I have a developmentaly disabled brother, who just got diagnosed with “advanced rheumatoid arthritis”. And we haven’t got to speak with a specialist yet. I am just curious what to expect. thank you.
I have a developmentaly disabled brother, who just got diagnosed with “advanced rheumatoid arthritis”. And we haven’t got to speak with a specialist yet. I am just curious what to expect. thank you.
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Hello,
I do not think it will cause death. I have inflammatory bowel disease and I share many of the same medications as people diagnosed with RA.
It is an autoimmune disease which means we do not know the cause or the cure but symptoms of the disease can be controlled with various medications. I take Remicade and Imuran and I believe these drugs are also used for RA patients as we both battle an autoimmune disease and the drugs try to dampen the inflammation so we can lead normal lives. He might be put on short term steroids such as prednisone to control inflammation.
I would take notes at the Doctor’s office because there is usually a lot of information to absorb and medication schedules to meet to keep in remission.
Good luck to him. I hope all will be well.
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 12. That was 20 years ago and I am functioning quite well. There are many things to consider when getting diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, not just death. Your brother will be feeling much better with the condition treated!
There are some studies that link rheumatoid arthritis to early death, but they mainly show that people with RA also have increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The idea is that with RA your body has more inflammation and that inflammation affects your heart not just your bones. The inflammation elevates your risk about the same amount as having high blood pressure or heart disease. Most likely, your brother’s doctor would be able to give you the best information so be sure to take your question.