“inflammation is now understood to be a key mediator of OA that contributes to cartilage loss and progressive degeneration of affected joints… OA is no longer considered a noninflammatory arthritis or a ‘wear and tear’ disease”
I heretofore thought age-related cartilage loss was the cause of osteoarthritis and inflammation. Turns out it’s the other way around: the inflammation degrades cartilage. Okay, no more slogging through joint pains for me, regardless of how small.
Edit: added a phrase for clarity
Here I am staring at my sausage-like thumb that’s been swollen like this for three days thanks to rheumatoid arthritis. This article gives good context for why RA often results in OA at a younger age. Maybe I will go take a prednisone and apply another dose of diclofenac to try to knock this inflammation down…
There have been some good medications for RA created in the last decade or so. Has your rheumatologist prescribed anything longer term than prednisone? Prednisone is not really a long term safe solution.
RA… oof. That shit is a curse*, a giant FU from the universe. I hope you get the relief/management you need. Tangential: does the prednisone get you all hyper?
*My aunt had it. In my pre-teens, my mother sent me to live with and care for her in final years (it wasn’t the RA that got her), so I deeply empathize with your health struggles.
I imagine this to be no easy task for anyone, especially a pre-teen.