Re: Re: Picture of Rheumatoid Foot - //ette

[Guest guest]

Jennie,

I don't know if this happens to everyone with RA. I was unable to get the

photos up. Can you send them again? I am taking antibiotics, not just

leaving things on their own. I still don't know what I will do if I start

feeling worse. I guess I will have to make a decision about enbrel then.

The antibiotics were working well for many years. It is just now that I saw

a joint pop out on my thumb. I always have some stiffness which goes away

as the day goes on. Do you have stiffness when on enbrel?

Thanks,

ette

[Guest guest]

No, ette, not everyone with RA, treated or untreated, will progress

to that level of deformity.

The problem is that we cannot predict exactly who will. Certain markers

(high RF, extraarticular signs like nodules, and many swollen joints

from the start, for example) are associated with a higher risk of

developing erosions and/or deformities.

Another disturbing finding is that, even in what looks like periods of

remission, bone changes can occur. Please check out an article I'll send

to the group entitled, " Progression continues even during RA remission. "

I'm assuming that you have periodically had imaging studies done and

that your bones are OK.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Re: [ ] Re: Picture of Rheumatoid Foot -

//ette

> Jennie,

>

> I don't know if this happens to everyone with RA. I was unable to get

the

> photos up. Can you send them again? I am taking antibiotics, not

just

> leaving things on their own. I still don't know what I will do if I

start

> feeling worse. I guess I will have to make a decision about enbrel

then.

>

> The antibiotics were working well for many years. It is just now that

I saw

> a joint pop out on my thumb. I always have some stiffness which goes

away

> as the day goes on. Do you have stiffness when on enbrel?

>

> Thanks,

> ette

[Guest guest]

Hi,

What were your symptomsl like before going on enbrel? What improvements

have you had since going on the drugs?

Thanks so much for your help.

ette

>

[Guest guest]

ette,

I have been on Enbrel for about 3 years. It has enabled me to wean completely

off of prednisone (which was wreaking havoc with me). It hasn't done a lot for

my pain levels but has definitely helped with fatigue and stiffness. I have had

no side effects at all. I have had to stop it during times when I had surgery

and when I had sinus infections but other than that I haven't seen a rise in

infections from when I wasn't taking it. I take both shots on one day and I am

the biggest " weenie " and I have been able to do it myself with no problems. The

needles are very thin. Hope this info helped.

Warren Portnoy <wport@...> wrote:

Hi,

What were your symptomsl like before going on enbrel? What improvements

have you had since going on the drugs?

Thanks so much for your help.

ette

>