inflammation ok

[Pricetowers]

can anyone help as I don’t understand when my specialist told me my marks have dropped back to normal on the medication I’m taking he advised it’s in active at the moment.

Does that mean I’m ok now and it’s gone ???

[Amnesiac3637]

Sounds good to me! Have you had confirmation of RA or another similar disease and been on medication for a while? It sounds like the medication has done the biz and you’re in what is called remission where your symptoms are inactive and not causing you any problems. If that’s the case and all your blood tests for inflammation have come back as normal then that's really positive. Don’t go overdoing it though as your RA hasn’t gone - there’s not a cure right now - but you’re obviously on the right pills!

[Pricetowers in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thank You

So will I still have flates

[helixhelix]

It means that the treatment is starting to work. You could still feel pain and discomfort tho’ as things can take a while to settle down.

It has not gone away tho’ so you need to keep taking the drugs or it will come back. Maybe if you are lucky after a long while you can talk to your doctor about reducing the drugs.

[Pricetowers in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you

He thinks the pain I’m feeling is fybo

[AgedCrone]

Fraid not…..it sounds like he was telling you - you are in remission…which means you will probably have very little pain…but those in remission are usually kept on some sort of ‘holding’ medication. Is that the case…or has your rheumy stopped all your drugs.?

Unfortunately RA will still lurking…..congratulations on getting such efficacious drugs. But don’t go too overboard or it could come rushing back,

Just take things calmly & you could gets years in your present condition.

[Pricetowers in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you

And yes still on my medication and I have to see him every 3 months.

But I’m in so much pain it hurts to go up and down the stairs and my hands and wrists are week and brain fog and fatigue is really bad ..

[AgedCrone in reply to Pricetowers]

Well that doesn’t sound like remission! If you have Fibromyalgia you should have a word with your rheumy nurse about getting some pain relief,…& get her to explain what your rheumatologist meant when he said your marks have dropped.

[HappykindaGal in reply to AgedCrone]

I was in remission for 3 years. Now, blummen awful. Can barely walk at all again 🥺🥺

[EmmaS-NRAS NRAS]

Hi Pricetowers,

Great news that your markers have dropped down to normal - previous comments are correct that is sounds like you are in medical remission (sadly no cure for RA currently) but do have a look at our website nras.org.uk/resource/remiss... for more about what remission means and if you have any questions or concerns, do give our Helpline a call on 0800 298 7650 or speak to your rheumy team. Hope you continue to do well.

Best wishes,

Emma-NRAS

[GinnyE]

I saw my Rheumatologist last week and he agreed with the Rheumatologist I saw a year ago who said I was in Remission. I asked if I could reduce the 20mg methotrexate I inject but he said "not to rock the boat". We discussed what remission means and he said he often hears debate about it at conferences!! I've had RA for four and a half years and I'm waiting for the result of the x Ray's he just took, to compare with those I had taken at the beginning.

[GinnyE]

I saw my Rheumatologist last week and he agreed with the Rheumatologist I saw a year ago who said I was in Remission. I asked if I could reduce the 20mg methotrexate I inject but he said "not to rock the boat". We discussed what remission means and he said he often hears debate about it at conferences!! I've had RA for four and a half years and I'm waiting for the result of the x Ray's he just took, to compare with those I had taken at the beginning.

[Sheila_G]

Hi. That is good news. I have been in remission for a few years now but can't stop my medication. I still get flares but they are usually short lived and I deal with them without intervention. Long may your remission continue but don't be tempted to stop meds unless your Rheumatologist tells you to.

[Pricetowers in reply to Sheila_G]

Can you advise if I’m still going to have flares of rheumatoid arthritis even though my markers are normal ?

[Sheila_G in reply to Pricetowers]

I'm sorry but I can't advise, I am not a medic. You need to speak to your Rheumy team. I hope you get the answers you are looking for.

[Mall]

I tend to use the word control rather than remission. To me it seems easier to think of my disease being under control due to the drugs I’ve been prescribed. Rather than the phrase you are in remission.

I still have the disease, the drugs are working so I am not suffering so much pain as previously, my disease is well controlled at present.

Remission in my head seems to lead to all sorts of ideas due to lack of clarity and understanding as I’m not medically trained.

Hope this helps.

[CagneysMum in reply to Mall]

Sound advice Mall, I agree that remission is a really confusing word. My RA has been under control for 2 years now (no flares) and with my consultants support I aim to be as well as I can on as fewer drugs as possible . Over the last year I’ve halved my methotrexate from 20mg to 10mg and now thinking about stopping hydroxychloroquin as I only take one tablet a day. He said we could consider stopping my biologic but this is the last medication I would touch … considering how much difference it made for me and how hard I had to fight to get it. 🤞🤞

[Happy5]

It's good news in that means your meds are working. However sorry but it's deffo not gone, not how the condition works unfortunately.

I'm in what they call remission presently which is a marvelous time some days no pain other days minimal pain so bearable. No swollen joints general good feeling of well being, so I'm enjoying it while I can. I still continue my meds MTX injections no change in that regime.

Hope your symptoms continue 😊

[Max1993]

The markers which the rheumatologist is talking about are signs of active inflammation they look for in your blood tests on a regular basis to see if you have active RA disease. It sounds like your RA is the under control with your current medication. The pain you are still experiencing could be from damage to joints caused by previous inflammation when your RA was in a very active phase or the pain and other symptoms you mentioned may be due to your fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory condition so can still be giving you symptoms when your inflammatory markers are normal. As someone already suggested, you will need to discuss those symptoms with your rheumatologist or GP. To try to get the pain and other symptoms under control. Treating fibromyalgia is not straightforward.