Co-morbidities

[Jen3131]

When attending an occupational physio appointment this week, the lady had a referral form in front of her that said I had Scleroderma and inflammatory Arthritis. No one has ever told me I had IA. She prattled on and told me that it is possible to have co-morbitities. I told her that I knew that but does Scleroderma go 'hand in hand' with IA or has someone given me another diagnosis? She couldn't answer so I have booked an appointment with my GP but that's a few weeks away. I just wondered if anyone on this site knows about the likelihood of having a co-morbidity of IA just because they have Scleroderma please? Is it par for the course that these diagnoses go together? Thank you.

[redfairy118]

hello

I have SSC and have also just been diagnosed with inflammatory Oesto Arthritis. My Rhuemy says its pretty common for Sclero patients to have both, also Auto immunes are a friendly bunch and seldom travel alone (ie if you have 1 auto immune you have more than 1 !)Hope that helps

[Jen3131 in reply to redfairy118]

It does thank you but it’s nice to be informed which is my main concern. I wonder if my Rheumatology dept think I’m a fount of all knowledge which is why they don’t communicate with me! If I have something, I want to know the diagnosis because I like to do the best for myself too. I have never discussed anything of this nature with any clinician, have no medication etc so it was a surprise 😐. Thanks x

[LucyJean]

Hi there, it is pretty common to have inflammation in your joints when you have scleroderma. Inflammatory arthritis is one of the dominant features of my disease when I am having a flare. when the immune system gets overactive and starts to target your own cells as well as foreign invaders it is common to get overlap between conditions and symptoms. This is why we have to know what our own unique pattern is so we can manage it as well as possible. People will often label you with your dominant condition but then add in other diagnoses that are overlapping. I.e. Scleroderma with inflammatory arthritis or Scleroderma with overlapping features of Lupus (a really common overlap) as is Sjogrens. The treatment doesn't really change. You would still be treated with immunosuppression, anti-inflammatories and pain relief as required.

Hope that makes sense.

All my best

Lucy xx

[overnighthearingloss]

I have had so many extra labels added over the years, that's just how I think about them, as labels.

You were already unwell. You knew that. It won't do any good to be worried about any extra diagnoses. Sometimes doctors even remove diagnoses.

The best way I have found of dealing with all of my labels is to eat a nutrient rich diet and to stay away from processed foods and sugars as much as possible.

Don't panic. Just do the best for yourself that you can do. Also remember that good sleep is essential to body repair. So try to get adequate rest to allow your body to fight back.

[Jen3131 in reply to overnighthearingloss]

Thank you all - the support given on this forum is very reassuring.

[Duttie]

Hello, Yes I'm another with SSc and was diagnosed with RA last year. I was told, as the other have said, it is not uncommon to have more than one auto immune disease. You are not on your own. I presume the RA was diagnosed by a blood test and nobody bothered to inform you.

[MEW53]

I have Myositis with a Scleroderma overlap, strangely enough before I was diagnosed with this I had rheumatoid Arthritis over 40 years which lasted for about 10 years, wonder if the other diseases were brewing ages ago quietly.

[Jen3131]

It’s no wonder the newly diagnosed are horrendously confused. I am going to have a chat with my GP to see what was the indicator for inflammatory arthritis??

[LucyJean in reply to Jen3131]

Hi Jen, usually the way they would diagnose inflammatory arthritis would be:

1. You have redness and swelling in your joints (this may be in one or two or multiple joints). Just having joint pain is not an indication of inflammatory arthritis, there has to be active inflammation present.

2. You would have a raised ESR and/or CRP (these are the inflammatory markers) the ESR tends to be more accurate in connective tissue disorders as CRP will be raised when you have an infection or virus too.

3. You can have a blood test for Rheumatoid Factor which is likely to be raised for those with joint inflammation but another connective tissue, such as scleroderma as the predominant disease. Having this raised does not automatically mean that you have Rheumatoid Arthritis. RA is a very specific form of inflammatory arthritis which is usually given as a diagnosis if the Anti-CCP is also strongly positive.

I hope this all makes sense.

All my best

Lucy xxx

[Jen3131]

I reported significant joint pain (where there was none before) and horrendous muscle aches from my lower back down through my legs (never had before) when they increased the Methotrexate to 8 tablets. My back almost simultaneously went into spasm and they said it was me having a ‘flare’ (never had before) and nothing to do with the Methotrexate. There is a side effect listed which reads exactly how I felt. I had a 3 week break and started to feel much better and refused to take 8 tablets when I restarted - I take 6 and managing. But they aren’t happy about it really and I wonder if that’s where the inflammatory arthritis label has come from? I haven’t had RA blood test but I guess the ESR May have indicated something but no one has told me. I am seeing my GP and going to request a second opinion re my treatment plan - possibly at the Royal Free. My Rheumatology department were dismissive and discouraging about a tertiary referral when I asked them on the basis they are a large department with 2 consultants specialising in connective tissue disorders. They said there was no point unless I was after a stem cell transplant!

[Bec9680]

I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with the rheumatologist I had my fair share too. Please check out the roadback.org it explains how many autoimmune& rheumatic diseases are from bacteria in body. Some doctors are aware but unfortunately most are not. They have given so many people their normal lives back. I had to share & I hope doctors start doing the right tests instead of just masking symptoms. God bless