New name for RA?

ELAINE55555

Can anyone shed any light on a story my friend heard this week, about giving RA a new name, so that it can be recognised as being separate from OA? I think she heard it on the radio.

Toots

I came across something online the other week promoting a change to Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease (RAD) but can't recall where I saw it or what it was.


ETA: it was a blog post actually from someone campaigning for the change, can link if you'd like, but it's not 'official' in any capacity.

elnafinn

http://rawarrior.com/we-refuse-to-be-mislabeled-updating-rheumatoid-arthritis-ra-to-rheumatoid-autoimmune-disease-rad/

http://www.the-rheumatologist.org/details/article/1311755/An_Identity_Crisis_for_RA.html

Nothing official though, as Toots says.

Elna x

DebbieT

This is really interesting!! I have Psoriatic Arthritis & totally agree ours needs to change too. Arthritis is one symptom of our autoimmune disease!! I have severe OA too so that throws people wen I say I have 2 types!! It would definitely make things easier to explain!!

Thanks.x

elnafinn

Hi Debbie

Unless it is too late you can post a comment at the end of the RA Warrior link. There are 92 comments if I remember correctly.

Elna x

dreamdaisy

I reckon that changing the name of either form won't make much difference to the general awareness of our weird and wonderful disease. Surely it makes more sense to say that there are two forms of arthritis, an auto-immune and not. OA is as OA is but the other sort comes in a much wider range of labels and 'habits'. DD

DebbieT

Thanks Elna.x

Toots

Well done Elna, the rawarrior was the one I came across.

The other article reads very well, and actually I think might help as an information tool for family/friends/work colleagues. It does a pretty good job of outlining the major differences between RA and OA, in my novice opinion.

Boomer13

Hi;

I think DD's explanation makes good sense, based on what I've read.

There definitely needs to be more awareness of autoimmune disease but I'm not certain a name change will accomplish that.

hileena111

Hi
I doubt if a name change will make a difference.....especially since there are 200 different kinds of arthritis :shock:

Love
Hileena

Toots

hileena111 wrote:

Hi
I doubt if a name change will make a difference.....especially since there are 200 different kinds of arthritis :shock:

Love
Hileena

Or are there over 200 different auto-immune type diseases, of which arthritis is a primary consideration? Not trying to be smart, genuinely wondering.

hileena111

Hi
They are not auto immune......I mean osteoarthritis isn't an auto immune disease
I do talks for arthritis care along with some other volunteering and I have a list which says there are over 200 kinds and lists them.....starting with Achilles tendonitis and finishing with Yersinial arthritis
Most of which I have never heard of and if people ask questions they always ask about the common ones.....By the way those pages are titled

THE MANY FACES OF ARTHRITIS

Love
Hileena

Toots

hileena111 wrote:

Hi
They are not auto immune......I mean osteoarthritis isn't an auto immune disease
I do talks for arthritis care along with some other volunteering and I have a list which says there are over 200 kinds and lists them.....starting with Achilles tendonitis and finishing with Yersinial arthritis
Most of which I have never heard of and if people ask questions they always ask about the common ones.....By the way those pages are titled

THE MANY FACES OF ARTHRITIS

Love
Hileena

Very interesting, thank you Hileena. Of course I'm aware OA isn't autoimmune but I would never have thought of something like achilles tendonitis as being classed as a type of arthritis, so I've learned something new today! And I've never heard of yersinial, so I'm off to google that, I do like knowing 'random' pieces of information lol. You must feel like you're on a mini-talk

applerose

I think it would be a good idea as people do just think there is only one arthritis. My rheumie told me a couple of days ago, there are around 280 different ones. It's no wonder it is sometimes difficult to diagnose. I think I'd rather call RA rheumatoid disease and not mention arthritis.

hileena111

Hi
I haven't heard of the majority on my list but I don't read them out or anything silly like that
Like the majority of people I know the more common ones.
Thank goodness I don't have to say them all or explain them

Love
Hileena

Toots

hileena111 wrote:

Thank goodness I don't have to say them all or explain them

Love
Hileena

I agree, although it could lead to some interesting conversations! I mean, the black death?? Lol, was rather taken aback when I googled and that's the first thing that came up. There are some rather nasty things in this world.

ELAINE55555

I'm with you on that one Applerose. My ex customers ask me why I am not working anymore. When I say I have rhuematoid athritis, they will say "oh yes, I have that too".and show me one bent finger. They do not have a clue.

Boomer13

Good articles, thanks elnafinn

Starburst

I do think we need more awareness of RA and similar autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, my rheumy clinic sometimes refers to my condition (in letter) as Rheumatoid Disease as does my GP. I hate the term arthritis, I'm sick to the back teeth of it because people just don't understand how RA has changed so many aspects of my life. Then again, maybe they wouldn't if it were called something else but I do feel the label arthritis makes me feel extra misunderstood.

hileena111

Hi
Do you not think it is just because anything with "itis" in it means inflammation? Like tonsillitis or laryngitis {spelling???} I assume that's why its called arthritis instead of disease

Love
Hileena