What exactly is a remission? | Arthritis Information

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I know that must sound like a really stupid question, but I'm really new to all of this.  I have been diagnosed with sero-negative RA and my rheumie said that I have a small erosion in my foot.  I am not really experiencing any pain or stiffness in the morning and the pain in my feet has subsided.  I don't really have pain anywhere else and my CRP and sed rates are normal.  When I was having pain I also ran a low-grade fever off and on and felt so tired.  It lasted for about 3-6 months, but it seems to have gone away and I am feeling so much better now.  I am supposed to begin MTX at the end of this month and I began a 6-day Medrol pack about 2 weeks ago (I finished it a week ago).  I am taking 15 mg. of Mobic daily. 

Is this what is called remission and is it possible that it could stay in remission without meds or is this a normal pattern of RA?  I am really having a difficult time thinking about starting medications when I am feeling so well.

If you get lucky......you don't have to take any medication and the stiffness, swelling, pain, and all goes away....at least for awhile.  OOOOR, you can almost reduce the meds!! In october I was down to almost no medication, felt great, etc. (then I had an operation and RA went crazy.....so, that's what I call remission??

sarah

Here is the medical criteria for remission.

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for determining clinical remission include:

  • morning stiffness less than or equal to 15 minutes
  • no fatigue
  • no joint pain
  • no joint tenderness or pain on motion
  • no soft tissue swelling in joints or tendon sheaths
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate -(a blood test which measures inflammation) less than or equal to 30 in females and 20 in males

    • Over 95% of patients have to stay on meds to remain in remission.  When I was in remission I was continuing with my meds to stay there.  One day I WILL get there again.

     

     

     

    I was in remission for about 5-7ish years. No meds on a regular basis and only a rare day of morning stiffness here and there. I could pop 2 Ibu and be on my way. Not too sure when my last FLARE flare was, it was sometime AROUND age 12. And I didn't have ANY more issues until AROUND age 19. Then I started this full blown out of control crap last fall. BLEH!!! I'm realizing how great I had it that whole time!!! Phoooey! Hey, don't give up! My sister, who also has RA, has been in med-
    free remission for years, too. She only takes NSAIDS ocassionally
    right now.

    You guys could get into another remission -- keep the faith.
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