Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jamie Johnson6 said:She's saying they actually did diagnose her with RA—apparently because of some elevated factor she has. I don't really know much about the specifics, but I guess it's something used to confirm the diagnosis, from what I can gather.

That’s just the rheumatoid factor—it's basically the main diagnostic marker for RA. It shows up in the blood serum of people with RA, though you might see it in other inflammatory joint issues too, mostly in older folks.

placidskipper17 said:Regarding how quickly rheumatoid arthritis can escalate, my mom's case hit her all at once last summer—it was basically just a two-month window! Throughout the summer, she just felt this morning numbness and weakness in her hands, mostly dealing with cramping and pain in her wrist joints. By the fall, she finally went to see a doctor and, well, wouldn't you know it... she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

I actually had a similar experience over the summer when I was turning 7. Now that I'm 22, thank Oh God, I am doing incredibly well, and it's so rare that I even think about the fact that I deal with this at all.

I’ve been dealing with rheumatoid arthritis for about six months now—started back last year. It all kicked off with joint pain that just wouldn't stay put... one day it was my knee, then my shoulder, then my elbow, you know? But the worst part has definitely been my hands and feet. I've been on Methotrexate since July, and honestly, I'm handling it pretty well so far—aside from having to be on birth control.
Is anyone else out there fighting RA? I’d love to hear what meds you're taking, how you're managing the pain, or if you find any relief at spas or retreats... just looking to swap some stories and see if I'm alone in this.
Anyway, hit me up if you're going through something similar! 👍

Is there seriously nobody here actually dealing with RA? Must be nice—you guys all sound perfectly healthy. 👍👍👍👍👍

mistyranger51 said:It’s like there isn't a single person here actually living with RA. I guess you all must be perfectly healthy then. 👍👍👍👍👍

I'm 53 years old, and I've been dealing with both RA and spondyloarthritis. Currently, I'm on a regimen of Medrol (32-4mg), and I make it a point to go to a wellness spa for rehabilitation every year.

Nicole Peterson said:I'm 53 and dealing with both RA and spondyloarthritis. Currently on Medrol (32-4mg). I also head out for rehab at some spas every year.

Hey, we're over in the rheumatoid arthritis thread—swing by whenever you can and say hi.

Michael Richardson3, where you at? Did you end up going through with that knee surgery?

It is entirely possible that this is RA, regardless of how rapidly the symptoms appeared. Did she have a high fever?

As for the second study, Maria Gunnarsson, a doctoral researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institute, and her team discovered that the risk of heart attack among newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients doubled during the first 10 years after diagnosis in the United States, and colleagues found that the risk of heart attack among newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients doubled during the first 10 years after diagnosis.

To get these results, the research team tracked 7,954 individuals recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and compared their health outcomes against a control group of 38,913 people from the general US population.

Following these participants over a ten-year period, the investigators observed that those living with rheumatoid arthritis faced nearly twice the likelihood of suffering a heart attack or dying from one. Interestingly, the study noted that this heightened risk actually intensifies as time goes on, specifically beginning about five years after the initial diagnosis.

"This study shows that having rheumatoid arthritis confers an increased risk of having a myocardial infarction [heart attack], and that this risk increase is manifest already early in RA disease progress," Maria Gunnarsson explained in a press release from the ACR.

"The fact that there is no increased risk prior to rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis suggests that there is something in the rheumatoid arthritis disease itself, such as inflammatory processes that lead to this increased risk. Measures to bring down inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis might, thus, be beneficial also from a cardiovascular prevention point of view in this population," she added.

In a related recent report, a research group headed by Dr. Kimberly Liang, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, identified that diastolic dysfunction was notably more prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis—a finding that might offer a clue as to why these patients face higher cardiovascular risks.

"Diastolic dysfunction occurred in 38.9 percent, compared to 28.8 percent in the non-rheumatoid arthritis group," Liang remarked. "We also found that patients in the rheumatoid arthritis group had higher average pulmonary arterial pressure, which is high blood pressure in the lungs and the right side of the heart. This is consistent with the impaired filling of the heart seen in diastolic dysfunction."

Liang suggested that making echocardiography more widely available to rheumatoid arthritis patients could help catch heart abnormalities before they show up in clinical exams. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, an echocardiogram is a diagnostic test that utilizes sound waves to produce a live image of the heart.

Dr. John Hardin, a chief science officer at the Arthritis Foundation, noted that these latest findings really drive home the heavy toll rheumatoid arthritis can exact on the entire cardiovascular system.

"These studies are consistent with the idea that systemic inflammation promotes cardiovascular disease," Hardin stated. "Rheumatoid arthritis essentially creates a widespread state of inflammation throughout the body."

