Arthritis Terms
Genetic Hemachromatosis (GH) is quite often diagnosed as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis or CPPD crystal deposition disease before the underlying cause is found. This is particularly bad because: the damage is not reversible with treatment for GH. The damage will slow after being deironed it has been shown to continue even when no other symptoms are present.
It is important to note that a recent study (May 2013 pdf) has proven that arthritis pain in GH is not caused by iron overload. Whatever is causing our pain will still be there even when we have reduced our iron stores and are in maintenance.
As part of defining these terms, I have used a recent study to narrow in on just what to define and also to allow me to mark each of these according to the likelihood of impacting us.
A quick bit of anatomy. Many of our joints contain lubricant to help them move. This lubricant is called synovial fluid and is held in place by synovial membranes. Wrists, shoulders, thumbs, knees, shoulders and hips are all examples of what are called synovial joints. The finger joints are a different type which relies on cartilage to allow the bones to slide next to each other, but the knuckles do have some synovial fluid. In fact it is the synovial fluid in knuckles that is responsible for us being able to 'crack' them. Any joint that someone can cause to make a cracking sound is a synovial joint. All evidence that I have found shows that 'cracking' may cause some weakening of the joint over many, many years but it does no other harm. Cracking knuckles does not cause arthritis.
In the study that I read forty-nine patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (37 with and twelve without arthropathy) were examined clinically and by low-field MRI of the hands.
The results in order of frequency were:
84% - Loss of cartilage (erosions)
77% - Inflammation of synovial membranes (synovitis)
73% - Joint space narrowing. This is a common indicator of ‘how bad’ the arthritis is.
59% - Bone spurs (osteophytes)
38% - Excess fluid in the bones (bone marrow edema)
32% - Hook shaped bone spurs (osteophytes)
30% - Inflammation of the lining around the tendons (tenosynovitis)
30% - Fluid filled sacs inside the marrow at the ends of bones (subchondral cysts)
Two arthritis indicators are very indicative of GH. The first is the ‘saddle’ between the index finger and middle finger becomes almost nonexistent. This would be synovitis of the knuckle joints. The second is that when bone spurs (osteophytes) are found somewhere they tend to have a hook shape.
Although not discussed in this particular study, CPPD crystal deposition disease has a much easier name of Psuedogout. The CPPD in the name is a salt called calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate which builds up within our joints. It is not unique to GH, but it is definitely indicative of someone having GH. A very thorough discussion of this can be found here.
The goal of providing this information is to make people aware that when being diagnosed with any of these diseases especially with these symptoms they may also have GH. If caused by GH, these diseases will progress more rapidly until the iron in your body is reduced. You may also not respond to certain medications as the doctor expects or you should avoid certain medicines entirely like Tylenol or Tylenol with Codeine.
It is important to note that a recent study (May 2013 pdf) has proven that arthritis pain in GH is not caused by iron overload. Whatever is causing our pain will still be there even when we have reduced our iron stores and are in maintenance.
As part of defining these terms, I have used a recent study to narrow in on just what to define and also to allow me to mark each of these according to the likelihood of impacting us.
A quick bit of anatomy. Many of our joints contain lubricant to help them move. This lubricant is called synovial fluid and is held in place by synovial membranes. Wrists, shoulders, thumbs, knees, shoulders and hips are all examples of what are called synovial joints. The finger joints are a different type which relies on cartilage to allow the bones to slide next to each other, but the knuckles do have some synovial fluid. In fact it is the synovial fluid in knuckles that is responsible for us being able to 'crack' them. Any joint that someone can cause to make a cracking sound is a synovial joint. All evidence that I have found shows that 'cracking' may cause some weakening of the joint over many, many years but it does no other harm. Cracking knuckles does not cause arthritis.
In the study that I read forty-nine patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (37 with and twelve without arthropathy) were examined clinically and by low-field MRI of the hands.
The results in order of frequency were:
84% - Loss of cartilage (erosions)
77% - Inflammation of synovial membranes (synovitis)
73% - Joint space narrowing. This is a common indicator of ‘how bad’ the arthritis is.
59% - Bone spurs (osteophytes)
38% - Excess fluid in the bones (bone marrow edema)
32% - Hook shaped bone spurs (osteophytes)
30% - Inflammation of the lining around the tendons (tenosynovitis)
30% - Fluid filled sacs inside the marrow at the ends of bones (subchondral cysts)
Two arthritis indicators are very indicative of GH. The first is the ‘saddle’ between the index finger and middle finger becomes almost nonexistent. This would be synovitis of the knuckle joints. The second is that when bone spurs (osteophytes) are found somewhere they tend to have a hook shape.
Although not discussed in this particular study, CPPD crystal deposition disease has a much easier name of Psuedogout. The CPPD in the name is a salt called calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate which builds up within our joints. It is not unique to GH, but it is definitely indicative of someone having GH. A very thorough discussion of this can be found here.
The goal of providing this information is to make people aware that when being diagnosed with any of these diseases especially with these symptoms they may also have GH. If caused by GH, these diseases will progress more rapidly until the iron in your body is reduced. You may also not respond to certain medications as the doctor expects or you should avoid certain medicines entirely like Tylenol or Tylenol with Codeine.