Metal Allergies and Rheumatoid Arthritis

I’m sick and tired. I’m tired of simply “dealing” with the pain caused by my RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis). Since my diagnoses at 23 years old, I’ve probably tried 30 different combinations of Rx’s. Some have made me nauseous while others have made me feel great. It’s strange to say that I’ve taken chemotherapy medication, but have never had cancer. I’ve been poked, prodded and my body’s been stretched out in every direction. At the end of the day, my 20s were anything other than boring. And then I woke up and decided I’d finally had enough. Something had to change and I had to figure out what was happening inside my body.

Alas. I’ve turned myself into a living, breathing science project over the last month and a half since I began seeing a naprapathic doctor at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago. I have learned so much since the science project began. In our first hour and a half long visit, my doctor and I discussed so many details of my life. We talked about everywhere I’ve lived, all the medical conditions my family and I have ever had, my diet and exercise habits. And during the meeting, we found a potential tie between the dental implants I received roughly 6 months prior to my first symptoms of RA. So, we ordered a metal allergy test during that meeting and within two weeks, we learned that I am allergic to tin. I didn’t previously know any of this, but it turns out that tin can be found in endless amounts of everyday, household items. Tin is in toothpaste, soaps, perfumes and plastics like Tupperware. Contrary to popular belief, soda cans are not typically made of tin. The most important discovery we made is that tin can be found in dental implants.

I’m beyond floored to learn that the dental implants my surgeon installed in my mouth could have triggered my RA and caused all of the pain and suffering I’ve gone through over the last 7 years. It’s ridiculous. I’m told that if I have the implants removed, the RA will likely not be cured. I’m told that if the implants didn’t trigger the RA when I was 23 years old, something else would have, eventually. It angers me to think about how much better my 20’s could have been if I never had the implants which may have caused my RA. Now I have to make a decision and decide whether or not I want to have the implants removed. Sure, the monetary cost for the procedure would be high, but the expectations for a cure would be even higher. Additionally, the thought of having metal that’s currently drilled into my jaw removed from my jaw is scarier than all hell. The first procedure was extremely painful and I’m guessing the removal surgery would be 1,000 times worse.

What to do… What to do.