Hardin also pointed out a cautionary note regarding certain medications: some arthritis treatments might actually elevate the risk of cardiac issues for patients who already have underlying heart damage. "For example, Enbrel (etanercept) can, in fact, in some people, potentiate heart failure, which can be a complication of myocardial infarction," he cautioned.

To mitigate the risk of a heart attack, Hardin emphasized that those dealing with rheumatoid arthritis must be especially vigilant about managing cholesterol, controlling blood pressure, and sticking to a healthy lifestyle. "If you have rheumatoid arthritis, the steps you take to protect yourself against cardiovascular disease become doubly important," he advised.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term, chronic condition characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility in various joints; it can even trigger inflammation in other organs. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that roughly 1.3 million Americans are currently living with this condition.

mistyranger51 said:We're over on the rheumatoid arthritis thread, so reach out whenever you can.

A friend of mine has been dealing with RA for eight years now, and she’s only 38. Her doctors haven't referred her to any medical spas or rehabilitation centers, and I'm not sure if she's even eligible for that kind of treatment. She has to take sick leave quite frequently—God forbid anyone else experiences pain like hers. If anyone knows what her rights are regarding these types of treatments, I would be very grateful for the information. Thanks in advance.

Angela Wright said:It’s possible, though as someone without a medical degree, it seems a bit strange to me that the arthritis would escalate to such a level all at once😕 . Usually, it starts out with milder symptoms, like some changes in the hands, and then gradually progresses over the years, doesn't it?

I can't help but wonder if there might be something else going on behind the scenes here.

It actually makes me think of a case I remember reading about from a woman on a forum once, where a completely harmless case of myelo-something was pressing against a nerve in her back that controlled her arm movement, leaving her unable to move it at all. Can you believe they had no idea what it was at first? In the end, they finally figured it out through an ultrasound and some physical therapy.

Do you think it might be worth seeking a second opinion?😕

Unfortunately, I have to say that it really is possible for RA to just strike out of nowhere and flare up in every single joint; I know because I lived through it myself. For me, it started with a fever, and before I knew it, less than a month later, every one of my joints was affected.

I want to share what happened with my mom (she's 67). She dealt with brutal arthritis in her finger joints. Her hand joints were getting deformed and the pain was just relentless. She tried everything—standard meds, alternative stuff, you name it—but nothing really moved the needle.

Two years ago, she started taking curcumin (Curcuma Long) along with a specific natural supplement. It worked perfectly. The joint pain is gone and the deformation has stopped progressing. Too bad the damage already done and the loss of mobility are permanent.

You can find the cheapest curcumin on eBay here:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

This supplement isn't available here in the US:
http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Suppleme...eaflavins.html

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. These natural supplements actually work. 🙂

Look, there actually is a fix. 🙂

Let me tell you about my mom (she's 67). She was dealing with brutal arthritis in her fingers. Her hand joints were getting seriously deformed and the pain was constant. She tried everything—standard meds, holistic stuff, you name it—but nothing really moved the needle.

Two years ago, she started taking curcumin (lat. Curcuma Longa) along with a specific supplement. Total game changer. The pain is gone and the deformation has stopped progressing. Obviously, the damage already done to her joints and mobility is permanent, but that's life.

You can find the cheapest curcumin on eBay here:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

The supplement she uses isn't sold here in the States:
http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Suppleme...eaflavins.html
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=art....c0.m270.l1313

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. These natural supplements actually work. 🙂

My grandma’s dealing with arthritis and her fingers and toes are totally deformed now. The pain is brutal, and nothing seems to really touch it. So glad I stumbled on this stuff about Curcuma Long, maybe it'll take the edge off! I also saw someone mention Celliant on a forum—anyone actually know anything about that?

velvetmarlin17 said:I wanted to share a bit about what my mom (who's 67) went through. She was dealing with some really brutal arthritis in her fingers. Her hand joints were actually starting to deform, and the pain was just constant. She tried pretty much everything—standard medical treatments, holistic stuff, you name it—but nothing seemed to make a dent...

About two years ago, she started taking curcumin (Curcuma longa) along with this one specific natural supplement. Honestly, it was a total game changer. The joint pain has subsided, and the deformation isn't getting any worse. Sadly, the damage that was already done and the loss of mobility are permanent, but she's doing so much better now...

You can find the cheapest curcumin on eBay here:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

This particular supplement isn't available here in the States:
http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Suppleme...eaflavins.html

Osteoarthritis is essentially an autoimmune inflammatory issue. These natural supplements really do seem to work... 🙂

Could you maybe explain a little more about what that curcumin actually is, and tell me about that other supplement too? I don't know much English, unfortunately, and I'm dealing with the exact same issues. Thanks so much in advance...