Today, May 12, 2011 is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and the month of May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. In honor of those two occasions and because a number of our community members are living with both fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, Lene Andersen, the Community Leader for HealthCentral's RA site, and I interviewed each other about RA and FM. You can read Lene's interview with me and get more information about RA at MyRACentral.
Lene Andersen is the Community Leader for MyRACentral, our rheumatoid arthritis site. She has lived with RA for over 40 years, experiencing her first symptoms at age four, and has used a power wheelchair since she was 16. She developed fibromyalgia in 2004. Lene has a Masters degree in social work and has worked in corrections and the human rights field, but changed career tracks and is now working as a writer, health and disability activist and photographer.
Karen: What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Lene: RA is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues. In RA, this causes inflammation of the joints that can cause bone erosion, deformities and disability. RA is also known as a systemic disease, as it can also affect internal organs. At present, we don't know what causes RA, although theories include a genetic predisposition and a triggering event.
Uncontrolled RA comes with high levels of chronic pain, and damaged joints cause pain, as well. In addition, there is a significant fatigue factor. RA affects approximately 1% of the population – that’s about 1.3 million in the US - and affects women almost three times more often than men. It usually develops between the ages of 30 and 60 and can also affect children. You can read more in MyRACentral's basics of RA area.
KLR: How is RA diagnosed?
LA: RA is notorious for being hard to diagnose, especially in the beginning. It's quite common to have to see more than one doctor in order to get a diagnosis. Most good rheumatologists diagnose RA based on a medical history and physical exam, using blood tests as confirming rather than a diagnostic test. Twenty to 30% of people with RA are seronegative, which means the rheumatoid factor blood test is negative. Not all doctors are aware of this, so if you think you may have RA and your primary care physician say that your blood tests are negative, insist on a referral to a rheumatologist.
KLR: How does RA differ from other types of arthritis?
LA: When you mention arthritis, most people connect the term to osteoarthritis - a degenerative joint disease (wear and tear) that often develops as you grow older. RA is inflammatory arthritis and a disease of the autoimmune system that can also affect internal organs, muscles and tendons.
KLR: Who treats RA and what treatments are available?
LA: RA is treated by rheumatologists. The first goal of treatment is to control the inflammation, which is achieved by taking one of the DMARDs (disease modifying antirheumatic drugs). Many of these drugs suppress the immune system, which can make you more susceptible to infection. However, most people have very manageable side effects. It's common to have to try several medications before you find something that works well.
