From what I understand we are more succeptable to other autoimmune diseases - period. The common ones I've heard so far are thyroid (hashimotos), celiac disease, and one other one I can't remember right now. Sounds like you need to discuss this with your physician.

I do not know statistics on this, but it seems logical that since our immune systems don't function properly as evidenced by the AD, the potential for other problems to exist would be high. That being said, I don't recall too many AD patients c/o RA. I have some kind of strange auto immune arthritis but it is not defineable by today's available testing, at least so far. RA is a very aggressive inflammatory arthritis and you should ask your doctor to test you for it if you are concerned. THere are things they can do to try to slow it down. GOod luck.

Vanyel

thanks for your thoughts on this. i am going to talk to my dr. about this. one thing is sure there is some sort of arthritis going on! i hear that they treat RA with steroids......and i am sick of steroids. i know they keep us alive but there is alot of stuff that goes along with taking them.

girlfriend, you are singing in MY choir!

my addison's (secondary addison's, technically) was caused by steroids that i occasionally had to use due to my asthma. when i would go on and off of the steroids then, i would get horrible joint pain, mostly in (but not @ all limited to) my knees. i would have the pain while i was on the them, and then would go through steroid withdrawal once i had stopped taking them, which was the WORST.

once i was diagnosed w/addison's and had to start taking steroids every day this game started up again, usually w/no rhyme or reason to it. then i started getting spinal blocks, where i'm injected w/LARGE amounts of steroids (and interveinously, so that it hits me harder than pills would), and i go through withdrawals that are AWFUL.

also, the steroids are killing our bones, density wise. i'm 29 and already have osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis), although who knows,
it might be osteoporosis by now! so that certainly doesn't help us in any way.

i have been told that we're pre-disposed to arthritis due to our disease, and i think that includes rheumatoid as well. i could be wrong, but that's what i've been told.

what other kinds of things hurt you? for me, crossing my legs is the WORST, but sometimes it doesn't take *anything* @ all - the pain just comes for fun, it seems. knees, ankles, wrists, even my hip joints. no fun @ all.

hope this helped a tiny bit, @ least, and that you have a joint-pain free day!

xo, misa

thanks misa. i am not surprised that we are pre-disposed for joint problems because i have been told that the steroids are pretty bad for our bones. AD is just a fun thing to have isn't it?

my worst places are my thumbs, fingers, knees (which are getting worse), and my lower back hurts a lot.

oh well i hate to complain....sorry.

i appreciate all the comments i get from this site and my felloe AD folks.

Sheri,
They do sometimes treat RA with steroids, but they are trying to get away from that as the long term effects, as we know, are not good. They use other drugs called DMARDs, which are immunosuppresants, to treat RA. They stop the immune system from attacking the joints. They have lots of potential side effects and problems as well, but can seriously slow down the progressing of RA. THey do not do much of anything for OA however. None of these diseases are any fun, and for the most part, western medicine really sucks at treating them. You might want to see a rheumatologist if you are worried. Best of luck.

Vanyel

thanks vanyel you always have good info.

sheri

RA is an auto immune deficiency Look up the Arthritis Foundation there is some excellent in formation on all different types of arthritis