Rheumatoid Arthritis

Question: Can rheumatoid arthritis pain follow my menstrual cycle? I have rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease. I've noticed the joint pain is so much worse right before my menstrual cycle. Has anyone else experienced this? I assume it's from the changing hormone levels. I have little to no pain during the rest of the month. My doctor says there should be no relation, but it occurs every month like clockwork. He's referring me to a rheumatologist, but I still think there is a link here.

Answer: Yes,you are right,not only hormone levels,but also chemical stimulate levels.

Question: What causes a Rheumatoid arthritis flare up? I have this and I fell down and I'm a big women, and Now I am tired, sore and my hip hurts so bad. My back arms everything hurts. Can A fall cause a Rheumatoid Arthritis flare up?

Answer: the cause of rhuematoid arthritis is unknown. it is most likely osteo arthritis

Question: Do certain illegal drugs cause early Rheumatoid Arthritis, or any type of bone deterioration more than others? I know all illegal drugs are bad, but are certain ones known to cause Rheumatoid Arthritis, or any type of bone deterioration, over others? I have used a few in the past, and now at 22, I am suffering from an advanced case of bone damage in my hands. I have also been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Please help with real facts, Rather than just "Drugs are bad". I will be picking the best answer. Thanks!

Answer: It doesn't sound drug related. Caffeine and any number of other things will leech calcium from your bones, but it shouldn't hit you at 22. It sounds like repeated exposure to hydrofluoric acid more than anything else. I'm not aware of any drugs that are suspected to cause rheumatoid arthritis. Realistically, the only way for any illegal drugs to damage you like this is if they make you neglect your health. But if you want more insight, it would help if you list the drugs you've taken and any other problems associated with them.

Question: Does rheumatoid arthritis always cause visible swelling in the fingers? I've heard that rheumatoid arthritis almost always starts in the fingers and causing visible swelling and redness. In terms of fingers, is it possible for a person with RA to just have stiffness and pain in the fingers with little to no swelling? Also, how often do people with Juvenile RA recover?

Answer: Usually there's some visible swelling in the joints, but it can definitely be subtle. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joint at the knuckles, and the the middle joint in the finger, but not the joint at the tip of the finger. The typical pattern of stiffness is in the morning, taking an hour+ and getting up and moving to get rid of it There are effective treatments at all ages. These include methotrexate, plaquenil, imuran, steroids, and injectable biologic medications. These can cause remission in some patients, and in those without complete recovery there is a definite increase in quality of life. It also slows the progression of the disease and reduces the need for future surgery. That being said, it is a bumpy course and has its ups and downs.

Question: What type of people are affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis? What people are affected by Rheumatoid arthritis. Like wht king of group? (african americans, whites, eastern) Can you please help me? This goes to an project and i searched and searched everywhere and i couldnt find the answer =( also do you knw the number of people that are affected by this? Like how many people in the world are suffering with this joint inflammation?

Answer: Quoted from the NIH website's handout on RA: "Scientists estimate that about 1.3 million people, or about 0.6 percent of the U.S. adult population, have rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, some recent studies have suggested that although the number of new cases of rheumatoid arthritis for older people is increasing, the overall number of new cases may actually be going down. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in all races and ethnic groups. Although the disease often begins in middle age and occurs with increased frequency in older people, children and young adults also develop it. Like some other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis occurs much more frequently in women than in men. About two to three times as many women as men have the disease." The juvenile form of RA is more common in Caucasian children, however. Hope that helps.

Question: How much is the cost of rheumatoid arthritis treatment in USA? Hi Guys Hi Guys I am new in USA. my wife has Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and is taking medication prescribed when we were in our home country. 1. my first question is How much is the cost of RA treatment in USA? i mean an estimated monthly cost.. 2. and what specific coverages i will have to look for in her case if i go for buying an insurance (considering that RA is a chronic disease and requires taking medicines continuously for several years) kindly help us out !

Answer: Much will depend on what medication she is on and if she needs to change it. The new biological treatments can come in at 20k per year!

Question: What are alternative treatments for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis besides medication? I have a moderate case of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and have been on pretty strong medications for it since I was 2 years old. I currently have a 3 1/2 month old and am breast feeding so I can not take any medication. I am in a lot of pain but do not want to sacrifice the breast feeding so I am looking for another option. Example: a special diet or anything???

