If your RA is under control with normal bloods ect; can damage still be happening to joints?

[Philip]

Hi wiliby, I was negative blood and my ankles are , as the man with scan says " they are bone on bone" so if my understanding is right lol then I would say "yes".

Philip

But I am only a man lol

[Custard]

Hey Wiliby!!

This is something that always confuses me too and begs the question, what is remission?

(in my case) my bloodtests appear to be a check primarily to monitor potential sideeffects of the RA drugs! So I dont even consider 'normal bloods' to be indicative of remission. *shrugs*

I dont even know what bloodtests WOULD highlight someone being in actual RA remission!

Might it be lack of inflammation? i.e ESR of zero along with a negative Anti CCP score?

Lyn would know.. (miss her posts)

*googles*

xx

[LavendarLady]

Hi suggest you speak to your GP or consultant for the definitive answer. I must admit I don't know but if inflammation is quiet and not causing problems, I can't see that the RA is then still causing damage to joints. The disease has to be active to cause damage. LavendarLady x

[Hidden]

thanks gents and Ladies!

Sorry, I don't explain to well, my inflammation bloods show under 5, DAS score shows remission of 2.4, I feel so much better but then (Custard you know how this feels!!!) my jaw gave in last week and the dentist tells me it may be the RA progressing and will send me for x rays; however I have had problems with jaw for years on and off (RA only this year) and assumed it's just whatever causes that (Think when I'm stressed I clench my jaw) but this time it feel more 'cruncy'......

It makes sense to me as you say LL that the disease needs to be active so I'm happy with that answer but will ask my consultant in a couple of weeks anyhow.

Custard, your newly diagnosed like myself aren't you? have you had your jaw problem for years also?

xx

[Custard]

Hey Wiliby!

Yep diagnosed in April... and nope never had any kind of joint, jaw or muscle concerns until RA began to rear its head. Your post reminded me though that all last week I woke up clenching my jaw.. so guess that is what triggered the flare?

I read up on RA remission and noone appears to be happy with the 'terminology' as it seems that remission for any other disease means its gone or going! A better one for RA is Dormant....

Which make sense I guess, as it means it can remain dormant for a long time, a short time, indefinitely (yay!) or flare up again at some point.

Hugs to you and your liddle one. <3

Jx

[Hidden in reply to Custard]

thanks custard, she's emptying the sock drawer at the moment! as long as she's happy

yep, my consultant wouldn't use remission either but looking at the das info, this is what it tells me, whatever it is I'm just very thankful!

I'm of to try on some sketchers this weekend, your blog sold them to me (which was very funny by the way) I did start to leave a comment but then little one distracted me.

right, she's onto the pants, better go xx

[Gina_K]

Hi Williby,

I asked this very question of my Rheumatologist at my last visit a few months ago, I said 'as my inflammation tests in my blood are all at a normal levels, does this mean that the disease is in remission and no further damage is being done?' and she said (hesitantly) ' er we would presume so yes' I have to say she did'nt sound very convincing or confident, so I guess they just dont know. Depressing is'nt it? I think getting your blood to normal ranges is what they are aiming for all the time, so its the best they can offer.

ps. I still miss Lynn & Julie too.

Gina.

[Hidden in reply to Gina_K]

I suppose they can't really tell for sure but i'll settle for what I've got

Lynn and Julie if your reading this (you never know!) come back

x

[Hidden]

From the das score table das of <2.6 equals patient in remission hope this helps

Alison x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

yes it does, I was sure I saw that but wondered if I imagined it, hope your still keeping well and hoping to get good news from you soon (re-Dad) x

[sylvi]

If all these tests show one thing why do we always feel in pain,depressed and thoroughly fed up. I know the way my body feels and it isn't nice yet bloods will say some thing else altogether,whats that all about.

Tis the season to be merry,NOT. I think we all are feeling the same at the moment,lets blame this horrible british/scotish weather we're having and not the failure of our bodies. No people i'm not drunk,honest i don't touch the stuff these days,but i might be tempted to throw a bottle at someone.

Sylvi. xxx

[Hidden]

Hello Sylvi, don't be offended when I say that I'm actually in a really good place with the RA and very lucky not to be in pain at this time, my jaw is a annoying but compared previous pain of RA then this is nothing really...

But you do make me smile! you sound a little pee'd off tonight I hope you didn't venture out on your scooter in the storms yesterday! my late Mum used to drive around in a scooter, I remember getting stuck in traffic going to visit her one day and eventually when I got to the hold up I saw it was Mum insisting she went on the main road as it was easier for her to drive on!!! she would have loved your xmas decorated scooter I miss her, thats why I'm waffling now! xx

[Hidden]

Pleased your Ra is good at moment.. mine not too bad either xx

[essexgirl]

Hi ... I'm glad to ur not in pain .... I'm a bit confused or thick lol ....... SO if u r in remission as they say ...... Are u still on ur medication or do u stop ... Confused Debs xx

[Halo_Jones]

Hey, I have been in a similar situation. My bloods were "normal" as in CRP and ESR all within normal ranges (down by over 100 from my first terrible flare up!), but when I had an MRI it showed serious inflammation in my ankle and toes. I asked the obvious question of how that could be if my inflammation blood counts were so low as to be non-existent, and got the fantastic answer;

"No idea, it can happen sometimes."

I'd say don't freak out about blood tests or anything else, and go by how you're feeling. If you're feeling good then great, long may it last.