Can I ever relate to your situation. I have had RSD since 2000. It started in my left arm and now if full body. I too have recently (last year) been suffering from increased pain in joints. YUP!! You guessed it. Rhuematoid.

It's Everywhere! It's Everywhere!

It started in my fingers and wrists and now it is in just about all of my joints. I - not unluck yourself, recently found a "young" doctor who is a little more enthusiastic as you put it about diagnosing.

However, she strongly feels and I agree that RSD is not the cause but rather the catalyst perhaps? In other words, the Rhuematoid has been doormant and the continuous strain on my body over the last several years from RSD has caused it to rear its ugly little head and I'm only 44.

This really suck I know. But things could be worse I always say.

Chin Up My Friend!!!! Mark

Hey Mark nice to see you.

Can they treat the Rheumatoid arthritis to reduce some pain & symptoms for you?

Mark,

Thanks for the comments. I saw my rheumatologist yesterday and she is now steering me towards biologic response modifiers, (BRM) which will mean a 1-3 hour IV infusion every 2-6 weeks. This treatment has not yet been authorized by the insurance company. They need to know that all other possibilities have been tried, as this is considered a last resort when more conventional treatment has failed to bring any relief.

I am not looking forward to this. Unlike many other RSD-ers, I have not yet had a bad reaction to needle sticks, but there is always that possibility. Once started, the BRM treatment is usually life-long. The doctor claims she has seen some dramatic results. She also says that very little has been published about RA/RSD combinations and possible side effects of the BRM protocols.

Interesting thought that the RA was lying dormant and the RSD brought it out. I know that RA development is quite common in younger people.

Good luck to you.

Mike

Hey Mike. I am quite curious about the infusions you are about to undertake. Of course it is unfortunate that there is not other less (painful) for lack of a better word ways of getting relief.

Your comment about RA in younger folks "is quite common" surprised me. I totally agree. However, those who surround me on a daily basis (friends, family) are having a hard time believing that RA attacks anyone under the age of 70. Go figure. Therefore it is a little harder for me to make them understand that there are days when I just feel triple discomfort and it is not always directly related to RSD.

If I hear "But your so young" one more time!!!!!!

Take Care and Chin Up!!!!! Mark

So many people totally get Rheumatoid Arthritis confused with Osteoarthritis. They hear the “arthritis" part and draw their own conclusions. As if I don’t have enough, try to educate people about RSD! The quick explanation I use is that Osteoarthritis is essentially joints worn out or damaged and, yes, it usually happens late in life. Rheumatoid, on the other hand, is more of a system-wide disease and is thought by some to be genetic. So, it could be part of our basic DNA and therefore could show it’s ugly head at anytime.

You are right. Is “you’re so young” supposed to make you feel better???

I will let you know how the new treatment works. I am going on a business trip next week and don’t want to start anything new until I get back.

Take care,

Mike