Rheumatoid arthritis

I've heard that if you have rheumatoid arthritis it can flare up after surgery... I have Osgood Schlater's (sp) disease, which attacks the cartilage(sp) in my knees, also rheumatoid arthritis in my right wrist, hand and fingers and am having TAH/BSO on 2/11. My doc is looking into it, I think.... But I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this and could let me know.... I've been off of my Ibuprophen for a week and am okay, but I hope that I can make it through my recovery without the added arthritis pain.

Any help, advice, or hearing from others as to whether or not the surgery caused them a flare up will be greatly appreciated!!

I didn`t know that! I have ra in my hands,hip and back. My date is on the 8th. I`ve noticed alot of posts lately from ladies in waiting. I know I`m getting the pre op jitters.
It`s still too early for me to start getting ready, but I have pulled the little suitcase I`m going to take out of the closet!!

Hi,

This is a post I know a lot about!! I have had juvenile RA for 30 years...I am 38. I had to go off all meds a week before surgery and cannot resume them yet due to some complications. I am doing great! I am beginning to wonder if my RA was somehow influenced by my hormones before surgery. I feel like I am in remission and I am thrilled to be pain-free for a while as recovery is hard enough without the added pain of RA.

Best wishes to you...
Jennifer

I have RA and OA. Had to get off my anti-inflammatory, and my Plaquenil for about a week. I've rested, napped and laid around so much, I don't notice the RA problems so much, except for fatigue, which I think is regular fatigue, not the debilitating RA kind. I start radiation tomorrow. I'm really watching out to see what happens there.

Did any of you ever take the newer drugs like Enbrel, Remicade, etc? How do you like that, if you take it? I guess I won't qualify for them later on, since I've had cancer? I haven't asked my rheumatologist yet. I go there in April.

I haven't tried any of the new drugs, to be honest, they kinda' scare me... The FDA has been pulling things so quickly in the last 5-7 years that I don't trust anything that hasn't been mainstream longer than that. That's why I'm still just doing Ibuprophen therapy... The pain isn't really helped, but at least it helps a tad with the swelling.

Don't get me wrong, I really do think that the FDA has jumped the gun on a lot of the drugs they've pulled... and that what they're aiming for (a drug that causes no harmful side-effects) is a fairytale. I just really don't want to start a therapy and have it ripped out from under me because it has side-effects... especially if it works as well for me as Vioxx worked for some of my friends. The pain is always worse after a reprieve and it's always harder to manage too...

I hope that all of us have a similar experience to lookin4help's!! And I hope that her "remission" continues!

Hello

I have mild RA compared to so many of you who suffer horribly. But nevertheless, I do have it & I use Bextra despite all the controversy over the cox 2 inhibitors, because I can't take NSAIDs due to acid reflux. I didn't have to go off Bextra before surgery & other than the record breaking rain fall here in Las Vegas which triggers symptoms for me I haven't had any unusual or worse symptoms of RA since my surgery 20 days ago.

Best wishes & please let us know how it goes for you.

(((Hugs)))

I have mild RA and didnt think that my surgery (TVH 9/2/04) would affect my RA but now that you mention it - I am questioning the major flare up I had about 9 weeks post-op. I take only plaquenil - cant take ibu - but I will take OTC motrin when necessary. I am calling my doc tomorrow to make an appt for a couple other complications (spotting after intercourse, ovary pain and severe back pain) I will discuss the RA issue too tho..... thanks! I hope you all find some relief soon.

Please keep us posted and let us know what the doc says... When I asked mine, he said,"Ummm.... I don't know.... I've never been asked that before... Usually the only questions I get refer to post-op sexual function.... ummmm." I think that he'll look it up, though. When I was pregnant with my twins I did basically the same thing to him... first appt. I'd gotten an iguana from a school teacher who got rid of him because she was pregnant. i asked him if I'd have to get rid of him, or stop interacting with him for the length of my gestation. The response was almost identical, but 3 weeks later he called me and said that it was okay, I didn't need to get rid of him, just to wash my hands after I touch him as they secrete salmonella through their skin, if they've ingested it... Now that's a devoted doc!!!! LOL

LA41950,

I will keep you in my prayers as you begin your therapy.

I have been taking methotrexate for 8 years now and find that it works well for me so I am hesitant to try any of the new drugs. As for the older drugs....you name it and I have taken it over the last 30 years. If you are struggling to find a medicine that works for you, please don't get down on yourself...so much of RA is attitude amd having a great sense of humor. I would be a basket case by now if not for my upbeat personality.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions about RA and dealing with it.

Jennifer

At 5 weeks post op for TAH I have not had a flare up of the RA. I had to be off indocin and aspring for 2 wks before surgery and it wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be. I've had RA since 1989 and have been on gold and indocin. It works ok. Like several others have written - I have concerns about the newer drugs (embrel, humira), but am considering a change this spring.