Vaccination and rheumatoid arthritis

[bitachey]

Currently having tests for RA. Mildly inflamed wrists on MRI (I have ortheoarthritis too). No real symptoms. Not taking medication.

I would be interested to hear others on this. I had all my other Covid vaccinations no problem but this has me hesitating as I really don’t want to trigger a flareup if that is what I have. I have just received my invite for my Covid booster and flu jab. This will be my fourth Covid jab. I am unsure whether to get it or not as I have read that (anecdotally) it could lead to a rheumatoid arthritis flareup. I am not on any auto immune suppressant medication and I had Covid back in April.

Thanks.
(Also posted on the Covid forum)

My mum has really severe rheumatoid arthritis, and on multiple medications for it. She is 85 and has had all her covid vaccinations including 3 boosters plus her flu jab recently. It hasn't effected her arthritis at all.

I have RA. I’d get the booster now because if you end up on drugs for RA the majority of them affect the immune system and can make the vaccine less effective but you will be more vulnerable so I’d get it now.

also, would you want covid on top of your existing issues?

I agree that I’d get your booster now, before any potential immunosuppressive drugs.

I’ve had 5 jabs, due my 6th but had to put it back die to having covid again. I take mtx, sulfasalazine and prednisone. My rheumatologist says that the jabs are generally giving her patients a flare, it feels like a small price to pay though as being immunosuppressed, clearly covid is not nice.

Also getting covid this time has put me into a flare. As can lots of other things., it’s the nature of the disease unfortunately- your immune system just first act in the normal way.

the jabs are less effective due to the medication so I’d get the booster now if you are starting dmards soon.

im on a number of RA/PSA fb groups, which I’ve found really helpful. Good solid advice and experiences.

Thank you so much everyone for your messages. I’ve booked my appointment for Wednesday next week. I’m a teacher so have lots of germs flying around which I normally catch (although I managed to avoid Covid in school and caught just lots of other nasty viruses!)

@JoeMaplin would you mind starting the names of the groups please? I am putting back my rheumatologist appointment until early December as have lots of stuff going on (big birthday/busy work wise) and very mild symptoms so almost don’t want to know! Also about to start on HRT so that may help sore hands!

As far as I know I don't have RA but have had bad joint pain for 2 weeks after my recent covid booster (4th vaccine). Could this mean that I have RA or just a separate side effect?

@Amarette I think that’s a bit of a leap! I would keep an eye on it and maybe ask the GP if it’s still an issue on another month.

Thanks. It's just that I've had a positive ANA test in the past but then a further test (EMA?) was negative so wondering if I have a susceptibility to autoimmune conditions. Seems odd to have such bad joint pain for 2 weeks.

@Amarette Hopefully someone else can help you out or maybe start a new thread on it. It’s horrible having the worry, isn’t it?

I don't have RA but I have another autoimmune disease, psoriasis, that I think has flared following my vaccines so I am reluctant to keep getting myself vaccinated. I know it's not the same but I do know there is a link between vaccines and auto immune diseases and my experience is making me question something I already know my GP would automatically tell me was rubbish. But it is my choice and I have lived with this disease a long time and it hasn't been this bad in years.

@coffeeisthebest sorry to hear that. That’s my worry too. I’m travelling to family overseas for Christmas and don’t want to risk feeling bad. Having had Covid 6 months ago plus three jabs and still 49 I may hold off.

I think go with your gut on this one. It is a risk either way, but even if you just delay it then hopefully like you say you can have a good Christmas with family. I also suspect that one type of vaccine affected me more than others but again this is all on my own experience!

It can depend on how high the ana is, and the ena. Alot of people are ana positive then it goes negative & don't have RA. Anti ccp test is more definitive afaik. Also rheumatoid factor test. A scan of your hands can show Ra too at the 1st finger joints nearest to the knuckles. Connective tissue diseases can be tricky to diagnose & overlap. Lupus specific test is anti dsdna and Smith antibodies and Sjogrens is anti Ro and La.

Thank you. A week later and most of my joints are feeling better. Just my right hip still sore.

Was that before or after you posted on the hundreds of threads you have during the pandemic about Covid denying its existence and saying the vaccine killed people and was Bill Gates' attempt to take over the world?

I have RA and the drugs for it make me vulnerable to serious illness with covid. I've had 5 vaccines so far and no reactions at all, certainly not caused a flare.
I'm due a 6th but had covid last month so not had it yet.

My rheumatologist told me he was glad I hadn't had the vaccine as he said it would likely trigger my inflammation and be harder to assess things.

I have inflammatory arthritis, on methotrexate injections and hydroxychloroquine. No flares from the vac so but am mid a horrendous flare following a virus.

Gosh @PAFMO just goes to show you shouldn’t believe all you read. Shame someone would come on a thread like this and make stuff up to scare people. I’ll report the poster. Shame on you @Samarie123

IME viruses of any kind are the worse thing for triggering a flare.