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Old 07-05-2009, 08:35 PM
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Harrison Harrison is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Default Dr. Poehlmann on Arthritis

Since 2004, we’ve been reading posts from patients suffering from a wide range of ailments, including degenerative disease and various arthritic conditions. We’ve also discussed contraindications for disc replacement, including facet arthritis.

These issues of arthritis are of great interest to all of us patients as they present several challenges:

- They are technically dense, complex issues; it’s difficult to get concrete answers on the diagnosis and treatments of spine-related arthritic conditions;
- Arthritis can be a localized or systemic phenomenon;
- Various arthritic conditions of the spine (especially facet arthritis) present a known, considerable risk to ADR patients;
- There appear to be no universally accepted clinical standards for classifying arthritic conditions relating to the spine (though several grading systems exist for facet arthrosis);
- Because of the above factors (et al), patients may not be able to accurately assess their pre-operative risks(s).

As a patient, these are really ugly issues to factor into one’s healthcare decisions. And most patients that find the ADRSupport community suffer from advanced, chronic spine diseases – leaving them desperate for a treatment option that is perceived as the most efficacious of all medical choices.

This Q & A column on arthritis is an important topic as it could play a crucial part of patient’s diagnostic picture. And as most of you know, arthritic conditions (especially with facets) are a big risk factor for many in this community. As a side note, it’s interesting that the recent Consumer Reports Health report on back pain treatments refers to degenerative disc disease as “arthritis.”

Accordingly, the Arthroplasty Patient Foundation has recruited an executive board of professionals who represent a wide range of medical specialties. One of our new board members knows quite a bit about arthritis, so much so that she wrote a book on the entire subject. We were lucky enough to have her share some of personal and professional experiences in the following interview. Please welcome our newest member, Katherine Poehlmann, PhD. , author of the Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Connection.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Poehlmann Q & A.pdf (154.0 KB, 117 views)
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"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org
Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004
Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston
Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004
Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006
Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012
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