Answer: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (Still's Disease) Chronic, inflammatory, systemic disease which may cause joint or connective tissue damage & visceral lesions throughout the body characterized by fever, rash, hepato-spleenomegaly & arthritis in children. It is a persistent inflammatory arthritis (> 6 weeks) that begins before age 16 for which no specific cause can be found. Homeopathic Treatment for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. Please visit the following web-site and choose the medicines that are relevant to your symptoms. Homeopathic remedies are perfectly safe even while you are breast-feeding. http://www.hpathy.com/diseases/juvenile-rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms-treatment-cure.asp

Question: Is knee replacement a best solution for Rheumatoid arthritis ? I am 56 yrs old and have Rheumatoid arthritis for about 10 yrs now, i had my right knee replaced recently. My arm joints and other joints are paining . Should i proceed with the other knee and if so how much time should i give before operating the other one ? that is should i take 3 months break before performing the other?? should i perform some exercises?

Answer: Umm, usually the decision to replace a joint is with the orthopedic surgeon. That is based on 'if' you need the second knee replaced, how you got on with your first knee replacement and how your RA is progressing, or if they have it under control. After the knee replacement you should have seen a Physiotherapist who would start to get you to use the new knee and then show you how to gain the range of motions. I am a bit lost with this question, as this knee replacement routine, physiotherapy before surgery, then surgery, then more physiotherapy is the norm. Best of Luck

Question: What home remedy can/may help rheumatoid arthritis? Home remedy for trying to relieve extreme pain from rheumatoid arthritis, please !

Answer: 1/2 lbs burdock root including skin for soup daily. Popular in Europe since 12th century.

Question: Give me information about rheumatoid arthritis as an an autoimmune disease? Give me information about rheumatoid arthritis as an autoimmune disease as i have to give a powerpoint presentation on it .Give me links for autoimmune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis explaning how rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.

Answer: this link should answer all your question http://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoid_arthritis/article.htm

Question: rheumatoid arthritis? What should not I eat and should I eat for rheumatoid arthritis? Which exercises and sports are suitable for rheumatoid arthritis? I was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis.I have had the disease since I was 11.At first,I can't walk.After 2years,I recovered and since then,I have been healthy.Now I am 23/male/married/1 child.However when I had checkup again,I was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis again and the doctor told that my lungs were not very good and I had high cholesterol level even though I am lean.Is it because I eat a lot of eggs?That's why I have been doing exercises eveyday until now to get rid of not only cholesterol and rheumatoid arthritis as well. I don't want to take many medicines with harmful side effects. I prefer avoiding foods that are bad for rheumatoid arthritis and taking remedies. And I am perfectly willing to do exercises and sports instead of taking drugs. Which sports are suitable for rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer: Hi, I have a sister that has rheumatoid arthritis and it's real sad when a see her in pain, so i know what you're going through. my sister usually eats lots of salads, fish, and fruit. She avoids eating fast foods, red meats, and junk food. And when her pain lets her she walks, and do some exercise, and rides her bicycle

Question: Is there a organization that helps people with rheumatoid arthritis? I have a friend that has RA. She needs her medications, but the doctor she use to go to will not give her a prescription for it. She really needs HELP! Is there an organization for people that have rheumatoid arthritis? She is on Medicare and Medicaid and totally disabled, with a fixed income.

Answer: http://www.arthritissupport.com/understa… http://arthritis.about.com/od/advocacy/a… http://www.rheumatoid.org.uk/index.php?p… http://www.arthritis.org/resources/Newsr… Also - Call the company that makes the drug she needs and ask about the patient assistance program for low or no cost meds.

Question: Can a surgery lessen the pain of having Rheumatoid Arthritis? here's the case... Angela is 96 years old, and both of her hands and feet are severely handicapped with Rheumatoid arthritis. >1. can a surgery lessen the pain of RA? > 2. is angela advisable to undergo a surgery considering that she's 96 years old? please help me to answer this question. thanks!

