Rheumatoid arthritis and sinus

@dianesbs Welcome to Mayo Connect, and thank you for the "interesting question of the day."
The short answer is that there is a connection between chronic sinusitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The longer answer is that sinusitis often occurs before the RA is diagnosed. Here is an excerpt from an article on the issue: "In summary, respiratory diseases including acute and chronic sinusitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, asthma, and COPD were associated with increased risk of RA, particularly in specific time windows, and often many years before RA onset. The associations were strongest for sinusitis and slightly more prominent in seronegative RA and in smokers. These findings further implicate the upper airway in RA pathogenesis, which may begin years before symptom and/or autoantibody onset. Clinicians should council patients at risk of RA to avoid respiratory tract disease exposures when possible. Future studies examining the mechanism of this association and whether preventing or treating respiratory tract diseases reduces RA risk are warranted." (Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8820230/)

What sinus issues are you experiencing, for how long, and when was your RA diagnosed?

Off and on head congestion, headache with voice hoarseness. Was diagnosed w/RA about 3 years ago but felt had long before. I am a cpap user as well. Osteoarthritis as well.

@dianesbs What are you currently doing to manage the sinus symptoms? Have you spoken with a provider about it?

Not as of yet. Taking otc sudafed.

@dianesbs you sound like me , osteo /cpap etc

I experienced 20 plus years of chronic sinusitis before I had to have sinus surgery in my 30's. The RA was firmly entrenched by the time I hit my early fifties. Asthma and allergies asthma a very young child we're the first obvious indicators of an immune system gone amok.

@dianesbs Sudafed is not necessarily the best method of controlling congestion beyond a few days, as it can cause a rebound effect. There may be safer and more effective alternatives. If I was in this situation, I would start by talking to my primary provider, and if nothing effective was found in 3 months (sometimes trial and error is required) ask for a referral to an ENT.

Are you using the Sudafed nasal spray or the pill. The two issues to be aware of with the pill is rebound headaches and they can raise your Blood Pressure, sometimes dangerously .Anyone with heart issues should never take the pill . The active ingredient is pseudoephedrine HCL.

My daughter often took the pill and one days after taking it she happened to have a Doctors appointment and her BP was stroke level. She was told to never take it again.

The sprays have a rebound nasal congestion if you take them for more than 3 days. The active ingredient in the spray is Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05%
Sudafed also makes a pressurized saline spray in a metal container that doesn't have any of the above side effects .
I use a pressurized saline spray , but a different brand. They work, but a little more slowly and maybe with more squirts. I have been there done that with the sprays and have had severe rebound. So once I got through that, I said never again!

Hello,
Prior to being diagnosed with RA I was complaining about my sinuses that had problems for years and done the Neil med sinus rinse daily and was told to have sinusitis. I’m hoping the new drug added Humira will help with inflammation throughout my body. I’m looking for co-pay assistant programs to be able to afford Humira injections

Having suffered with sinus issues for years the comments I have read shed some light on a miserable condition. Eye pain and sinus headaches are a notable problem as well as some ear involvement . Haven’t experienced RA yet.