Second opinion..

[sylvi]

This is a summary of the second opinion i had earlier this year. X-rays on my hands show some mild arthritis but no erosion in hands and feet. Chest x-ray is normal. X-ray of cervical spine shows wear and tear change.Right ankle showed a tiny bone spur on the heal and the x-ray showed fixation device overlying the lower fibula and some arthritis in ankle joints.

Ultrasound showed both wrists and hands mild synovial thickening in the wrists and in the knuckle joints.

The mri scan of cervical spine shows multi level degenerative change impingement of the right c6 and c7 and both c6 nerve roots. Hugs.xxx

[Hidden]

So is this RA then do you know Sylvi or does this mean all your problems are down to OA and Fibro? Good to have clarity at least either way. And none of it means you are better/ pain free of course so it's more about whether the RA drugs would work or not I am guessing?

I was told my RA is non erosive a year ago but now my feeling is that it's not really RA anymore and is going for my nerves and blood vessels and I just want them to stop hedging about and try to stop it going for my organs, blood and nerves as I feel it might. I have wear and tear arthritis in my neck and lumbar region too but I just try to ignore them and keep moving as much as I can. Txx

[sylvi in reply to Hidden]

I still have ra/fibro/cfs,it just means my body is breaking down.xxxx

[miss]

Sylvia is there any way of helping the pain your in? I know you have had a pain infusion. Is there any way of controlling what is happening to your body? Or is it a case of nothing is going to be done cos it's not possible. Seems to me what is the point of taking these rotton drug's if it don't modified the disease!! Feeling confused. Com xx

[sylvi in reply to miss]

Well the drugs won't do a lot for the joints darling. I have both arthritus darling. I will get another infusion in the future.xxxx

[fastball]

Sorry to hear this , hope it helps to understand things. I find some thing they tell you can be hard to take in and what they imply. Wishing you all the best and try to carry on the best you can. We are all here to support you.

Hugs to you. XXX

Chris

[Hidden]

Sylvia, Was the second opinion vastly different from your original /first opinion? "Wear and tear" it says, I got the same issue. But, I believe it is nothing short of AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. They don't tell you but it's autoimmune in origin. I saw an article a while ago about this topic. Cervical bone degeneration does not happen by mechanics or OLD AGE or both. It's the result of chronic inflammation.

[sylvi in reply to Hidden]

I re-read this letter the other day and i didn't realise how ill i had become. It was a shock i can tell you. I have been treated by the hospital for over 12 yrs now,so i know things have changed a lot since then. So yes it is inflammation over a long period of time.xxxx

[oldtimer]

On medication now I only have signs of OA in the joints. I know that it feels a different, and to me, easier to control type of pain.

But that doesn't mean that the RD has gone away - it's under control at present and life has improved.

I'm slowly coming off the prednisolone and struggling with reducing now I'm down to 2mg a day. So far, this time, my bone marrow is behaving and hasn't gone on strike again, so I'm hopeful!

But it is difficult over many years as the signs come and go and the medical team become unhelpful with how the patient (me) has to manage the symptoms when the signs are minimal or confusing.