Re: Re: Beginning to consider the possibility

[Guest guest]

That is one of the more usual symptoms.

Hugs, Jacy

~Be the change that you want to see in the world. - Gandhi

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----- Original Message -----

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 09:18

Subject: Re: Beginning to consider the possibility

Isn't one of the most definitive factors of RA that the pain and inflammation are bilateral? At least, that's what I think! My RA has affected both feet and ankles and both arms, elbows and wrists.> > > Hi, I joined this group to find out more about this disease from > people that have it. I have been to all the info-sites. I believe I > have RA based on several factors and I will list them for you. Thank > you in advance for your time if you read this and respond. > > The factors include: > > * My great grandmother had it, my grand mother did, her sister did > and my mother has it (as well as Lupus)...and the latter has lived > with RA for as long as she remembers but was no diagnosed until she > was in her 40s. She is now 65 and on Remicaid. > > *In 1982 I seemingly had an acute occurance of 'bursitis'? My knee > and my wrist were inflamed and very painful but it went away.> > * Since the late 80s I have had bouts of TMJ (jaw joint popping)... > and my jaw is misaligned. I haven't had the TMJ 'lock ups' for > several years. > > *I have stiffness in the morning and at other times, after riding in > a car for a long time. My feet hurt regularly and I have bunions. I > am 48 years old.> > * I am about 40 pounns overweight and I take synthroid for low > active thryoid. > > * I've had signifigant upper back/neck pain for about 5 years. My > upper back is crooked. > > * I am wondering if the last 2 days of illness was a 'flare'. I felt > like I was coming down with something...fatique, funny throat...that > got sore and dry but not like strep, Stiffness allll over and a > itchy pink spot near my elbow that came on yesterday. I believe this > is the second time this kind of ill feeling has happened, the last > was also accompanied by a cold though...and the elbow spot also > occurred. > > I have thus far hesitated talking to my Mom about it because I feel > it will be a horrible thing to hear for her. She will feel like > she's cursed me if that is what this is. RA has stolen so much of > her life but you cannot believe how much she has fought it and lived > well in spite of this awful disease. She believes it began with Rhm > Fever when she was 5 -- and as a result she had a 'near death > experiance' - she did in fact die althpugh the doctor brought her > back. She remembers feeling stiff in the morning as a kid in > elementary school...didn't think a thing about it and her parents > thought it was just growing pains. I wrote off much of my own aches > over the past few years as just run of the mill aches & pains of > middleage but I wonder if I should be thinking a little more > seriously about what I might have and how to contend with it. I am > otherwise healthy and active. We ranch in Wyoming - beef cattle and > we also raise a few horses. I am active and not a complainer.> > Thank you.> Shery Jespersen

[Guest guest]

There are seven criteria from the American College of Rheumatology for diagnosing RA and meeting any four qualifies for a diagnosis. http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/1832190032.htm

To acheive a dignosis of rheumatoid arthritis an adult over 18 years of age needs to fulfil atleast 4 of the following 7 criteria.

atleast 6 weeks of morning stiffness in and around the joints lasting for atleast one hour before maximal improvement.

atleast 6 weeks of soft tissue swelling or joint fluid in atleast 3 joint areas simultaneously (not overgrowth alone) - observed by a physician. Elligible joints areas: PIPs, MCPs, wrists, elbows, knees ankles MTPs

atleast 6 weeks of one swollen area in the wrist, MCP or PIP

atleast 6 weeks of symmetrical joint involvement

Rheumatoid nodules

Abnormal levels of serum rheumatoid factor

Radiographic changes on radiographs of the wrists and hands typical of rheumatoid arthritis.

----- Original Message -----

From: Jacy

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 11:55 AM

Subject: Re: Re: Beginning to consider the possibility

That is one of the more usual symptoms.

Hugs, Jacy

~Be the change that you want to see in the world. - Gandhi

jacymail@...IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087www.geocities.com/mtn_rose

Want a signature like this?

