Remission | Arthritis Information

Hey,

Ive seen a couple of you mention going into remission. Now when that happens does it mean that all symptoms of RA stop? Or is it just that the meds have got it under control. I'm interested in hearing periods of when you guys have been in remission. How long it lasted, and so on.

Thanks so much :)

Hi Jealousy,

Remission means it's not active at the moment. It's still there, but not active. For me, I felt much better, and was able to do some of the things I enjoyed before it struck. But when it became active again, out of remission, it hit with a vengeance! Some are kept on the meds to hopefully keep it in remission, but I also know a couple of people who were taken off of meds. I was taken off the meds, and felt pretty good for a couple of years. If you already have joint damage, you're still going have that of course, but the pain may not be as severe. It depends on how severely you have it before getting it into remission. I've also heard that once it goes into remission, it will remain that way for anywhere from a few months, to many years. Each person is different. I have a friend who was dx with JRA when she was 13, and when she was around 19 or 20, it went into remission, and stayed that way until right after her baby was born a few months ago. (She's now 24). While in remission, she only took Aleve occasionally, which is about all I did too. But when it comes back, generally it comes back hard.

Don't know if this helped at all.

Cris

Never been in remission myself, but my brother's been in remission for the last 2 years, no symptoms at all. However, got an e-mail from him the other day, telling me that his knees are starting to act up again and all the old aches and pains are coming back.

So it seems Remission is as unpredictable as RA itself, no surprise there though eh?!!!!!!!!!!!!. Hope everyones having a good day.

Santa is one to as about remission too. I know his experience with it was good while it lasted.
My own experience was spontaneous remission because I'd gotten to a point where the meds they were giving me were not helping enough to make it worth me taking them. So my Mom backed my decision at12-14 to refuse meds.My docs said it was pretty common for remission to happen so it was not a problem I refused meds but I'd have to live with the pain of the damage already done. By the time I was 16, I was working part time during the school year, going to school, doing activites outside of school and workign full time during the summers. Right after I got married, I was working full time, doing a physical job as a receiver in wal-mart. I took care of the local vendors and small shipments from UPS and the like. Then I went to an even worse job working in a warehouse. HA! I started having problems that I assumed were RA coming back. The doc said it was job related and put me on short term disability leave. I got worse not better so I think he was a quack. Well, I know he was but for other reasons as well. Then we moved to SC and I got a bit better. But by 2001 I was miserable again and finally broke down and made a rheumy appt. The doc said he did not think it was RA but he thought it was fibro and yet wanted to r/o lupus. Since I did not like him, I saw his partner and she confirmed that it was fibro. Then after having Bastian the RA came back, still sero-negative too. Now, I think it's either quieted down or just isn't all that bad but, that my pain all stems from the damage and fibro. I was showing signs of osteopenia as a kid, so being told I had osteoporosis was no shock to me. I've got deterioration in my right shoulder and both hips for sure. My hips also have a congential dysplasia. So the rheumy said the lower back and hip problems were a combo of that, OA, RA, erosion, ostoeporosis and fibro. My PT included the scoliosis as part of the back problems as well.
sorry for the book. just meant to give my experience and also say that while it was in remission, i rarely had pain enough to want to take something for it.

Thanks so much for responding :) It does give me a much better idea of what it would be like to be remission.

I want to know what it is like to go into remission. I've had this crummy illness since 1981 with no let up and none in sight. I haven't had a pain free day in all that time. Don't mind me.

Barbaww dyna you and me both sister! I havnt had it that long tho, but gives me some hope hehe. Altho having it under control would be enough for me I think. Ive accepted it already hehe ah well My Rheumy sayd there is no remission or cure from RA just periods where activity of the disease is kept at bay with the meds. Curious as to what other Rheumys have said...................My rheumatologist really thinks that if we keep trying she can get me to a point where I am back to my old self (pain-free). I've kind of given up on that. I'll take just less pain, not waking up from it, being able to play with the kids, exercise without pain, etc. Hey, Jealousy, I just noticed your new picture... cool. Any reason for the change or just wanted something different? Yea hehe my friend made it for me so I figured id use this new one :) Now that we are on the topic of pictures what does your avatar stand for and in what language is it. Yea I agree with 6xmum, I think I just want to be mobile and be able to do everything I want to do as painfree as possible. But thanks for sharing guys :)

Let's see I guess I can remember a time when I was in remission.

I believe I was in remission from the age of 8 - 19 years of age. I had very little to no pain, swelling or even stiffness.

I remember when I was about 4 I had knee pain, swelling, & stiffness. I had to sleep in half-casts so I could wake-up with my knees in a semi-straight position instead of waking up in the fetal postions (a lot harder position to get unstiff from). I remember doing what I wanted to, but "paid" for it with more stiffness, swelling & PAIN! I was also put on asprin for my pain.

I believe I was about 8 when I did not have anymore pain. I was able to do many things I wanted. I could run, jump, and do just about anything all pain free and did not have to pay for my activities.

As I got older about 15 I started getting morning stiffness and some pain. So, went to the doc for meds and they helped. When I was 17 I went to work at a resturant clearing off tables and was on my feet 6-10 hours a day; my knees, feet, and ankles would swell from being on them so much.

So, I guess that is when mine was starting to come back when I was 15, but I did not get it completely back until after I had my daughter (was in remission during pregnancy) at 19 and has been down-hill every since.

When I told my OB/GYN from my 2nd pregnancy that I has RA he said some go into remission while they are pregnant. I never heard it going into remission, I was thinking did I say something about cancer? But after being on here I realized what he meant. I did not and still do not know much about my RA. Heck I did not even know what I had was an Auto-Immune Disease, just thought I had old people bones and would be old before my time. I just do not feel like knowing to much more about it, as for I am a dweller.