precipitating factors that induce Rheumatoid Arthritis

By Pamela Monday, October 15, 2007
I am still puzzled as to how at this stage in my life (54)I developed RA.I experienced a few years of a very stressful workplace coupled with repeated throat infections that were thought to be strep but turned out not to be.I then explosively developed RA very suddenly last November.This saw me on sick leave for 6 months,resigning from my Director of Nursing job and wondering what the hell had hit me.Now nearly one year later I am on a cocktail of drugs that I have to say do make a fantastic difference but they are all aimed at settling down the inflamation and stopping my lymphocytes from destroying my exocrine glands.I have completely reevaluated my work, my home life, my housing etc.I am now well controlled and walk 5 kms a day have a reasonably paying low stress job and moving into a lovely house.But still I am tormented as to why my immune system went haywire.No one ever in my family has ever had anything like this.Could it be Epstein Barr that was causing the sore throats and eventually upset my immune system.??? Can I get back to a normal immune system.??
real improvement at last
10/19/07 11:51am

Dear Pamela,

 

Thanks for submitting a SharePost. This is an excellent question for our community.

 

I've pulled together some information that you may find helpful.

 

Risk factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis 

 

More information on Sjogren's Syndrome, which is often associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

 

Here is a forum discussion on family history of autoimmune diseases and RA

 

Best,

Katherine 

Anonymous
MAH
8/31/08 11:07am

HI.  WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH RA.  I TOO WONDERED WHAT TRIGGERED IT?  PRIOR TO BEING DIAGNOSED I HAD SORE THROATS THAT WERE THOUGHT TO BE STREP, BUT WERE NEGATIVE.  IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SORE THROATS I HAD A 101 FEVER EVERY NIGHT FOR 4 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS.  FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEK I WAS EXHAUSTED AND COULD BARELY FUNCTION AT WORK.  I WAS SO EXHAUSTED I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO FIND A NEW JOB. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER I WOKE UP AND COULD NOT WALK.  MY KNEES WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN AND CONSTANTLY GAVE OUT ON ME.  MY WRISTS HURT SO MUCH I COULD NOT OPEN A BOTTLE.

 

WAS REFERRED TO A RHEUMATOLOGIST WHO PUT ME ON PREDNISONE (10MG).  I GOT INSTANT RELIEF FROM THE PREDNISONE.  ON MY PART, I WENT VEGAN, STOPPED EATING  NIGHT SHADE FAMILY VEGETABLES, STARTED WATER AEROBIC 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND WILL START ACCUPUNCTURE THIS WEEK.  MY ENERGY LEVEL NOW IS EVEN BETTER THAN IT WAS PRIOR TO GETTING SICK.  I'M ALSO VISUALIZING THE LYMPHOCYTES NOT BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MY HEALTHY CELLS THEREBY NOT ATTACKING THEM.  LASTLY I AM GOING TO HEALING SERVICES/MASSES AND PRAYING FOR FULL RECOVERY. 

 

WHAT DO I THINK TRIGGERED THE RA? I HAD BOTOX INJECTIONS TO REDUCE WRINKLES IN MY FOREHEAD 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE SORE THROAT ONSET.  WOULDN'T BE SUPRISED IF THE BOTOX (VENOM) DID NOT SET OFF AN IMMUNE RESPONSE CASCADE.

 

WHAT A PRICE TO PAY FOR VANITY.

Anonymous
Rona
8/ 4/09 11:46pm

I was diagnosed with RA at 50 and still don't have an answer when it comes to what triggered it. I had a foot drop years ago and they thought it might have been caused by a mild case of Epstein-Barr Syndrome. Others have told me there is no such thing as mild Epstein-Barr.  I have always gotten sore throats easily, so I don't think that was a trigger.

I, also, have developed resistance to many RA meds after only a few months.  Finally, I am in what appears to be remission after taking Rituxin.  However, I still need to take cortisone to keep inflammation to a minimum.  I have recently noticed muscle wasting in my calves.  Does anyone else have this?

Anonymous
MAH
8/31/08 11:08am

HI.  WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH RA.  I TOO WONDERED WHAT TRIGGERED IT?  PRIOR TO BEING DIAGNOSED I HAD SORE THROATS THAT WERE THOUGHT TO BE STREP, BUT WERE NEGATIVE.  IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SORE THROATS I HAD A 101 FEVER EVERY NIGHT FOR 4 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS.  FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEK I WAS EXHAUSTED AND COULD BARELY FUNCTION AT WORK.  I WAS SO EXHAUSTED I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO FIND A NEW JOB. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER I WOKE UP AND COULD NOT WALK.  MY KNEES WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN AND CONSTANTLY GAVE OUT ON ME.  MY WRISTS HURT SO MUCH I COULD NOT OPEN A BOTTLE.

 

WAS REFERRED TO A RHEUMATOLOGIST WHO PUT ME ON PREDNISONE (10MG).  I GOT INSTANT RELIEF FROM THE PREDNISONE.  ON MY PART, I WENT VEGAN, STOPPED EATING  NIGHT SHADE FAMILY VEGETABLES, STARTED WATER AEROBIC 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND WILL START ACCUPUNCTURE THIS WEEK.  MY ENERGY LEVEL NOW IS EVEN BETTER THAN IT WAS PRIOR TO GETTING SICK.  I'M ALSO VISUALIZING THE LYMPHOCYTES NOT BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MY HEALTHY CELLS THEREBY NOT ATTACKING THEM.  LASTLY I AM GOING TO HEALING SERVICES/MASSES AND PRAYING FOR FULL RECOVERY. 

 

WHAT DO I THINK TRIGGERED THE RA? I HAD BOTOX INJECTIONS TO REDUCE WRINKLES IN MY FOREHEAD 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE SORE THROAT ONSET.  WOULDN'T BE SUPRISED IF THE BOTOX (VENOM) DID NOT SET OFF AN IMMUNE RESPONSE CASCADE.

 

WHAT A PRICE TO PAY FOR VANITY.

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

Btn_ask_question_med
View all questions (3514) >
By Pamela— Last Modified: 10/26/11, First Published: 10/15/07