Rheumatoid Arthritis - Hope for remission? Continues to get worse?

Hi @oregongirl -- I'm not sure it ever goes into remission. My mother had it in her 50s and lived into her early 80s and was always in pain with her hands and wrists. She got some relief from acupuncture but I'm not sure what meds she was taking or if she took any at all. The Arthritis Foundation has some good information discussion treatment and remission here:

-- https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/plan/remission/rheumatoid-arthritis-remission-and-relapse.php

John

Hi @oregongirl,

With regard to cancer and RA, there are varying schools of thought. One is that chemotherapy is also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and even slow the joint damage the disease causes. Chemotherapy treatment for RA involves medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which includes the classic cancer-fighting drug methotrexate. https://www.healthgrades.com/conditions/how-chemotherapy-treats-rheumatoid-arthritis

Other studies recommend that oncologists should monitor cancer patients who are undergoing immunotherapy treatments because those therapies may put patients at higher risk for developing RA.https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-cancer-medications-bring-rheumatoid-arthritis#modal-close

You've perhaps read through much of this, but I thought I'd copy some of the RA issues addressed on this Mayo Clinic webpage: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353653

Ease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the morning
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Rethinking Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Osteoporosis and long-term prednisone: What is the risk?
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Living better with rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis: Can it affect the eyes?
Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Mangosteen juice: Can it relieve arthritis pain?
Rheumatoid arthritis diet
Hip resurfacing: An alternative to conventional hip replacement?
Symptom Checker
Cane tips
Isometric exercise
Joint protection
Tai chi
Smoking and rheumatoid arthritis: What's the risk?
Do infrared saunas have any health benefits?
Joint pain: Rheumatoid arthritis or parvovirus?
Tai chi
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Joint pain

Hi @oregongirl and John - Have had an "almost" remission. Several years ago I asked my rheumatologist if I could be in remission and she replied, " I would say yes except that you are on medication" (Plaquenil). Had an almost year-long pain-free stretch. Then there was an awful flare. At that time my platelets dropped considerably and my internal medicine doctor sent me to an oncologist. My bone marrow was working just fine, but the platelets weren't lasting very long. Platelet numbers began to climb and have remained just below normal. My doctors are fine with that. Maybe the platelets are working too hard carrying inflammation around my body. 🙂 In my 70's, I look around and quickly realize I'm not in such bad shape.
~Brenda

Infusions include several drugs and this appears to affect me differently. I don't get sick. Evan tho Methotrexate is one of the drugs in the Infusion. The Methotrexate was so very hard on me. And my curiousity of why I was seeing an on oncologist still leaves a question on why. I stopped Methotrexate last Sunday. I thought for sure the affects would leave me. I am still very very tired and have pain. Last night I got sick again. My hair is falling out at a faster pace. I will talk with my doctor to find out what they mystery of my disease is all about.

Thank you for sharing Brenda (@mymam), I like glass half full thinking. Positive can help ☺ If you have never seen any of Dr. Amit Sood's videos you will be in for a treat. His website has a lot of helpful information to get you through the day....my favorite is his "A Very Happy Brain".

-- http://stressfree.org/

John

Thank you, John. Will check out the website.
~Brenda

@oregongirl At least some RA never seems to stop progressing. I have had RA. very slowly progressing, since high school. Thankfully, though, it has never seemed to stop me from doing what i really wanted to do. Now nearly 80, I can still take myself to the dinner table and I can type some.

Old karl.i know I hardly had any symptoms. I thought doctor must be wrong. But it hit me with vengence. I am fighting it as hard as I can. But now I believe my heart has been affected. I am 76. If you saw me you would not see any visible changes in my hands feet. But I am consumed with pain. Can't see pain Dr until May

@oregongirl, are you close enough to your clinic to be there within a few hours? Be a squeaky wheel...call every day to see if there has been a cancelation in your pain clinic. If you are on the forefront of the clinical assistants minds and there is a cancelation- you will be more inclined to get that spot and hopefully will result in an appointment before May.

squeak squeak. 🙂

Jamie. Thank you bb for your suggestion. I will call pain clinic tomorrow. After first appt they probably will have one for meds weeks later. It's a game.