After years of recurring pain and unexplained symptoms, Danita Evans is back to walking “thousands” of steps and planning to participate in a 5K later this year. She credits this progress to finally receiving a diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA), from Megan Young, MD, rheumatologist, UPMC Williamsport, and starting treatment.
Danita, a Marine Corps Veteran who met her husband while serving, lived overseas for several years before moving to North Central Pennsylvania for her husband’s work.
“I used to be very active — walking, running, horseback riding,” she says. “Then it felt like my body kept taking more away from me.”
According to Danita, symptoms appeared off and on for much of her life, becoming clearer in her early 30s. During flares, her joints would become painful and stiff, limiting her range of motion and daily functioning.
She also described whole-body effects beyond joint pain, including altered sensation and intermittent vision issues.
“I felt trapped in my body,” Danita says. “I was trying to stay positive for my kids, but I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do with them.”
Danita says her condition worsened to the point that she could not get up due to pain. Everyday tasks like walking across a room, climbing stairs, or moving from chair to chair became difficult or impossible.
Her primary care physician completed an extensive workup, including blood testing, but the results did not explain her symptoms. Because of the severity and joint involvement, Danita was referred to rheumatology for additional evaluation.
A Turning Point
Danita says the rheumatology visit at UPMC Williamsport Divine Providence Campus was a turning point — not just because of the diagnosis, but because of how she was treated as a person.
“Dr. Young listened to my whole story; she did not rush me and asked questions,” Danita says. “I knew I didn’t, but I felt like I had her whole day. The vibe that she put off was just completely present.”
Dr. Young performed a physical exam and then connected the dots, Danita adds.
“She did an exam on my body, and she said, ‘It just sounds like you have seronegative RA and I would like to move forward in a treatment plan,’” Danita recalls. Seronegative RA is an inflammatory form of arthritis that may not show typical markers on standard bloodwork.
“She gently walked me through it, and I just started crying,” Danita says. “All because Dr. Young was willing to truly listen to a tearful 47-year-old woman and her full story.”
Danita began taking a prescribed medication to treat her symptoms and reported significant improvement, calling the change the difference between “night and day.”
Achieving a High-Quality Life Again
Danita says she first connected with Dr. Young in early fall 2025 and noticed steady improvements within weeks. By that November, she reported walking with her family again and returning to other activities when the weather allowed.
One milestone stood out: her five-year-old noticed she was playing at the playground without hurting.
“That’s when it hit me how far I’d come,” she says.
Danita hopes her experience encourages others who are still searching for answers, especially those in pain who have been told their bloodwork is normal.
“Don’t panic, and don’t give up,” she says. “If you know something isn’t right, keep advocating for yourself and ask about seeing a specialist. Your pain is real.”
Learn more about UPMC Rheumatology in North Central Pa.
Danita's treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.
