What causes a person to have Rheumatoid...

[Teresa S]

...Arthritis? I have been told that there is an underlying problem to this disease such as the possiblity of Cancer. Is RA a seperate disease or does it stem from more seriouse health problems? I was also wondering if anyone has been to a Rheumatoligist and if so, what are some of the treatments that they use and do you feel as though it has helped? Thanks in advance for responding! :)

[gotchagood]

My daughter was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago at the age of 8 years old,went undiagnosed for 3 years.Dr's don't know what causes it,some think a common cold or infection can trigger it,or that it can be herditary. In my daughter she has the polyarticular form and she has 38 joints affected. She takes methotrexatre(cancer drug)for it by injection every week. She has come around from the disease so fantastically. She went from a child that could not walk for more than 5 minutes, to running now. She couldn't even make half a fist and now,not a problem. She also got joint injections for both shoulders,both hips,both wrists and right ankle and right knee.Of course with the cancer drug there can be problems such as the immunocompromised condition of her immune system,and the repeat blood tests(every 4-6 weeks for the blood test) but to see her function like a normal child is outweighing the negative side of meds but a LONG shot.

[paw4838]

Hello Arthritis is a disease which main cause is toxin. your diet is the creator of toxin and if it does not find a way out of the body the wind in our system {i.e the guts or bowels} mixes with the toxin and body heat then this mixture goes tothe cells .therefore causing more toxicity in the cells. the heat dries up the liquid in the cells ..accumulates .. pain is caused.. inflamatiom etc...

[marypoppins]

RA is caused by the body's immune system reacting against its own joints. That's why immunosuppresive drugs are effective in treatment.The actual cause can be an infecttion (where the molecules on the agent appear similar to the body's own cell molecules), a drug. Sometimes it's hereditary.