Answer: I dont know but I would imagine that surgery may not be possible because of her age. In saying that the Queen mother had a hip operation in her 90's. I suppose it depends on certain factors like how good is her health, Would she be able to withstand an operation..etc

Question: Are there any other conditions that could be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis? My mom was hospitalized in January with pneumonia, upon her stay at the hospital she contracted a staph infection. Within a few weeks of leaving the hospital she began having pain all through her body. About a month later when she finally got into the doctor, they ran some tests and discovered that she has rheumatoid arthritis. It just seems strange that she never had symptoms prior to being at the hospital, and now she's hurting all over every day. I'm afraid that it could've been a misdiagnosis, as she is cared for by the VA and they missed my stepdads non hodgekins lymphoma (which thank god was caught at another hospital, thanks to his persistance ) I'm just curious if there are any other conditions that could have been overlooked, or If there are any treatments herbal remedies or anything she can try. I feel so bad for her cause shes active and can't do things that she wants to do. She also is experiencing anxiety attacks from the stress. Any help would be awesome! Thanks!

Answer: Could be tons of things: lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis for just a few examples. You know, all doctors miss things - it's not just the VA. It took a year-and-a-half to diagnosis the chronic illness I have. I've known people with lupus or MS where it took 5 years to get a diagnosis. It's unfortunately very common.

Question: Is it legal to fire an employee with rheumatoid arthritis that can't climb stairs? I have rheumatoid arthritis and work for a medical clinic. I do just fine if I don't do things that aggrevate my condition which is climbing stairs. We have two offices, one upstairs (with no elevator and 24 stairs straight up) and one downstairs. I'm one of three receptionist and the doctors make us rotate between offices. I have RA in both feet and my knees and after climbing stairs I'm usually in pain for a couple days after. If I totally refuse to do their rotation, can they legally fire me, even though I do everything else that they ask of me?

Answer: Maybe. If your failure to climb the stairs drastically adversely affects the operation of the company, then maybe you will be encouraged to "retire". I am putting that word in quotation marks because this suggests that you deserve to be given benefits, in case. I don't believe that this condition can be a valid reason to terminate your services without giving you remuneration in return...However, don't take my word for it. For official advice, you may go to the Department of Labor or the Labor Relations Commission or their equivalent agencies in your country. We have these agencies here in the Philippines...Ok?

Question: My dad was recently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. What should we expect? His blood work came back positive, he's getting a second test done but we're pretty sure he has it. I know what Rheumatoid Arthritis is but I don't know what really happens to the body other than the splaying of hands. Can somebody shed some light? We're really nervous.

Answer: I was diagnosed with RA 4 years ago, just after I turned 27. At the time I was diagnosed, my SED rate was 88, which was pretty miserable. I was terrified, because my great aunt's RA had crippled her and that was all I knew of the disease. However, she'd been diagnosed at 38, and was at that point 80 and hadn't been able to benefit from the treatments available today. I first took prednisone to address my immediate inflammation. It caused me some anxiety, so they also gave me clonazepam to take occasionally to help me sleep. I began taking methotrexate, plaquenil, naproxen and folic acid (to counter the side effects of the methotrexate). After about 6 months, my doctor finished weaning me off the prednisone. After about a year and a half of treatment, I was still having some trouble. My wrists were inflamed to where my ligaments moved. I thought that was something I was going to have to learn to live with. But my doctor prescribed Enbrel, which I auto-inject every week. It's not a pleasant thing to do, but I feel much better - it's well worth the brief weekly discomfort. I still do take the other meds, although we're tweaking things now. I see my doctor every 3-4 months, and we monitor my liver function every 2 months. So far so good. My SED rate has been in the normal range (0 - 20) for years now, which is far more pleasant than my earlier 88. Before I was treated, I couldn't open my gas tank or a bottle of water, but that's no problem now. I've noticed some adaptations I've made, such as using my forearms to push against doors instead of pushing with my hand - it's just more comfortable and less prone to injury. I can lift weights, although I take it slowish and wear gloves to protect my wrists. And I can type about 70 wpm, so I'm doing ok there. ;-) What I'm trying to say is, it can be very scary and daunting at first, but there are many, many treatment options. If your dad finds a doctor he trusts and communicates with him, he should be able to find a treatment that works for him. I hope all goes well for your dad. I know this is a rough time but try to stay positive. :)