Is arthritis hereditary?

When will my rheumatoid arthritis be severe?

• I'm 16 and I've been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Factor Positive Arthritis. I've also been diagnosed with Hypermobility Syndrome. (total oposite of arthritis) The doctors said the reason why im still so flexible even though i have arthritis is because the arthritis hasnt stayed in one place for a long enough time to do damage in my joint. 1 year ago I had huge amounts of pain on my shoulder and hands. My nuckles would flare up and show redness, I had trouble moving them. For 2 years now I've been having pain on my heels which couses me to walk...weird.. but as the day goes by it gets better. Today I no longer have any pain in my hands but only one knuckle is swollen (fluid and inflamation inside) but it doesnt hurt. I will be starting medication by injection with Methotrexate. My question is will my arthritis ever go away?... Around what age will my arthritis start to affect most of my body and mobility? Will I be able to have kids? Does stress or depression worsen Arthritis? Are there any Do's and Dont's with Arthritis? Could you give me any tips on how to live with this?... Thank You.

• Answer:

  There are no ABSOLUTE answers to your questions...sorry. It is as individual as the person who has it. Not even your doctors can accurately tell you. HOWEVER it is a disease of a 'lifetime.' So for the most part you will have to learn 'pain management' with medications AND with perhaps physical therapy that shows you WAYS to make your pain 'more managable.' The number one advice I can give you is KEEP ACTIVE even 'with the pain' and take your medications regularly. You will probably find that the meds you are given work for a WHILE then don't work so good anymore because of immunity. This makes learning the physical therapy part of it ALL the more important. Also check out HOLISTIC REMEDIES that have been used for ages and that TRULY HELP at least some people! Don't shut the door to your life because of this diagnosis. My grandmother had EIGHT children and had crooked knees, toes, fingers and deformed 'body parts' as early as 50 years old (pretty early for MOST arthritis) and she lived until the ripe old age of eighty, raised a disabled aunt ( who was like a 80 pound baby), made a garden that would feed half the community, raised her own eggs, chickens, ducks etc...and CUT HER OWN WOOD until in her 70's my uncles 'took her AX away!' If you had been able to ASK HER, I am SURE she would say you can DO WHATEVER you set your mind to do!!! Grandmother 'did fine' until she lost TWO of her children within two months time. THE HORRIBLE STRESS of 'this tragedy' is what ALMOST 'did her in' and made her unable to WALK for a while, BUT she came out of THAT EVEN after a short while. SO YES.........stress affects arthritis. The DO'S and DON'TS mainly must be told to you by your doctors according to the TYPE of arthritis you have. Sometimes you MAY be told to 'go bedrest' for a while, sometimes heat pads and sometimes COLD packs...it all depends and may change from one symptom to another. THE TRICK IS..........NEVER STOP LIVING your life for it. Don't let it STOP you or put you down. IT SUCKS that someone so young would have such a diagnosis, BUT as one ages ALL of your friends will have 'their own' because NONE OF US, get out of this world ALIVE! Everyone develops their own 'cross to bear' at SOME TIME in their life. Yours is just coming a bit sooner than the majority! Blessings to You and go DANCING! Bunny7