Rheumatoid Arthritis - morbidity and mortality (allergy, infections, doctor, diet)

[Derek41]

Hi all,
As someone who has had RA for 18 months, though it took a few months to get the definitive diagnosis at age 49, all research suggests not much has changed in the last few decades.
Currently I am on Methotrexate, Plaquenil and Folate supplements, and was initially on Prednisone for several months until early this year.
I also had Cortisone injections into the left shoulder and left hip last year for concurrent bursitis.
Currently now just take NSAIDs periodically as needed.
The course and progression of this autoimmune disease still seems to be fairly universal.
I am strongly seropositive for Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-CCP proteins, inflammatory markers positive.
Just curious as to how others have seen their disease progress, or know of others with the disease, and/or reduced to low disease activity or even remission?

[SimplySagacious]

Arthritis is more like a 'symptom' of your illness which is autoimmunity. Doctors are trained to suppress your symptoms, addressing the parts of the body the immune system is attacking rather than trying to treat the underlying causes of it.

Consider addressing the possible causes: hidden allergens or sensitivities, inflammatory diet, low grade infections, environmental toxins and stress. Typically, most or all of these underlying factors are present in every autoimmune disease. Successfully addressing them improves your condition with good chance of remission. Biologic drugs can give you a 'remission' or absence of symptoms, but eventually you may develop antibodies that counteract the drug causing relapse. Additionally, with one autoimmune disease, you are at greater risk of developing more autoimmune diseases by not successfully addressing the underlying factors.

Best of luck!

[Derek41]

Originally Posted by SimplySagacious

Arthritis is more like a 'symptom' of your illness which is autoimmunity. Doctors are trained to suppress your symptoms, addressing the parts of the body the immune system is attacking rather than trying to treat the underlying causes of it.

Consider addressing the possible causes: hidden allergens or sensitivities, inflammatory diet, low grade infections, environmental toxins and stress. Typically, most or all of these underlying factors are present in every autoimmune disease. Successfully addressing them improves your condition with good chance of remission. Biologic drugs can give you a 'remission' or absence of symptoms, but eventually you may develop antibodies that counteract the drug causing relapse. Additionally, with one autoimmune disease, you are at greater risk of developing more autoimmune diseases by not successfully addressing the underlying factors.

Best of luck!

Thanks for your advice.
I have not worried about diet or toxins or other causes etc to date, as the "horse has bolted", ie I already have the disease.
The treatments so far are aimed at reducing the activity of the immune system.
Will definitely try to address these other things though.
Cheers Derek41

[Mikala43]

Huge progress has been made with biologics, and they really work wonders.

I have psoriatic RA, and it's nice and aggressive.... but biologics make me almost symptom free.

There has never been any correlation between "toxins", inflammatory diet or any of that with autoimmune disease, but it can't hurt to try.

I've done omission diets, been allergy tested, went gluten free, addressed my gut biomes, herbs and supplements, you name it, I probably tried it. And still my disease progressed from the original psoriasis when I was around 18 to full blown RA around 40-45.

I started on Enbrel and it worked for about 5 years, and now I'm on Taltz, which is working very well.

[annabanana123]

My mom has had RA for 40 years (diagnosed, probably before that) and is still going strong on biologics. She leads a very healthy lifestyle with exercise, nutrition and adequate sleep. I think that is key to managing any chronic condition as well as overall health in general. It’s not a death sentence by any means so revel in that and do your research to determine the best way to proceed for you.