Hi Mary, not a silly question at all, I think a lot of us feel the same. Unsure what remission actually is!!
The only answer that I can come up with, and may be totally wrong, is that it means no more inflamation is present.
If R.A. is caused by inflamation, then no inflamation means remission. The treatments we have are all targeted to reduce this inflamation.
I believe the inflamation causes the tiredness, as it does pain and many other things, eg joint damage, anemia etc. etc.
Some of these things seem to be overcome with inflamation control, but others we have for good, unfortunately joint damage being one of them and the resulting pain.
Added to this is the effects of the drugs we take.
It will be interesting to hear what other peoples views and expectations are of remission.
Hope you are keeping farly well.
Zena xx.

Hi All - I agree with Zena. I believe remission is being free from inflammation - I consider myself in remission because I no longer have swollen joints and that horrible stiffness that was so exhausting. But life will never go back to how it was before RA - any joint damage is permanent and that still causes pain.

However, I am much improved since I started my medication and now I feel that I'm stable. In particular, I feel reasonably consistent from day to day, and I can predict when I'll feel extra tired, so that means I can plan ahead and feel confident that I will be able to enjoy whatever I've arranged.

And when the inflammation came under control, I found my brain cleared too! Suddenly I noticed that I was thinking clearly and could get myself organised again. But this whole experience has meant that I don't take my health for granted any more - I never want to go back to the flareup days, and I really focus on my wellbeing now and take pleasure in every moment.

I'm really looking forward to hearing what other people's views are on this - love and hugs - Sylvia xx

I think there is probably a significant difference between what we, as normal human beings, consider to be remission and what the medical profession class as clinical remission.

I would not consider myself in remission unless I was completely able to live my life as I did before I had RA. I expect the odds of this are very slim. I've long since given-up the idea of ever recommencing running and surfing.

I run but am not cured. I have also found others with RA who run, many much more severe than me and they're not cured either. We're all so very different and I am fortunate that aggressive treatment early on when I was in my mid-twenties worked well for me. I still take toxic drugs every day. I loved running before RA but was told I should never run again when I was first diagnosed. Many years on, I now run with the support of my wonderful GP. When I am badly flared I do not run. I re-started in earnest when I was 40. My sister thinks I am mad - she is an orthopaedic nurse but supports me nonetheless. I was told last year I might be in remission if I continued as I was but since then I have had a few flares especially over the winter months. I see the consultant again September time. Remission for me would be no pain, no flares, no dreadful fatigue. I am the queen of power napping. I think remission means something different to us all and also means different things within the medical profession too. Take care everyone xx