Understanding Blount's Disease: Is It a Terminal Condition?
What is Langerhans cell histiocytosis? Is Langerhans cell histiocytosis a terminal illness? What is Langerhans cell histiocytosis? Does it require treatment? And what about Langerhans syndrome? Is it a terminal illness?
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Hello: You are referring to Sjögren's syndrome, also known as xerostomia, which is a chronic inflammatory disease of the exocrine glands and is classified as an autoimmune disorder. The main symptoms include dry eyes and dry mouth, with other common symptoms such as joint pa...[Read More] Understanding Blount's Disease: Is It a Terminal Condition?
Is It Normal to Experience Symptoms After Stopping Arthritis Medication?
Is it normal to experience the following symptoms after abruptly stopping medication? Hello: My father is 78 years old and regularly undergoes health check-ups. Last year, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was prescribed Donison (5) and Acetal (500mg), which he is cu...
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Hello: Donison is a type of steroid - prednisolone, used to treat inflammatory conditions. Acetal is acetaminophen, used for pain relief and fever reduction. Based on your description, these symptoms may be due to the sudden discontinuation of steroids. Long-term use of steroids ...[Read More] Is It Normal to Experience Symptoms After Stopping Arthritis Medication?
Psoriasis and Joint Pain: Should You See a Rheumatologist or Dermatologist?
Psoriasis Hello Doctor! In September and October, I visited the Veterans General Hospital to see Dr. Lin for joint pain. Blood and urine tests were normal, and I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, with rheumatoid arthritis to be monitored. However, I have noticed symptoms of psor...
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Vicky: Hello! Since you still have issues related to your joints, I recommend that you see a rheumatologist first.[Read More] Psoriasis and Joint Pain: Should You See a Rheumatologist or Dermatologist?
Unexplained Knee Pain After Recovery from Foot Infection: Seeking Solutions
Unexplained knee pain? Hello, Director Zhang. I am 67 years old. Three weeks ago, I experienced a bacterial infection in the wound of my right toenail, which led to inflammation and swelling in both feet, making it difficult to walk. I was immediately taken to the hospital, where...
Dr. Zhang Shengben Reply:
Hello, Amigo: 1. Inflammation in the right foot should not cause swelling in both feet unless it progresses to a systemic infection. 2. If there is pain in both knees following an infection, and if there is concurrent knee infection, there will be signs of inflammation such as re...[Read More] Unexplained Knee Pain After Recovery from Foot Infection: Seeking Solutions
Understanding Morning Lower Back Pain: Causes and Specialist Guidance
Regarding lower back pain issues? Dear Vice Director, I have been experiencing pain in the left lower back upon waking up in the morning for about three months. Sometimes the pain is severe enough to wake me up, preventing me from continuing my sleep. After getting up, the pain ...
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Sir/Madam, There are numerous causes of lower back pain, and when accompanied by stiffness and pain upon waking in the morning, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis should be considered first. If all tests return normal and neurological symptoms are significant, ...[Read More] Understanding Morning Lower Back Pain: Causes and Specialist Guidance
Understanding the Differences Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Joint pain Hello, Doctor! Since mid-August, I have been experiencing joint and bone pain that started with pharyngitis, and it has been over two months now. I have consulted the immunology department at the Veterans General Hospital, and on October 13, I had blood and urine tests...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Degenerative arthritis typically occurs in middle-aged and older individuals, primarily affecting the large joints such as the knees, hips, and shoulders. Additionally, the distal joints of the fingers may also be involved. It generally presents with pain and deformity that devel...[Read More] Understanding the Differences Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Can Umbilical Cord Blood Treat Joint Damage from Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatic diseases and arthritis? Is it possible to use umbilical cord blood to treat damaged joints in rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis?
