Low Complements, What's that mean?

keepnitreel,
I have had tendonitis and tenosynovitis off and on for about 7 years so I can sympathize with you. It is a horrible pain that when it hits about the only thing you can do is imobilize the joint and wait it out. When I've had severe pain in my shoulders my PCP has given me Toradol to take. I also get it in my fingers, wrists and elbows. You have to be very careful with Toradol because it can cause renal failure. They warn you to not take it more than 6 days in a row. Last month I had a VERY bad day with the tendonitis and I went in to the doctor. He gave me Loratab 10's and I was surprised that it actually took the edge off the pain. The other drug I noticed that helped was plaquenil but then again that might take weeks or months for you to get the full effect and you notice a difference. Also, my orthopedic surgeon switched me over to Clinoril (anti-inflammatory drug) because he said that helps with inflammation more than other drugs. Who knows if it does, but hey it's worth a try! I sympathize with you because that's what I've had to deal with a lot and it is so very painful.

As for your "compliment" tests. I don't know too much about them and I'm sure that there are a few on here that could give you their own personal experience with them; which is always helpful. I do have a link of a great site that explains blood tests and they give a pretty clear explanation of the test in easy to understand language. The site is Labtestsonline http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/complement_levels/test.html


Good luck and if you find anything that helps you with the tendonitis I would be thrilled to hear from you.

Post Edited By Moderator (Lynnwood) : 10/3/2007 6:23:20 PM (GMT-6)

I'm trying!  I've edited, re-edited and rebooted and I cannot get rid of that black line.  It doesn't show up in the CP where I edit my sig, so who knows where it's coming from.

Hi keepnitreel,

According to one of my lupus books, when a person experiences an immune system reaction it consumes complement components.Thats why C3 and C4 are low in people with active lupus.

Hope this helps,

Sandy

Hi Reel,

Low complement levels are indicative of active disease, or what we call flares. In the NIH website it's described as follows:

"A complement test may be used to monitor patients with an autoimmune disorder and to see if treatment for their condition is working. For example, patients with active lupus erythematosus may have lower-than-normal levels of the complement proteins C3 and C4."

As far as your ligaments and tendon problems, I have those as well. I'm so very tired that I'm going to copy an explanation rather than try to explain it myself. I'm sure you've heard that lupus can cause your immune system to attack the connective tissue in your body:


Connective Tissue

Connective tissue is a glue-like material or matrix that connects the cells that make up the body’s tissues. Connective tissue gives the body’s tissues and organs strength, form, and flexibility. Connective tissue also provides nutrients to tissue and aids in the special functions of certain tissues. For instance, connective tissue in joints gives them the ability to move. Connective tissue is composed of dozens of proteins and compounds containing various combinations of protein and glucose. Connective tissues' component proteins include collagens, elastins, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins. Various combinations of these proteins are found in different tissues. For instance the connective tissue in ligaments is primarily composed of elastin. Connective tissue is found in many different organs, including the skin, bones, joints, heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes and ears.

"Autoimmune Connnective Tissue Disorders

The autoimmune connective tissue disorders include a number of specific conditions and overlap syndromes including:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)...."

You described all of your problems and I'd like to comment on a big problem I see in your treatment and that is that you appear to have a very insensitive doctor. There are so many good rheumy's out there that I believe we should look and look until we find the very best doctor possible. It doesn't cost any more and why settle for second best. I'm so sorry you have a physician who doesn't listen to you. When I was dissatisfied with a rheumy, I asked my PCP for a referral to someone else. She was more than happy to accomodate me and now I have a doctor that is very good as well as very responsive to my questions and concerns.

Lots of luck. I'm glad you're here.

Pat

You're kind, Rosie, but haven't I heard you say the same thing more than once?

Pat . . . I feel it A LOT . . . but you said it SO WELL!!! LOL