Mary.

[Mary1938]

I was told today that I have Osteoarthritis now have I still got R Arthritis and do I still take my 6 Methotrexate every week ?

[allanah]

Hi.its very possible to have both. You can ring the Helpline tomorrow at the hospital or your consultants Secretary just to check tho. I have RA and OA. Poor you ! So you would probably stay on mtx for your ra unless they are changing your diagnosis.

So double check tomorrow I think. Just tell the Rheumy Secretary you are unclear what the doc meant and they will sort it out for you. X

[Mary1938 in reply to allanah]

Thank you will do ,hope you are feeling better xx

[allanah in reply to Mary1938]

Thanks. Feeling very steroided! Argh

[helixhelix]

I have both too...I think many of us of a certain age do (and sadly some of the younger people too). As Allanah says, double check anyway.

[Mary1938 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks keep well x

[helenlw7]

I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis- double whammy!

[Mary1938 in reply to helenlw7]

I hope you feel ok we just keep taking the tablets and keep moving xx

[helenlw7 in reply to Mary1938]

Thanks I will. Not sure how long you've been giagnosed with RA but I've been diagnosed 13 years and various doses of steroids for most of that time. I was aware of most of their side effects but wasn't told of one of the most serious (to me anyway) and that is that my adrenal gland no longer produces cortisol, the body's natural steroid, so I will be taking steroids for the rest of my life. If I'd been warned about this I would have thought much more about whether to take them ir not.

[Mary1938 in reply to helenlw7]

I have only had RA since Christmas this year and I am 77

[helenlw7 in reply to Mary1938]

I'm 61 and after I got the initial diagnose 13 years ago other joint issues I'd had n the past made me think that I'd had it much longer, possibly since my 40s. I hope you get your medication sorted quickly.

[BoneyC]

RA predisposes joints to OA - I have both. It's the years of RA attacking the soft tissue surrounding joints that ends up with bone on bone.

[Mary1938 in reply to BoneyC]

My back just feels tired all the time ,still it is good to have so many friends with the same thing keep well everyone xxxx

[Richgirl]

Hello Mary, yes I too have RA & they said I also have some OA in there as well. Plus I recently found out I have Osteoporosis. Lucky me. But we have to deal with the cards we're all delt with I guess. I hope your doing well. I'm sending you thoughts of healing. Have a great day🌻

[Mary1938 in reply to Richgirl]

Thank you I am feeling fine just a bit overwhelmed about having the two togeather,but we just get on with it ,hope you are doing ok 💐

[Richgirl in reply to Mary1938]

Hello Mary, I have my good days & my bad days. But I'm doing well. I find that certain foods tip me over into flares. Everyone's different. With me it's wheat, dairy & sugar that I've had to cut out. Every now & then I test it & have a little. But so far my body screams out "NO". So I have to be careful. Have a great day.🌻

[Mary1938 in reply to Richgirl]

I have not got a flare yet so I am not sure what they are like ,as I have only got a since Christmas ,hope you are feeling better 🌹

[Richgirl in reply to Mary1938]

Oh your so lucky. The worst flare up I've had feels like my bones are all broken & I can't move. That's the best way I can describe it. My family had to rig up a funnel thing so I could go pee laying down because putting a bed pan under me was too painful. Then they also had to put my water & meds up to my mouth because I couldn't do it. I would not eat during those flare ups because it felt better not to. They were awful. The flare up would last for 2 to 3 days. But now that I've figured out what foods sent me into those flares, I have not gotten any for a couple of years. Knock on wood. So now I may just get a little inflamed in a joint or 2 if I've eaten the wrong foods. But I'm very careful most of the time. I hope I haven't made u feel frightened. I was a different case. Because of my health history I couldn't take the RA drugs. Now I'm able to only take one at a low dose. Hydroxychlor. That's it. So I have to treat my RA through diet. Exercise & keeping stress down. I hope I've explained this well. Take care.🌻

[Mary1938 in reply to Richgirl]

Gosh you have it bad hope you are feeling better that's alful you can't takes the drugs,keep well 🌹

[Richgirl in reply to Mary1938]

Yes so far so good as long as I eat right. Sometimes I just want a little something. But I almost never do it. Hope your doing well as good.🌻

[nomoreheels]

Unfortunately yes Mary. I was diagnosed with both at the same diagnostic clinic in 2008 aged 48. In your case your RD is your primary inflammatory condition with OA being your secondary, because it was diagnosed after your RD. As such you'll still continue your present meds, MTX & any others & your OA will be treated as a separate condition. Generally treatment is with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti inflammatories), pain relief & exercise. It's usually considered age related, wear & tear arthritis & degenerative but young people can also have it, usually in a previously injured joint. The difference in swelling is telling, with RD the swelling is soft & boggy, with OA it's harder, not as squishy. I have cervical & lumbar spondylosis which is OA in the neck & lower back. I also have knee OA the typical bony swelling on the DIP joints, the ones nearest to the fingernail.

I'm sorry you've been diagnosed with both, but you've joined a prestigious club many of us are members of!

[Mary1938 in reply to nomoreheels]

We just have to deal with it ,I realy feel fine ,but three months ago I got the jag ion my hip for R A and I guess it's starting to wear out about now ,anyhow I hope you will feel better you sound worse than me ,God Bless 🌹

[nomoreheels in reply to Mary1938]

Oh I'm fine Mary, there are many worse off than me. It's youngsters I feel for, at least we've been unfettered for the most part. Good pain relief helps though I must admit! It's good you feel fine though, let's hope that lasts. 🙂