Morning MW
Synovial thickening tends not to go on its own. What happens is the lining of the joint, the synovium, contains a fluid, synovial fluid, which helps with the movement of the joint and keeps the cartilage supple allowing it to cope with impact such as running. In RA the fluid can become thickened or irritated as result of the disease process. This causes stiffening of the joint and damage to the cartilage. In severe cases the lining of the joint, the synovium, will need to be removed by synovectomy. There is often a little thickening of the synovium in RA by the very nature of the disease process but in most cases it can be lived with without difficulty.
I have had RA for 23 years and am checked by the rheumatologist supposedly every 6 months (NICE guidelines for controlled disease); last year it stretched to 15 months! The only time I have had X-Rays or Scans is when I have suggested a particular joint problem. No regular tests as such have ever been performed despite having severe disease and much damage!
The next question about coronary problems and life expectancy is actually two! You should remember that some articles do not necessarily apply to everyone with RA! The reference to life expectancy is more to do with those, such as myself, who were diagnosed with RA more than ten years ago. At that time the drugs available were very limited, anti inflammatories, steroids, chloroquine, gold etc. These were very unlike the range of DMARDs and anti-tnfs available today. My first 14 years of disease were poorly controlled and as a result I have quite a lot of joint damage throughout my body. This poor control has led to a number of further problems such as heart/lung disease etc. This in turn limits life expectancy ... but I haven't drawn my last breath yet, I have things still to do and tales to tell for goodness sake!! With the modern drugs this aspect has largely gone out of the window and life expectancy is generally not shortened by controlled RA.
I remember reading the article about heart, lung and cancers, I think it was in a magazine. I'll have a look after lunch and see if I can find it. A search of the NRAS website may turn it up but I'm not sure!
And to finish, (hungry children waiting for feeding, not to mention miaowing kittens) please don't feel that you are being a hypochondriac ... everyone has their concerns with this wretched disease and you are entitled to expect reasonable answers to those worries from the people who treat us. Don't let it get you down; if your disease is controlled you are a winner!
Lyn x
P.S. Sorry it's so long, I got carried away! I read a lot of stuff and like to be able to share it
