Comments on: Cricoarytenoid Arthritis in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Part 2

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:43:10 +0000

Fi, I don’t know about how it would be different with children. If it’s lungs, he may need to see a pulmonologist with knowledge of rheumatoid disease.
If it’s vocal cords, it’s my experience that the joints flare worse at times just like other joints. General disease control is usually the only treatment, but I’ve read that steroids can be applied directly in some situations.
I would guess that you need an excellent ENT who has experience w/ rheumatoid patients. Hopefully your doctors will help you find that if needed. Are you near any of the research centers for RA?

By: Fi

Fi — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:11:57 +0000

My nine year old was diagnosed with JI when he was 3 years old although symptoms started appearing when he was 1 1/2. His arthritis affects mainly his knees, ankles and hands and neck.
Two weeks ago he lost his voice became hoarse and he had trouble breathing. He wasn’t panicking but had to take short breaths and was making funny noises as he did so. I took him to the GP (I saw a replacement as my regular GP was away) who declared his chest clear and that it was probably asthma. The inhalers did nothing so I went back to the GP a few days later and was given redipred to use with the ventolin and the flexitide. The doctor made the comment it was odd he couldn’t hear any asthma wheeze but as his chest was clear it must be asthma.
Back we went two days later with no improvement and luckily my regular GP was back from her holidays and immediately said, it is probably due to his rheumatoid arthritis affecting his vocal chords and lungs. Who knew?? Well I am floored. We are seeing his specialist on Tuesday who is very thorough and will explain everything but I am so scared for my son now and what lays ahead. Does anybody have experience with this kind of thing at such a young age?
Thank you.

By: Jennifer Wheat

Jennifer Wheat — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:48:33 +0000

Ah…I wrote a letter to my RA the other day. I put that:

“My disease has been kind enough to bring along some friends…Terrific, these jerks travel in packs. I suspect there may be more in the bushes waiting to ambush me.”

I had no idea this was one of them. I have been dealing with hoarseness, fullness, choking feeling for a bit now. I just chalked it up to a “cold that was taking its sweet time to become one.” For a month? My immune system sucks right now. I highly doubt I’ve been fighting a cold off for a month.

I came across this and it was a light bulb. (You must keep lots of them in the closet, Kelly, I keep finding more and more as I read.)

I trained as a young adult for six years in singing. My youngest daughter has a voice (and a memory) at three that makes me believe she will be a singer, too. (She already knows the entire song of “If I had a Hammer” by Peter, Paul and Mary.)I sing to my daughters at night before they go to bed.

I haven’t been able to recently. Recently they have been singing to me, because Mommy’s voice hurts.

And you know, I could despair, but I won’t. I will add this to my knowledge, and I will use that knowledge to educate myself, my doctor, and others. I will fight with that knowledge…

Because I will not let RA get me down.

By: Roxana McCoury

Roxana McCoury — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 02:31:07 +0000

I have this hoarse voice if i talk to much,i am shocked RA causes so many things other than just joints…thanks again Kelly ♥

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 04:50:12 +0000

Had to come revisit this subject…had to go off simponi for over 2 months..first time off biologics in over a year..well you can guess what happend…i had a horrible bout of this….its so painful and scary..but this is the first one ive had in over a year..i never never ever want to go through this again…..cant swallow,talk,i sound like a man after its over…and it takes me days to fully recover….i like to describe the pain with marbles…Two marbles with spikes stuck in my throat…and try to swallow with those things in there…lol

thanks Kelly

Kim

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:40:21 +0000

Barb, RA in the jaw can cause pain near the ear. Of course I can’t diagnose, but it’s something to check. take care.

By: Barbara Randell

Barbara Randell — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 06:29:05 +0000

Kelly, thanks for the links to the illustrations. The location is certainly close to where I felt pain. And now I have some ear ‘sensations’ which apparently can also result from CA [not pain at this stage, but not really comfortable either].

I will see my GP next week and discuss referral to an ENT. Another specialist to add to the list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barbara

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 02:50:47 +0000

Barbara, I should add – yes, I have had pain. Usually it’s only a fullness though. And rarely it has immobilized (that’s like a choking for air). I hope you do talk with an ENT if you think you have this. The behind the jaw area could be a lymph node too?

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:01:55 +0000

Barbara, I wish I could tell you for sure. You could point to the spot with an ENT and he can tell you if that’s it. Or you could look up a picture to see where the vocal cords are.

Here are some images: http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS326US327&q=location+vocal+cords&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1419&bih=639

By: Barbara Randell

Barbara Randell — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:14:28 +0000

Does CA sometimes cause pain? Twice recently I have had short periods [10-15 minutes] of severe pain in the top of my neck, behind the jaws [not the jaws themselves]. It did not appear to affect my breathing or pulse. Could it be CA???