Research Makes a Difference

It was so many years ago, that it’s hard to say when rheumatoid arthritis started attacking the joints in Barbara’s hands. She knows she was in her 50s when she started to notice the pain and swelling in her fingers. Now in her 70s, she can clearly see the damage in two fingers disfigured by the disease, but says that she gradually learned to live with the pain and tried not to let her it slow her down.

One of the things Barbara wasn’t willing to give up was embroidering quilts for each new great grandchild that was born. She’s working on her seventh quilt now.

“I have seven great grandchildren,” said Barbara, “but I like to stay one ahead so that I’m ready when the next one is born.” Asked how she managed to do something that involves such intense use of her hands, she said, “Oh, I was in pain all right, and it was slow and awkward, but it was important to me, so I did it anyway.”

When her primary care doctor referred Barbara to rheumatology specialist Carolyn Dennehey, M.D., it was clear that Barbara’s attitude was the only positive thing about her arthritis. “I guess I was so used to the pain that I didn’t think about it, so I remember being a little surprised when she told me I had a pretty good case of rheumatoid arthritis.”

For the next three years, Barbara and Dr. Dennehey tried several treatments, but nothing provided relief and she had to stop taking two medications when they caused reactions. When Dr. Dennehey told her about the clinical trial and suggested she enroll, she was ready for something new.

“It was a blind study,” said Barbara, “so I didn’t know if I was getting the placebo or the real drug for a long time, but I noticed results immediately, so I was pretty sure I was being given the real drug. The swelling went down right away and I remember that I didn’t wake up with stiff fingers. But the main thing I noticed was that I could do things like peel potatoes, simple every day things that had become hard.” Research coordinator Janet Vulk and Dr. Dennehey didn’t know which drug Barbara was taking, only Debbie, Dr. Dennehey’s nurse knew. “I tried to pry it out her,” Barbara said laughing, “but she was really tight lipped!”

The turnaround was so dramatic that it didn’t leave much of a question in her mind. One of the biggest changes she noticed was her ability to embroider. “I made myself do it because it was important to me, but I couldn’t do it for long before I had to stop,” she said. “Now I can embroider as long as I want. Before, it was like a duty, now it’s a fun hobby for me, something I can really enjoy.”