Hmmmm....so YOU are a doctor? If it's caused by strep (which I had when I was in my 20's).....and it comes back to haunt you by the immune system.....then WHY don't doctors SAY that? NO doctor I've read of, talked to, or heard of has EVER said "strep" was the cause of RA....in fact, I'll go to the roadback.org....and see what everyone THERE says.
I went and reviewd "The New Arthritis Breakthrough" Book I have....and Yes, strep CAN be an RA instigator, but I doubt that it ALWAYS is....if it is, amoxicillin should cure me, right?
No.
"If it's caused by strep (which I had when I was in my 20's).....and it comes back to haunt you by the immune system.....then WHY don't doctors SAY that?"
They do. Their lit. is where I got my info. From immunology and infectious disease lit., not athritis lit. My childhood doc also thought so.
"likely mycoplasma within cells (strep gone hiding?)."
There's no mycoplasma there. It's an immune attack on the synovia and smooth muscle at least. The joints and smooth muscle are usually aseptic-no bugs whatsoever. It's similar to MS, where intermittent immune attack occurs on the myelin sheaths of nerve cells.
"I will not use corticosteroids"
They are of little help in the long run. They are a short term fix that opens one up to infection, because of reduced immune response. Aspirin and nutrients, like geletin and glucosamine and chondroitin are effective in the long run. I know little of any other meds.