Re: Family History of Arthritis/Suzanne

[Guest guest]

,

I have an excellent immune system and have had one since birth. I am even

naturally immune

to smallpox as is my mother and brother. My mom is from England and on

subsequent visits, she had to get additional smallpox vaccinations. None ever

took.

As a child I was never sick and even with having RA for 20+ years, I still

rarely get sick. This is one of the mysteries that I don't understand. My

joints are disintegrating before my eyes, I have levels of inflammation, yet I

never get things that go around. I honestly can't remember my last cold.

I'm not complaining! It's just one of the things that baffle me when I read of

everyone getting chronic infections and running fevers.

I am NOT immune to poison ivy unfortunately. The only time I've ever taken

steroids was to tame a wicked case of poison ivy!

a

Re: [ ] Re: Family History of Arthritis

Hi a/,

Just me 2 cents worth...

> It's interesting how some families have so many members with different

>forms of arthritis, clearly showing a genetic link, yet other families

such

>as my own have no members with it. Although they say genetics play >a

major role, they also know that many with no genetic links suffer as

>well.

I just pray that we get answers and most of all, a cure.

No one in my family has a history of arthritis. I'm apparently the

anomaly.

I have always blamed it on stress (my sister and I have been in and out of

court for 4 years trying to settle our mother's probate, with our brother

doing everything he can to obstruct and take over.)

But I also wonder about the infection aspect. Haven't I read that there is

a

suspicion that infections can trigger arthritis. Everyone I know ends ups

with sundry infections. Seems plausible to me.

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

a, Wouldn't it be nice if we could bottle your immune system and

share with everyone. My allergies are driving me crazy right now. My

joints are not deformed yet after 15 years of RA (I do have the

flairs, swelling and pain). If I could share the slow deforming

joints with everyone I would also. I know " Dream On " .

in WA

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> a, I am curious about your joints not being deformed. Have the

meds worked for you and what meds are you on?

As I said before my joints are not deformed, I have tried all

the drugs they have out and the only one that works is Methotrexate

and it doesn't work as well as it did. I have swelling in many of my

joints I notice the wrists the most because they are right there all

the time. I have lost a lot of the strength in my hands and can't

bend as far as I use to. I see a lot of people that are deformed and

that is how they seem to base the serverity of the disease (that is,

those that don't have it). I have trouble telling the doctor how

much pain I have because I have nothing to compare it to, does that

make sense. That is the reason I joined the support group is to see

how it effects others. Even after 15 years I am confused.

I hope this isn't to confusing. I would really like to learn

more about RA, maybe what I want to know hasn't been learned yet???

in WA

[Guest guest]

,

Joint deformities don¹t happen to everyone. If I remember correctly only 1

out of 6 people with RA will have joint deformities. The RA has affected my

large bones, which are less inclined to be deformed. The hands and feet

most often will be affected by joint deformities and my hands and feet are

unaffected. I get a lot of inflammation which makes the joint look pretty

awful, but it doesn¹t leave permanent deformities. Maybe in time it would

have, but I¹ve had synovectomies to remove the synovial lining in joints

that became really bad. In the near future I¹ll probably have to have a

synovcectomy on my elbow. I¹m hoping medication will keep it from getting

that bad.

You can¹t compare your pain to others. We all have a different pain

threshold. Even pain medications work differently for all of us. When you

talk to your doctor about pain, just tell him like it is. If you need

something to help control it, please ask. If it¹s not enough, you have to

let the doctor know. Physical therapy can help keep strength and mobility

in joints. I do my own therapy in the hot tub, but I¹ve had many sessions

with physical therapists over the years and know what to do. It¹s important

to exercise the joints even though it is painful. Care has to be taken not

to exercise during a flare. Range of motion and mild strengthening will

help. You may want to ask the doctor if you can see a therapist so that you

can learn what to do and what not to do.

Hope your day is painfree.

a

On 5/21/02 12:15 AM, " grannyfellx6 " <grannyfellx6@...> wrote:

>

>> > a, I am curious about your joints not being deformed. Have the

> meds worked for you and what meds are you on?

> As I said before my joints are not deformed, I have tried all

> the drugs they have out and the only one that works is Methotrexate

> and it doesn't work as well as it did. I have swelling in many of my

> joints I notice the wrists the most because they are right there all

> the time. I have lost a lot of the strength in my hands and can't

> bend as far as I use to. I see a lot of people that are deformed and

> that is how they seem to base the serverity of the disease (that is,

> those that don't have it). I have trouble telling the doctor how

> much pain I have because I have nothing to compare it to, does that

> make sense. That is the reason I joined the support group is to see

> how it effects others. Even after 15 years I am confused.

> I hope this isn't to confusing. I would really like to learn

> more about RA, maybe what I want to know hasn't been learned yet???

>

> in WA

>

>

>

>