Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Long question for you experts...

Strype
Strype
My father had Juvenile Onset RA (aka Still's Disease)and was diagnosed at the age of 9. His mother was in a wheel chair with RA. His great Aunt had RA. His sister had RA and got it in her 30's. My father had 6 artificial joints, and actually passed away due to complications from having his 2nd total hip replacement... Replacement. His artificial joints were wearing out in his hips... Anywho

I started having knee pain when I turned 25 or 26. A year ago when I was 29 it got really bad and my fingers, hip and elbows got involved. Of course myself and my doctor suspected RA. While testing me for RA she found that my RH factor was negative, but my liver panel was way off. It turns out that I have Hereditary Hemochromatosis, or "iron overload" disorder. This disorder can cause joint pain.

I have been x-rayed and the joints looked "Perfect" and that I do NOT have RA as my father and relatives did.

Here's my question-
How do I know for sure that I am not developing RA due to the iron deposits- How does it start out?

I know full well that nobody knows what starts RA, and I am afraid that my iron overload disorder could spawn it. Maybe I'm over reacting but it seems logical to me. Thanks for reading all of this. Everyone in my family that could answer these questions has passed on.

~Jonathan
Caren28
Caren28
I've never heard of RA being connected to an iron overload. In fact, it's just the opposite- lots of people with RA, including myself, are anemic. Hopefully your joint pain will diminish with proper treatment of your hemochromatosis. Still, your family history being what it is, it might not be a bad idea to have those xrays repeated in a year. I had perfect x-rays when I first saw a rheumatologist, but a year later I had a definite erosion on x-ray and was diagnosed with RA.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree w/Caren...I wouldn't think the iron deposits would cause the RA. It could mask RA development, if anything.

Joint inflamation, fatigue, slight temp, elevated sed rates, RA factor - all these are used to test for RA...it sounds like your doc is aware of the family history. Explain your concern that RA could still be lurking. He'd know what to keep an eye for, I would think. Is there treatment for the Hemochromatosis? Lisa
bigiblue
bigiblue
My Brother also has Hemochromotosis and myself and other siblings had to get testes for it as well. He just found out that he has Gout, but he had the Blood disorder before the Gout. The Treatment for hemochromotosis is to have the blood washed every 3 mos. they take blood from you, but do not reuse it as they would with a blood donation. When I was tested, my Dr. said it is a rare blood disorder and it is mostly found by those of European descend. I am from Germany as is the rest of my Family. He only had one patient that has it.
I agree with the rest that I do not think your joint pain has anything to do with the blood., but you can research it a little more and find out what the other symptoms are. I just know that you have very thick and heavy blood.
bigi
Strype
Strype
Thanks for the replies

Yea when I started giving blood last year they had a hard time getting it to flow. I guess I'll quit worrying and chalk it up to the iron disorder.