Re: Progression question

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Well, professor, I think one is damned either way unless he or she

can take something to inhibit the body's fight with itself. This is

why people take dmards and biologics.

I think it pretty much works like you fear. I am fairly sure you've

had anatomy courses through which you would have inspected hyaline

cartilage. With PA, the synovium the most likely place for

problems - bone of most contention if you will). Once those

articulating surfaces become rough and swollen, it opens the door

for more damage to occur at a faster rate. Even if the angry/unruly

fixed and migratory macrophages (the ones being targeted as bad by

your antibodies) are distal relative to the joint, the subsequent

swelling and hampering of the smooth passage of ligaments and

tendons at the joints results in tearing and damage at the points of

insertion and increased pressure on the joints - thereby causing

more strain on the synovium - more calcium pulled up and and again

laid down to strengthen the weaknesses... a vicious circle.

http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/63/7/755

But not stretching and exercizing can be at least as bad as the

joint calcifies and the ligaments, tendons and muscles that are

supposed to support it atrophy! The bones, themselves, lose calcium

and become more brittle, leaving doors open for osteoporosis at a

later date. As a PE-type professor, you know the value of exercise

in maintaining the average person's over-all health. Since PA means

we are constantly being held under attack, we need all of the over-

all health we can get.

Truly, we, with auto-immune diseases, are damned; but I'll be damned

if I let PA get me down.

Note: I am not a doctor, but I've had had some unversity level

anatomy and biology courses.

[Guest guest]

For me, joint degeneration has run in fits and starts... things

stable for 5-10 yrs (my hands) with mild joint damage staying

stable, then a year or two of total damage (I now have joint fusion

in 2 of my finger joints). My knees have been on and off, and only

getting bad in the past 2 yrs. I've had PA for 24 yrs, P for 26yrs.

In the past 6yrs once my husband and I could afford it, and I was in

a downward arthritis spiral after having 2 kids, we also hired out

for cleaning & yard work. I agree, it is very expensive! But very

necessary.

-Marietta

I know that it

> is variable with individuals, but from your experiences, once the

> degeneration starts in the joints, does it tend to progress more

> rapidly? Obviously that's what I " m afraid of. I also live alone

and

> am wondering how long I can continue to do so - I already hire out

for

> cleaning and yard work and it gets expensive. Any advice?

>

> in SoCal

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info and the link to the article.

skrewtz

> Hi ,

>

> Well, professor, I think one is damned either way unless he or she

> can take something to inhibit the body's fight with itself. This is

> why people take dmards and biologics.

>

> I think it pretty much works like you fear. I am fairly sure you've

> had anatomy courses through which you would have inspected hyaline

> cartilage. With PA, the synovium the most likely place for

> problems - bone of most contention if you will). Once those

> articulating surfaces become rough and swollen, it opens the door

> for more damage to occur at a faster rate. Even if the angry/unruly

> fixed and migratory macrophages (the ones being targeted as bad by

> your antibodies) are distal relative to the joint, the subsequent

> swelling and hampering of the smooth passage of ligaments and

> tendons at the joints results in tearing and damage at the points of

> insertion and increased pressure on the joints - thereby causing

> more strain on the synovium - more calcium pulled up and and again

> laid down to strengthen the weaknesses... a vicious circle.

>

> http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/63/7/755

>

> But not stretching and exercizing can be at least as bad as the

> joint calcifies and the ligaments, tendons and muscles that are

> supposed to support it atrophy! The bones, themselves, lose calcium

> and become more brittle, leaving doors open for osteoporosis at a

> later date. As a PE-type professor, you know the value of exercise

> in maintaining the average person's over-all health. Since PA means

> we are constantly being held under attack, we need all of the over-

> all health we can get.

>

> Truly, we, with auto-immune diseases, are damned; but I'll be damned

> if I let PA get me down.

>

> Note: I am not a doctor, but I've had had some unversity level

> anatomy and biology courses.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome back to the group. I'm sorry that circumstances have brought you back

but its good that you knew we were here.

Take care,

[Guest guest]

I cant do a lot of that either, and we are both disabled my parnter and I... It

is expensive and we are just getting by with us trying to do it... I cant do a

lot of the dusting, hard labor stuff, and we are still working on hiring a

cleaning woman but it is expensive and we are both on fixed incomes... I don't

know what we will be doing with that part of it all... I hope you figure it

out... Try churches and such, they maybe able to get you some help and not at a

steep price... With us both being disabled, and all its not much help we can

get...

Love And Peace

Always, Shaun And Barb