all physicians appreciate this. This also could mean he doesn't know, could be 'some' form of arthritis, or could be anything at all under the sun (or moon). But doesn't mean all that much IF you are getting proper TREATMENT. Sounds like you may not be getting to that point yet. Sounds like how I started before I got my referral to a rheumatologist and a firm diagnosis and began treatment. Naprosyn is a good NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and used appropriately, may help you with pain and inflammation. DEPENDING what exactly is causing your pain, it may indeed be the appropriate treatment. I'd give it the 30 days and see how you feel.