Strange comment by GP

fayrose

During a visit to my GP - who incidentally is wonderfully helpful and supportive - he made a passing comment that I didn't pick up on because of time etc. Background, I have RA and recently diagnosed with OA.

The comment was along the lines that after all these years (14 or so), the RA should have stopped and with luck, the meds would have prevented too much damage, and I was just unlucky if I'm still affected. :???:

Any ideas anyone or did my ears deceive me ..... along with everything else? :roll:

jenzie06

I hope he's right. If so then I've only got two more years before its all over. Yay!

Jen

stlucia

Yes I would like it if it was true...only 3 more years to go for me!

tkachev

He might have meant the damage has stopped. I don't know if it ever stops but it at least slows right down because of the medication. Most of my damaged jpoints was due to the early days before treatment got on a roll and nowadays they like to start patients off on stronger meds for this very reason.

Elizabeth

dreamdaisy

In my experience from reading posts on here GPs don't know much about RA. I do wish they would occasionally think before they open their mouths: they make these throwaway comments little realising the impact they have on their patients. I find that very irksome. DD (who is still waiting to throw away her crutches as she was promised she would be able to do.)

cherrybim

After years of treatment with gold my then Rheumy announced that the RA had burnt itself out and with a big smile and a twinkle in his eye said "I never want to see you again"

It had but unfortunately came back to bite me on the bum :roll: I told my present Rheumy what the now retired Rheumy had said and his reply was that with immediate intervention with a DMARD such as gold this was often the case but regrettably it can return years later. Rather like post polio syndrome from which my old schoolfriend sadly now suffers. So apparently RA really can burn itself out and I feel very grateful for the years I had with only a twinge or two.

On the upside though the Rheumy says I have no joint damage It's onwards and upwards with the Cimzia for me hopefully now.

Cherry x

julie47

I also heard that RA can burn out and I still live in hope 23 years later I too started on gold but my joints are terribly deformed now :sad: I wish they had had the meds they have now.

Fayrose I hope you heard your gp right in your case it could be true like cherry.

Take care
Juliepf x

wibberley

I've had RA (JIA) since the age of 7 - it's burnt itself out a few times but always came back.

Lois x

petals

Yes my GP also told me that RA burns itself out eventually, trouble is I will probably be too old (or dead) by then to notice lol

fayrose

Ah, wishful thinking on my part then and essentially a misunderstanding of what the GP said.

DAM, DAM, DAM ................ I'd been hoping I would wake up soon to feel 'perfik', no painful hot and swollen joints and leaping about ready to get back on a horse again and gallop off into the sunset.

Ah well, hope springs eh? :roll:

dreamdaisy

Hope does spring - unlike our creaky joints. You never know, fayrose, every one of us on here is different and you just never know . . . . . DD

stephiey

I have no idea what he meant! It's very different for everyone as you know so well.
I'm nearly 19 and have had it since I was 4 so I'm 15 years in now lol
I was in remission for like 2 years but it came back. Let's hope maybe 20 years will be the end lol
Hope you're doing ok!
Take care
Steph
X

P.s ( sometimes doctors just don't understand! They may have studied for many years but they can't see the future!)
X

frogmorton

Fay

I have heard that before too - I wondered if it was an old theory that RA burns itself out.....??

mmmm.....??

Not sure it is the case for all of us.

Love

toni xx

PS hope you are doing ok otherwise.

Starburst

I've heard RA can burn itself but it's the exception, not the rule. I find my GP isn't very clued up and once called RA "my aches and pains"!! But if your GP is supportive on the whole, I'm wondering if he was just trying to make you feel better, in a strange sort of way!

skezier

Hi Fay,

Well ... I reckon i heard it as well..... some do and can do quickly but the others like oa will burnout but not till they have finished.

I wonder if he is getting confused between the types?

hang on to the hope though cus it might burn out quicker for you and you never know......

Wishful Thinking actually was a very good race mare and she used to win so it can happen

Apart form that hope you are doing ok and leaving you a ((((( ))))) cris xx

tillytop

Hello Fay

Like the other peeps I too have heard somewhere that RA can burn itself out but, like you, I'm nearly 15 years down the road and still waiting! Given the number of us who still have active disease after many years I think your GP is incorrect to suggest that it is unusual (unlucky, yes, unusual, no) but here's hoping eh?

Love tilly xxx

fayrose

Awww, thanks all you sweet folks.

Even though my worst fears have been confirmed by 'Those Who Know Better' - in other words you lot who have been there and done that - I don't feel as bad as I thought I would.

I had me doubts..... but wow can't we con ourselves when we live in hope?

Glad I can come here for 'reality'.

Again thanks and gentle hugs to you all xxxxx