Rheumatoid Arthritis Q & A

What is the reason for vasculitis associated with RA ??? what are other diseases related to the pathophysiology of RA ???

To me a flare is when I can’t get out of bed because I can’t walk, can’t dress myself and crying in pain. I have pain and stiffness every day that stops me from doing somethings. I would love to be pain free. I think that some pain is normal when you have RA. What is considered a flare? Is just an increase in pain and swelling considered a flare. If that is the case that happens to me atleast once a week.

I work full time and almost every day go for a 30 minute walk. My RA is still very active. Should I not go for so many walks or go a shorter distance? Should I try another typ of execise? Can doing to much cause damage to my joint and cause my RA to become worse? How can I tell when I am getting enough exercise without over doing it?

I hace seronegetive RA but I have joint damage in my hips and my doctor says that my RA is still very active despit treatment. I though that my type of RA would be less serve. Can you explain this to me?

I’m 46 & in 2002 I began getting pain & stiffness in my joints (fingers, knees, elbows, ankles, etc.) Spent 8 mths w/my GP ruling out causes. All blood work is normal. W/no diagnosis for pain/stiffness, GP referred me to a Rheumatologist; been seeing him about 3-1/2 yrs & feel very unsure of oversight. All tests by RA Dr. came back normal (and still are); he put me on methotrexate & prednisone to see if it helped. It did some but methotrexate made me sick, 6 mths of this, he switched me to Arava. 2 mths later joints were flaring & pain was continuing; he put me on Remicade w/Arava. A yr of Remicade, I reached max dosage & was receiving infusions every 4 wks w/some relief but was not steady state (added methotrexate by injection but this too made me sick). At this point he put me on Enbrel (25mg-2/wk); was feeling pretty good after 2 mths, then switched to new 50mg pre-mix once a wk. Went down hill & after 2 mths was back where I started. My RA Dr. did not believe the medication change was the cause; however, put me back on the 25mg dose. 2 mths later was still having flares so he increased Enbrel to 25mg-4/wk. A yr later I was doing alright but still having pain & occasional flares, so he put me on Humira. Humira made me sick & after 2 mths went back on double dose Enbrel. This is where I am today & am concerned over actions taken. X-rays have never been taken & I don’t feel I’m making the progress I should. A mth ago I asked my RA Dr. about the new meds out & he said he didn’t want to put me on them since they were new, he was only putting his really bad cases on them. Does it sound like I have RA or am I taking meds for something that has not been diagnosed? Do you feel my RA doctor is being proactive or should I seek out another opinion? Don?t know where to turn next. Any advice?

AFTER PREGNANCY (BIRTH MAY 7) DEVELOPED RASH ON LEGS ARMS STOMACH- TOOK 2 COURSES OF PREDNISONE 60 MIL TAPER. RASH IS GONE 3 DAYS LATER i STARTED TO HAVE JOINT PAIN. ESPECIALLY IN HIPS,KNEES,SHOULDER. SHOULDER PAIN IS GONE NOW IT IS IN WRISTS,THUMBS,KNEES HIPS. MY MOM AND SISTER BOTH HAVE RA. SISTER DIAGNOSED AT 31-AFTER HER FIRST PREGNANCY. I AM 33. ANA SCREEN WAS NEGATICE, RF QUANT WAS NORMAL, SED RATE WAS 10 – ALL OF THOSE WOULD INDICATE IT IS NOT RA BUT IT SURE FEELS LIKE RA. I DO NOT HAVE MUCH SWELLING JUST A BIT IN MY THUMB BUT OTHER SYMPTOMS SEEM LIKE RA. MUCH WORSE IN THE MORNING OR AFTER RESTING. I AM TAKING 4 ADVIL EVERY 6 HOURS AND THAT DOES HELP. I AM WAITING TO GET IN TO A RHUMATOLOGIS.WHAT DO YOU THINK- ANY CLUES OR GUESSES TO WHATS GOING ON?