Just curious to know how many of you have gone into remission. If so did you pain go away completely?
Supposedly I went into remission when I was a teen, but I still had a few aches and pains, as I do now. Just wondering if I am actually in remission or just have a minor case of ra. We cant find my old records so I won't be able to tell if my joint damage has progressed. Joints all still look the same as before.
What is remission?
I went into "remission" a year and a half after being diagnosed with a severe onset of RA. At that time I stopped my meds and continued virtually pain free for about 5 years until a flare crippled me so badly I was homebound. Xrays showed that even though I had no pain or inflammation that RA had continued to damage my joints. It's taken 3 years to get some relief from the flare and in that time I was also diagnosed with PA and OA. I've since had a knee replacement and will have the other done next year. I have damaged fingers, wrists, ankles, and knees. I also have cardiac and pulmonary issues directly related to RA. So I question the definition of remission, at least for me. Lindy
I agree with what Lindy said .... be careful! I'd still have my joints checked up on and if your doctor you're seeing now wont do it find one who will. The good ones are out there but take a good looking to find! Well worth the time finding though! Well, that was sort of my question, if there is remission.I was in it. I too, had some of my joint damage to happen while in remission, mostly body parts I hurt like my twisting an ankle, jamming a finger or 2, and fracturing my right wrist. I had some pain, but it was probably from joint damage I had already aquired before going into remission.
I say I was in semi-remission when I was preggo with son, becuase I had to take pred. If I did not take it I still had morning stiffness and some swelling in my knees. But other than that I was doing pretty darn good. It was like I was "normal". I liked being "normal", compared to now.
I'm heading towards 'drug induced remission' in that all of my labs have pretty much returned to normal except my darn RF. SED, CRP, CCP. The RF is hovering at 260 so my AP doc added in Zithromax to get my strep titers under control. I won't know how that's working for another month, tho; the next time he pulls labs. When the RF is done I'm 'in remission'.
I have almost no pain. The only pain I do have is 'dose related' meaning, take a Minocin, and a few hours later feel some sort of 'reaction'. It's really, really, really mild. Frankly, if I didn't have this disease I wouldn't even notice it but I do as I'm looking for it (proof I'm still on course).
I've recently had my second set of X-rays since my diagnosis since I'm not officially in remission yet and I have no damage.
Hope that helps,
Pip