----- Original Message -----

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 09:18

Subject: Re: Beginning to consider the possibility

Isn't one of the most definitive factors of RA that the pain and inflammation are bilateral? At least, that's what I think! My RA has affected both feet and ankles and both arms, elbows and wrists.> > > Hi, I joined this group to find out more about this disease from > people that have it. I have been to all the info-sites. I believe I > have RA based on several factors and I will list them for you. Thank > you in advance for your time if you read this and respond. > > The factors include: > > * My great grandmother had it, my grand mother did, her sister did > and my mother has it (as well as Lupus)...and the latter has lived > with RA for as long as she remembers but was no diagnosed until she > was in her 40s. She is now 65 and on Remicaid. > > *In 1982 I seemingly had an acute occurance of 'bursitis'? My knee > and my wrist were inflamed and very painful but it went away.> > * Since the late 80s I have had bouts of TMJ (jaw joint popping)... > and my jaw is misaligned. I haven't had the TMJ 'lock ups' for > several years. > > *I have stiffness in the morning and at other times, after riding in > a car for a long time. My feet hurt regularly and I have bunions. I > am 48 years old.> > * I am about 40 pounns overweight and I take synthroid for low > active thryoid. > > * I've had signifigant upper back/neck pain for about 5 years. My > upper back is crooked. > > * I am wondering if the last 2 days of illness was a 'flare'. I felt > like I was coming down with something...fatique, funny throat...that > got sore and dry but not like strep, Stiffness allll over and a > itchy pink spot near my elbow that came on yesterday. I believe this > is the second time this kind of ill feeling has happened, the last > was also accompanied by a cold though...and the elbow spot also > occurred. > > I have thus far hesitated talking to my Mom about it because I feel > it will be a horrible thing to hear for her. She will feel like > she's cursed me if that is what this is. RA has stolen so much of > her life but you cannot believe how much she has fought it and lived > well in spite of this awful disease. She believes it began with Rhm > Fever when she was 5 -- and as a result she had a 'near death > experiance' - she did in fact die althpugh the doctor brought her > back. She remembers feeling stiff in the morning as a kid in > elementary school...didn't think a thing about it and her parents > thought it was just growing pains. I wrote off much of my own aches > over the past few years as just run of the mill aches & pains of > middleage but I wonder if I should be thinking a little more > seriously about what I might have and how to contend with it. I am > otherwise healthy and active. We ranch in Wyoming - beef cattle and > we also raise a few horses. I am active and not a complainer.> > Thank you.> Shery Jespersen

[Guest guest]

The high fever doesn't usually come with RA but is a symptom of Still's Disease that is similar to RA in many respects and I think it is treated in much the same way. Still's Disease is also very similar to most forms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. You may want to ask about Still's Disease or search the internet for it. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: scorn720

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 5:23 AM

Subject: Re: Beginning to consider the possibility

My RA was diagnosed from high fever two in a row I thought I had the flu then about two weeks later I got a high fever again and flu like symtions again and they started running test and thats how I found out I had RA Sherrie > > > > > > Hi, I joined this group to find out more about this disease from > > people that have it. I have been to all the info-sites. I believe I > > have RA based on several factors and I will list them for you. > Thank > > you in advance for your time if you read this and respond. > > > > The factors include: > > > > * My great grandmother had it, my grand mother did, her sister > did > > and my mother has it (as well as Lupus)...and the latter has > lived > > with RA for as long as she remembers but was no diagnosed > until she > > was in her 40s. She is now 65 and on Remicaid. > > > > *In 1982 I seemingly had an acute occurance of 'bursitis'? My > knee > > and my wrist were inflamed and very painful but it went away.> > > > * Since the late 80s I have had bouts of TMJ (jaw joint > popping)... > > and my jaw is misaligned. I haven't had the TMJ 'lock ups' for > > several years. > > > > *I have stiffness in the morning and at other times, after riding > in > > a car for a long time. My feet hurt regularly and I have bunions. I > > am 48 years old.> > > > * I am about 40 pounns overweight and I take synthroid for low > > active thryoid. > > > > * I've had signifigant upper back/neck pain for about 5 years. My > > upper back is crooked. > > > > * I am wondering if the last 2 days of illness was a 'flare'. I felt > > like I was coming down with something...fatique, funny > throat...that > > got sore and dry but not like strep, Stiffness allll over and a > > itchy pink spot near my elbow that came on yesterday. I believe > this > > is the second time this kind of ill feeling has happened, the > last > > was also accompanied by a cold though...and the elbow spot > also > > occurred. > > > > I have thus far hesitated talking to my Mom about it because I > feel > > it will be a horrible thing to hear for her. She will feel like > > she's cursed me if that is what this is. RA has stolen so much > of > > her life but you cannot believe how much she has fought it and > lived > > well in spite of this awful disease. She believes it began with > Rhm > > Fever when she was 5 -- and as a result she had a 'near death > > experiance' - she did in fact die althpugh the doctor brought her > > back. She remembers feeling stiff in the morning as a kid in > > elementary school...didn't think a thing about it and her parents > > thought it was just growing pains. I wrote off much of my own > aches > > over the past few years as just run of the mill aches & pains of > > middleage but I wonder if I should be thinking a little more > > seriously about what I might have and how to contend with it. I > am > > otherwise healthy and active. We ranch in Wyoming - beef > cattle and > > we also raise a few horses. I am active and not a complainer.> > > > Thank you.> > Shery Jespersen> > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------->