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Hello: So far, there is no formal medical use of umbilical cord blood for the treatment of arthritis. It is recommended to follow the physician's instructions for treatment. Lin Hsiao-Yi, Department of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.[Read More] Can Umbilical Cord Blood Treat Joint Damage from Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis: Genetics, Treatment, and Care Tips
Is rheumatoid arthritis hereditary? Is rheumatoid arthritis hereditary? I am only 19 years old and have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for about six months, although I was misdiagnosed with growing pains for many years. I would like to ask the doctor if rheumatoid arthr...
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Hello: 1. Is rheumatoid arthritis hereditary? The factors contributing to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis include genetics, environment, and infections. Therefore, genetic material—genes—only partially influence the condition, so there is no need for excessive worry. Moreover...[Read More] Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis: Genetics, Treatment, and Care Tips
Chronic Back Pain: Seeking Solutions After 3.4 Years of Suffering
Lower back pain for 3.4 years? Hello Doctor: I have been experiencing lower back pain since high school, and it has persisted for about 3 to 4 years now. Recently, the pain has worsened over the past six months, and it even hurts when I walk. The pain radiates from my lower back ...
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Hello, Xiao Hong: If a diagnosis of seronegative spondyloarthritis is confirmed, the most commonly used immunomodulator is Salazopyrin (sulfasalazine). However, patients with G6PD deficiency may not be suitable for this type of medication (depending on the severity of the enzyme ...[Read More] Chronic Back Pain: Seeking Solutions After 3.4 Years of Suffering
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
Rheumatoid Arthritis Hello, I have a few questions: 1. How can the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis be improved? 2. What causes rheumatoid arthritis? 3. How can rheumatoid arthritis be prevented? 4. If one seeks medical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, will it not worsen signi...
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
1. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease. Once a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is confirmed, it is essential to manage the disease with medications, including immunomodulators, corticosteroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), along with app...[Read More] Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
Understanding Stiffness in Fingers After Wrist Fracture Recovery
Stiffness in the middle finger? Hello, I had a car accident a year and a half ago, resulting in a fracture of the radius and ulnar bones (near the wrist). The metal pins were removed a year ago. Recently, within the past month, I have noticed stiffness in my fingers when I wake u...
Dr. Chen Xingyuan Reply:
Dear Reader, Based on your description, it seems you may be experiencing trigger finger, which is likely not significantly related to your previous radius and ulnar fracture. The formal medical term for trigger finger is stenosing tenosynovitis of the flexor tendon. This conditi...[Read More] Understanding Stiffness in Fingers After Wrist Fracture Recovery
Understanding Persistent Joint Pain in Adolescents: Causes and Solutions
Persistent joint pain Hello, doctor. I am currently a high school sophomore, and I have been experiencing joint pain frequently since last year (during my freshman year). Sometimes, while walking, I suddenly feel sharp pain (sudden weakness), but after a short while, I can walk a...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
It seems that many joints are experiencing pain, which is more indicative of conditions related to rheumatoid arthritis or myofascial pain syndrome. I recommend that you consult a rheumatologist for further evaluation.[Read More] Understanding Persistent Joint Pain in Adolescents: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: Key Concerns and Treatments
Rheumatoid arthritis that cannot be defined by physicians? Hello Dr. Lin, my mother is 58 years old. For the past two years, she has been experiencing persistent inflammatory pain in both hands and ankles, which has led her to avoid walking and resulted in osteoporosis in her rig...
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Hello: 1. If the diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis is confirmed, quinine is the simplest immunomodulator with rare side effects and can be taken, but regular liver function tests are necessary. Additionally, hepatitis B carriers must undergo liver function tests, AFP, and u...[Read More] Understanding Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: Key Concerns and Treatments
Understanding Wrist Tendonitis and Its Impact on Finger Swelling
Doctor, please help me? Dear Dr. Lin, I have been experiencing pain in both of my wrists for a month now. I previously went to a traditional Chinese medicine clinic for massage, but the results were not very effective. The pain is particularly severe when I fasten my bra, and re...
