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Arthritis Biotherapies
September 17, 2007
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Rheumatoid arthritis can make even the simplest activity a painful one. But new
drugs are making a big difference for many patients.
Just a few months ago Shirley Casperson couldn’t even walk her dog. That’s because
rheumatoid arthritis made a simple walk with her dog too painful to bear. “My bones,
my feet, hands, everything just burned constantly. I couldn’t walk my dog and I
was working and had to quit working because it was just too hard.”
Shirley says her pain was so bad she couldn’t even lift her arms over her head.
Physicians say it’s that constant pain that makes being comfortable almost impossible.
Rheumatologist, Jack Clark says, “It’s actually a severe type of arthritis that
patients have with swelling of joints usually in their hands and feet but multiple
joints it’s very disabling.”
Shirley also says, “I was taking so many pills and nothing was really helping and
I was so sleepy all the time.
That’s when Shirley’s physician decided to try a new biologic drug.
Dr. Clark says
it works in a unique way by blocking cells instead of cell products.
“I think they are wonderful. I can’t say enough
about them.” And neither can Shirley.
“Remicade has given me a second lease. I’m able to do a lot of things I particular
walking my dog and doing more things with my husband."
Right now there is no known cause for rheumatoid arthritis. |
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