Wow, finally found ReA forum that appears to be active!

Reactive Arthritis belongs in a family of diseases classified as spondylitis. I have Ankylosing Spondylitis which is also in that group of diseases. To answer your question, I'll quote from the Spondylitis Association of America: "Reactive Arthritis typically follows a limited course, where symptoms subsiding in 3-12 months. However, the condition has a tendency to recur. about 15-20% of people with ReA develop a chronic, and sometimes severe, arthritis or spondylitis. "

Hopefully you will be in the large percentage of people with ReA that enjoy a short course with this disease. By the way, welcome to healing Well!

I wish I could say that I've ever heard of a remission after the condition becomes chronic, but I haven't -- and I've probably been one of the most active members of the ReA community over the past 5+ years since I was diagnosed.

Hey, DMom,

I went back to rheumy this past Monday (regular 3 month check-up) and he put me back on Prednisone because I appear to not be going into partial/full remission like he thought, but it's not progressing anymore, either. Have you been on Prednisone before? When first Dx, they put me on them and it was a Godsend but of course, can't stay on them. Also, I had a bad UTI infection the month before my Sx came on and rheumy says they think ReA is caused by bowel/urinary infections (food poisoning, gastrointestinal probs, viruses). Don't know and don't suppose it matters now, but like you, never heard of it. My rheumy says it's the most misdiagnosed type of arthritis, esp. in women, because it's a predominantly male disease. I have a couple of qustions, if you don't mind. Are you able to exercise at all (good days/weeks, etc.)? I have been too scared to do a whole lot b/c I know if I do things out of ordinary (walk long periods of time, etc.) then I pay for it the next day/two. Doc said to do what i feel like doing but, again, I know the repurcussions. Do folks with this do yoga? Stretching types of exercise, maybe? I am gaining weight, lol, and need to do something ! Not to mention it's good for mental health, also! Thanks!!

Leigh

I should specify that I've never heard of a permanent complete remission. I'm sure they exist...though one has to wonder what percentage actually had the same exact disease process happening as those of us who only get progressively worse, or who fluctuate wildly but never get anywhere near close to "normal."

I think that more than one actual condition may exist under the diagnostic umbrella that we currently label as Reiter's/ReA. I am aware of at least two or three unique mechanisms which can create the kind of Th1/Th2 (anti-pathogen and auto-immune branches of the immune system, basically) imbalances that cause ReA's symptoms. I also think that many people who actually have a form of ReA are diagnosed with a wide range of other labels, like Fibromyalgia, Polymyalgia, other Arthritic conditions, various neuropathies, and even MS. Then there's the crossover potential with diseases like Lyme....

Rebalancing the immune system, while not necessarily a cure in most of the forms currently available, seems like the best avenue of treatment. Low Dose Naltrexone shows a lot of promise in this area (by way of boosting endorphins, which in turn have immune-modulating effects), as do several other molecules in the cannabinoid, opioid/endorphin, antibiotic, NDMA agonist/antagonist, amino acid, and "vitamin" (namely D) classes.

Fighting inflammation, by way of supplements like Turmeric, Ginger, Piperine (Black Pepper), etc etc and boosting endorphins through various means including spicy foods can be helpful but can only do so much -- though it can have considerable preventative effects if you take these early and often, IMHO.

So, the short version of my point here is that there are certainly many things you can do to improve your symptoms and your odds of achieving what one might label a "remission" or at least "good days." However, even when one achieves a complete remission, you still have the strong potential for your immune system to go out of balance again if triggered. So in a way, ReA is for life....it's just a matter of how you manage it. If you're prepared to manage it well, and don't get too bogged down in a desperate search for "quick fixes" that rarely pan out in any significant way....then there is hope.