Dr. Lin Yijun Reply:
Hello: Based on the symptoms you described, it is reasonable to suspect rheumatoid arthritis. If it can be confirmed that it is not rheumatoid arthritis or another inflammatory arthritis, it is usually due to overuse leading to tendonitis, which simplifies the situation. As for c...[Read More] Understanding Wrist Tendonitis and Its Impact on Finger Swelling
Morning Joint Pain Relief: Effective Home Remedies and Specialist Guidance
Every morning, I experience swelling and pain in the joints of my fingers and toes, but it improves immediately after soaking them in hot water? Hello, Dr. Lin! Every morning when I wake up, the joints in my fingers feel very swollen (numb) and painful (unable to touch). The firs...
Dr. Lin Xiaoyi Reply:
Hello: 1. Finger issues: They may originate from the cervical spine, but could also be due to carpal tunnel syndrome compressing the median nerve. Although the absence of rheumatoid factor makes rheumatoid arthritis less likely, it cannot be completely ruled out. Gouty arthriti...[Read More] Morning Joint Pain Relief: Effective Home Remedies and Specialist Guidance
Understanding Your Child's Thigh Pain: Causes, Diagnosis, and Next Steps
Femoral pain? My child is 8 years old and has been experiencing pain in the thigh bone. We visited the hospital yesterday for a consultation and an X-ray was taken. The doctor mentioned that there is an abscess in the left thigh bone and we need to wait for the ultrasound report ...
Dr. Li Wenlin Reply:
Hello: In response to your question. An 8-year-old boy is experiencing thigh pain, and upon examination, the physician found that the patient's hip joint cannot internally rotate. X-rays show widening of the distance between the acetabulum and the femoral head in the left hi...[Read More] Understanding Your Child's Thigh Pain: Causes, Diagnosis, and Next Steps
Understanding Risks and Success Rates of C1-C2 Spinal Fusion Surgery
Surgical fixation of the cervical spine at levels C1 and C2? Hello Dr. Su: My mother went to the hospital for examinations (at three different hospitals). The doctors said that my mother has a dislocation at the C1 and C2 vertebrae, which is compressing blood vessels or nerves. S...
Dr. Su Yiren Reply:
Dear Xiao Ke: It is uncommon for individuals to experience dislocation of the first and second cervical vertebrae. This condition is typically not caused by trauma but rather by rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, instability of the first and second cervical vertebrae (Atlanto-axi...[Read More] Understanding Risks and Success Rates of C1-C2 Spinal Fusion Surgery
Understanding Finger Joint Pain: Causes and Treatment Options
Finger pain Hello, doctor... I would like to ask... if the joints in my finger are painful and cannot bend... usually the finger is stiff, causing pain when trying to bend it, and bending is accompanied by pain... and it happens to one finger at a time... then after a while it sw...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
It is likely referring to inflammation of the interphalangeal joints or tendinitis, both of which are related to overuse. Another condition is rheumatoid arthritis, which typically occurs symmetrically on both sides and can last for about six weeks during an episode, accompanied ...[Read More] Understanding Finger Joint Pain: Causes and Treatment Options
Understanding Hip Inflammation: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Hip inflammation Hello, I have a question to ask. Six months ago, I experienced pain between my hip and thigh, and after visiting Chimei Hospital, it was determined that I had cartilage damage causing compression. I underwent a microdiscectomy to remove some cartilage. After the ...
Dr. Li Wenlin Reply:
Hello: In response to your question, it seems you are concerned about potential issues with the femoral head or neck. To differentiate between a tumor or inflammation, an MRI or bone scan would be necessary. Aspiration of joint fluid at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital is also an op...[Read More] Understanding Hip Inflammation: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Do LEDs Affect Patients with Artificial Hip Joints?
Do light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have an impact on artificial joints? I am a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and have undergone hip joint replacement. I have a question for the director: I recently started working at a company that deals with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and am ...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Currently, there have been no reports indicating that LED light affects artificial hip joints.[Read More] Do LEDs Affect Patients with Artificial Hip Joints?