Comments on: Cricoarytenoid Arthritis in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Part 2

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???

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:57:14 +0000

Linda, Please don’t be scared. The best thing I can tell you is to have your RA treated as aggressively as your RA doc agrees is appropriate. I don’t think the exam will do more damage. They have tiny cameras.

I’ll tell you a little of what I’ve read about treatment: I think doing invasive things like surgery or prednisone injections is very rarey needed. Usually, the flares come and go or are controlled with meds the same as other flares. Nodules on the larynx might be seen in a scope and could be removed if needed, but sometimes they go away. I hope that helps some.

By: Linda Basta

Linda Basta — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:10:19 +0000

Hi Kelly,
Thanks so much for your articles. Wow! What an eye opener. I have never had a doctor say it was related to RA, although I knew it all along inside.
You scared me some. I hope I don’t lose my voice. Can’t really sing, and so have lots of trouble swallowing.
My GP referred me to an Ear,nose& throat doctor for possible streatching. I hope he is informed. I wouldn’t want him to do any more damage. Any comments?