Can Inflammatory Arthritis Be 'Worse Than Death'? | Arthritis Information

Patients with inflammatory arthritis completing a health-related quality of life questionnaire report levels of pain that result in their health being rated as 'worse than death' by members of the general population.

Researchers at the Arthritis Research Campaign Epidemiology Unit at the University of Manchester sought to identify why the health-related quality of life of a significant number of arthritis patients is rated so poorly, and to further investigate the health status of these patients.

Arthritis patients report a range of limitations which impair their quality of life including very high levels of pain; this description of extreme pain was the consistent factor in explaining why certain patient's quality of life was valued as 'worse than death'. Pain is the symptom of disease that people perceive to have the greatest detriment on quality of life and fear most as a consequence of disease.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152057.phpWell thankfully my pain levels are not like that anymore but I remember wishing to die during my onset for about a month and a half. I had never believed in assisted suicide prior to walking in those shoes. I was unable to open a pill bottle myself to do myself in. I couldn't do anything. I used to ponder whether or not I had enough strength or dexterity in my hand to turn the knob of the oven so I could stick my head in.Well, I have never wanted to die, but I often think that there has to be a better way than living with all this pain. It is sad that people have to live in this kind of pain daily.

Phats

I was there, have had PA 6 years, and when the Dr announced i had Fibro which all though explaining the pain, made me seriously think that i would rather be dead than spen the rest of my life fighting these diseases. Thanksfully after a 7 week leave of absence, and many therapy sessions i am back looking at life in a brighter way, but its still in the back of my mind that if i get to a state where i loose mobility and independence that death would be a better optionwanttobe, My onset pain made me a believer in assisted suicide also. So thankful I didn't live before choices in effective drugs. WTBRAF,

I remember right before my RD diagnosed me I woke up in horrible pain in the middle of the night. I was trying to open a bag of bread. I just wanted to eat a piece of bread so I could take some anti-inflammatories. I couldn't get the bag open. I just slid down on the floor and cried like a big baby. My husband heard and came to my rescue. I didn't wish I was dead, but I sure prayed for a healing. I think that was my lowest point during this disease.

For the first 3 years of this disease I was in severe pain. It got so bad I didn't want to be here anymore. I would cry and ask God please just take it away. I thought how can a human sustain life with this much pain. I did what most of us do go to the Doc and take drugs. I was much better person, wife and mother. I have less pain but it is there every morning when I wake up and I truly feel it. Now I think differently my pain tolerance is much more stronger than in my 30's when I was diagnosed.

RA Dx 1996 13 years

Meds: Orencia, Prednisone Folic acid

In the beginning I most certainly had had enough and wanted out.
Many thoughts of opting out of life rather than have to live what I was living at the time.
Thankfully things have improved to a point where I can manage far better.
Chronic pain is chronic pain, no matter how you look at it. It is horrible to be in pain every minute of every hour of every day. I do believe that other things affect pain, ie, support systems (or lack thereof), depression, events in ones life. I know I feel better in the summer (usually, not right now) than I do in the winter time because the sun is out and people are out moving around. I think we can all agree that pain stinks!

Phats