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• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 11-15 years >> Michelle - Interview 51 >> She explains that her anti-TNF drug is working well and that at present she prefers drug therapy to surgery because she is moving to France. Ankle dam

Michelle is currently on anti-TNF treatment: Humira. She has taken Methotrexate for a number of years but has had breaks in between following a biopsy that revealed liver scarring. Michelle was diagnosed with osteopenia (a milder form of osteoporosis) in her spine and needs to take calcium tablets regularly.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Interview 23 >> Decided against having her wrist fused as she wants to keep the residual movement she now has despite the pain.

Psoriasis age 17. Rapid onset RA diagnosed seronegative '86. Various DMARDS tried and complementary therapies/diet helped. Stroke '00, blood disorder & Sjogrens. Currently Steroids, Dihydrocodeine, Vioxx. 2 new knees/1 hip/2 shoulders & right thumb fusion.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 21-25 years >> Interview 05 >> Describes her neck problems, how the thought of a neck operation was frightening but that it was very successful.

RA diagnosed as significant symptoms after birth of 2nd child. Complementary treatments used. Takes Diclofenac 15mg & 2 Coproxamol daily. 10 operations: hips, knees & shoulder replacement/revision; neck, ankle & toe fusions, and removal of bone in 1 elbow.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 21-25 years >> Interview 19 >> Describes her two neck operations and having anti-TNF treatment to assist the bone graft.

Diagnosed 1980. Early treatment NSAID, pain killer and steroids. 9 operations e.g. joint replacement, neck fusion. Various DMARDS. Currently on Anti-TNF Infliximab/7 weeks. Methotrexate weekly, Prednisolone, Rofecoxib, hydroxychloriquine daily.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 21-25 years >> Interview 05 >> Would have liked the surgeon to tell her how her ankle would feel after the plaster was removed.

RA diagnosed as significant symptoms after birth of 2nd child. Complementary treatments used. Takes Diclofenac 15mg & 2 Coproxamol daily. 10 operations: hips, knees & shoulder replacement/revision; neck, ankle & toe fusions, and removal of bone in 1 elbow.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 6-10 years >> Interview 30 >> Describes a toe and ankle fusion operation and how the pain is now more like mild toothache than a raging fever.

Diagnosed '95 after severe ankle pain (maybe virus triggered). Subject in Anti-TNF trial. Pneumonia due to RA. Regular steroid injections prior to ankle fusion. Methotrexate/folic acid, Celebrex, Tramadol, Diazapan, Tomazapan, Prozac, Atenolol, Dothiepin.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Interview 03 >> Having the anti-TNF infusion every 8 weeks in hospital is a good experience, she enjoys meeting the other patients.

RA diagnosed '86. For 10 years chose NSAIDs/pain killers and complementary therapies. DMARD treatments started 1996 (various). 2 replacement shoulders 2000. Started Infliximab 9/02. Less pain/tiredness but pre-existing damage means hip replacement '04.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Pat - Interview 59 >> Pat preferred Simponi injections to infusions because the latter gave her headaches. She found the lack of privacy in the hospital uncomfortable.

Pat was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis aged 25 but it took almost three years and a progressive deterioration of her symptoms for her to get an appropriate treatment. Her disease has remained active and to date she has had ten operations and four implants. Pat participated in a clinical trial for a newer drug called Golimumab (Simponi) but the therapy failed to improve or control her rheumatoid arthritis. She is due to start another biological therapy; Rituximab.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 21-25 years >> Interview 13 >> The fusion of his thumb gave him a stable and stronger grip.

Diagnosed '78 after various joint pains. Knee synovectomy age 18; then 8 years quite symptom free; since RA in many joints. Some steroid pulses/joint injections. Now Gold injected 50mg/month, Meloxicam 15mg/day & Coproxamol if required. Thumb fusion operation.