Arthritis

The chronic pain of lupus can affect anyone from 15 to 50 and it does affect nearly 2 million Americans. As an autoimmune system, the lupus sufferer’s body is under attack. The skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, the eyes, the nervous system and blood-making cells can all suddenly become targets. While currently there is no cure for lupus, the disease can be treated in different ways to minimize damage. For mild cases, your primary physician can monitor or recommend medication. If the lupus has progressed and affected other organs, a specialist like a Dermatologist, Cardiologist, Nephrologist or Neurologist may be needed.

There are five types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs; discoid lupus, which affects the skin; sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is characterized by skin lesions; drug-induced lupus that develops after a drug reaction; and neonatal lupus that affects newborns. Lupus signs include: fatigue, fever, weight loss/gain, joint pain/stiffness/swelling, butterfly rashes on the cheeks, skin lesions that worsen with sunlight, mouth sores, fingers and toes that turn white or blue in the cold, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, easy bruising, anxiety, depression and/or memory loss. The Lupus Foundation says there are no two cases of lupus that are exactly alike. Signs may emerge gradually or come on suddenly, and can be mild or severe. Most people have “flare-ups” or episodes. To test for lupus, your doctor will ask you some questions, run a standard physical, take urine and blood samples and perform an electrocardiogram.

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is a very strange condition resulting from a reaction to medication. The drug may cause the body to form antibodies that attack healthy cells. Some medications that have caused drug-induced lupus include:Chlorpromazine, Hydralazine, Isoniazid, Methyldopa, Penicillamine, Procainamide, Quinidine and Sulfasalazine. Symptoms such as a fever, swelling and pain in the joints, chest pain and skin rashes occur after taking the drug for at least 3 to 6 months. Usually, the symptoms disappear once the medication is stopped, but sometimes patients are directed to take coricosteroids, NSAIDs or antimalarial drugs to treat skin and arthritis symptoms.

Dealing with Lupus can be an emotional ordeal. Sometimes sufferers encounter depression, anxiety, fatigue and high levels of stress. Learn all you can about systemic lupus erythematosus to help yourself cope. Reading about new treatments and research being done can give you a sense of hope. Be open with your family and friends about how you are feeling and let them know how they can help. Meditating, writing in a journal or simply making time for yourself through rituals or routines can make life more enjoyable as well. For lupus sufferers, it’s empowering to connect with others who are experiencing the same life events. You can check the Lupus Foundation or Arthritis Foundation websites for the nearest chapter.

Tags: Arthritis Foundation;, chest pain, chronic pain, for lupus, Lupus Foundation;, lupus;, pain in, systemic lupus erythematosus;