Rheumatoid Arthritis Q & A

What is the common age for the onset of rheumatoid arthritis and is there a genetic component?

I am the middle of 7 siblings. So far 5 of my siblings have been diagnosed with RA. This went further into my family with Aunts and Uncles and grandparents on both sides. I’ve been fighting this since I was 17 when all of my joints flamed up. I am almost 46 now. Once in a while I will have inflamed joints and they would go away. Since November 2003 my joints had shown more and more signs of the onset of RA. My right thumb was locking up. My knees were hurting on and off. My hand joints were red and imflamed on and off and very painful. I started looking into nutritional solutions which have once again stopped the progression of my worst nightmare. I started taking fish oil, vitiman E, vitiman D and a product called Juice Plus which gives my body 17 fruit and veggs servings per day. Within 2 weeks of utilizing these nutritional methods my hands and feet have improved at least 75 percent. I am a firm believier that the Juice Plus has been a major factor in stopping the random flaming joints. Is there any studies that I can look at regarding nutrition and RA? My mother was one who excaped this dreaded RA as well. I am hoping to be the next in my family. Know what my brothers and sisters are induring, I have a real need to know as much about this as I can. I have children who could be effected. My 26 year old daughter has some signs. Help!!!!!

Any info would be great. I was prescribed Zyban for smoking cessation. Approx. 3 weeks later got hives. Per md delayed hypersensitivity reaction. 2 days after that awoke with severe pain, swelling in fingers and wrists. Blood test confirmed RA. Arthritis is listed as a rare side effect of Zyban, but not RA. Could Zyban have caused RA, just triggered it, or could blood test be wrong? No symptoms at all of arthritis before this. Been off Zyban 3 weeks, just finished 10 days of Prednisone, still having mild pain in all joints.

In August of 2002 I recieved a second mmr vaccine to return to college (this is a requirement). In February 2003 I was diagnosed with RA. This was very sudden, I woke up one morning and could not move the right side of my body. This was also very scary as I was 2 months pregnant. The group of Dr.s I saw for the pregnancy assumed this was gestational arthritis and would go away upon delivery, not so. I am not responding to methotrexate and am starting on Remicade. The rheumatologist I see says that the ra he sees in me is not typical. I have very mild swelling and intense pain that is mainly right sided. I have heard that a side effect of the rubella vaccine is arthritis. If this is so could the tx for this be different from standard tx’s. I am 34, female and basically very healthy before this. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly helpful and appreciated.

what is the etiology of effusion in RA?

what is this compared to positive rehumatoid arthritis and can the above mentioned turn into positive arthritis. what is my future prognosis. I am a soon to be 47 yr old female.