RA and Hashimoto’s | Arthritis Information

Hello! My name is Lisa, I'm 44, and I live in Iowa. I'm going to try to make this as short as I can, but please bear with me: I'm waiting for a diagnosis that my orthopedist is relatively sure will be one of RA. Basically, my knees are gone; between my last X-rays a year ago and a set yesterday, my joints have deterioriated to the degree he commonly would see in five year's time. I'm bone-on-bone in both knees, with significant pain and swelling in my left. I had a cortisone injection yesterday and will have Synvisc as soon as my insurance company agrees to cover it for me, probably in about two weeks' time.

Prior to yesterday, my ortho believed I had OA based on my symptoms (joint deterioriation and spurring) plus strong family history, but the degree of deterioriation and deformation in such a short time is leading him to believe that RA may be the underlying cause, and that I in fact have both OA and RA.

My ortho is suggesting replacement of the left knee within a year, and I'm really OK with that; believe me, the relief would be worth all the negative things about the surgery.

My questions: I'd like to hear more about Synvisc. I've read quite a bit about it; has anyone seen it "buy them time" before knee replacement? Also, I was diagnosed with Hasimoto's thyroiditis in 1998 and had my thyroid removed for a malignancy that same year; as there's a connection between autoimmune diseases, I'm wondering if anyone here has RA plus Hashimoto's.

Thanks for your time!

Hi JohnstonMom,

I can't help with your questions but I wanted to say 'Hi' and welcome to the board.

Hugs,

Pip

Hi Lisa...I'm with Pip. Don't know the answers either, but I'm glad you found the board. Hopefully someone will come along who knows something helpful. Ayway, welcome!

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and RA a few months apart when I was 8. I am now 46. They are both autoimmune disorders and frequently go together. It can make it harder to dx the RA if you have hashimoto's because you antibody tests are already positive. That said, I am surprised that thought OA with a hx of Hashimoto's. Like many kids, I did well and my RA went into remission at 19. Unfortunately, I did not stay in remission for life like most kids do. My dx came back about 18 months ago although my primary problem is uveitis, I have comparitively mild joint disease. Sounds like you have aggressive joint disease. My advice to you is to find a rheumy you like and can trust even if you have to see a few docs to do it.

I had a great doc as a kid and it meant the world to me. It took me a while to find one I like this time around but the information is so complex that having someone you can talk to and will talk straight to you is critical.

Good luck