Rheumitoid Arthritis

[CZP1]

what symptoms do you have? What helps you deal with the flare-ups. I was diagnosed with RA about a month ago. Along with osteoarthritis in my back/spine. I have the RA in my feet and hands. I am on planquenil for the inflammation but that takes 3 months + to really show any improvement. I was on predisone for 2 weeks and that didn't seem to help much. I am tired all the time and with a spinal fusion that was successful except for a neuropothy on the leftside of my lower back and feeling like I have cinderblocks on my feet, I am getting really frustrated as I want to do things but the mobility aspect gets me as I can't do things like I used to. I am 47 and everyone says "oh you're too young to have that".

Any experience on how to deal with this stuff and what changes did you make to your routine to cope?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Mona]

Did your physician tell you that once you start on Plaquinol, you are on it for life? It is best to prolong it as long as possible because of it.(because of side effects) At least this is what my Mom and sister were both told.

 

[Marty]

Supposidly I have that too, but we'll see because I'm changing doctors this week.

It just kinda comes over me with no real warning. Doesn't matter if the weather is cold or rainy, I've had it start up in the middle of a heat wave so there's really no pattern to it that I can pin point. I can't hardly play my piano when it hits; and that's something I used to do daily. I wear a wrist brace. My joints hurt, mostly my knees and ankles. I have a lot of trouble getting "with it" in the morning. Takes me a while to get up and get going. I'm stiff like a board and usually have a noticable limp during this time. I take nothing special for it other than asprin or Ibuprofen. Started when I turned 50.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

My best friend was diagnosed with R.A. a couple of years ago. You are never 'too young', as she is only 31. To my knowledge, she has tried nearly every med, with little or no success. If you would like, you can PM me and I can pass on her information to you. She is active on some forums and can maybe offer some advice on what works for her or others she knows.

 

[Riverrose28]

To be honest, I was blood tested for it when I was in my fourtys simply becuase of my symptoms, but I don't have it I only have OA, but this desease knows not about age, when I had my knee replaced there was a teenager in rehab with me that had RA. You can live with both, I would recommend finding a very reputable romatologist, (not sure of the spelling), and a good sports medicine ortho doctor, as the ortho doctor can give you exercises to strenghten the muscles to help the joints. always wear comfortable shoes, you may need to buy them in the mens dept. to get them extra wide. Keep moving, even though it is hard sometimes, and force yourself to move even when you want to stay in bed. Good luck!

Edited to add: If you are really stiff when gettin out of bed, be careful not to fall, you may want to get a walker or cane to keep by your bed, or even a potty chair.

 

[Jill]

Do you have access to a specialist... Rheumatologist? I was tested a few years ago.

 

[CZP1]

Thanks everyone. I am seeing a rheumatologist Nurse Practitioner that is affiliated with the doctor. I haven't seen him yet (have to wonder why, guess I am not a serious case yet)

I had a blood test and that came back positive for RA. The NP said I definately have osteoarthritis but may have to see a orthopedist for that part of me arthritis. Getting out of bed takes a few minutes and it takes about an hour to get everything mobil. I guess it is just wait and see what happens. I am the most impatient person.

 

[muffntuf]

RA is not fun. Something that helps me is cleaning up the food that I eat. The Paleo diet is what I usually follow - but I don't follow it super strictly. If I get off into eating a lot of sugary things- then it seems to rampage. It came along with MS - seems they are good friends.

BUT what I also do not allow is my self to become to idle. The ponies and minis here are good therapy and keep me pretty limber.

Learn as much as you can, learn about what effects you and what are you best days (journaling helps a lot with that). Stress is something I think that triggers everything but I know it triggers some attacks for me.

Keep us updated!

 

[Norah]

Hi ,

I may be in the same boat as you. I am having problems in my hands , mostly with my right thumb in both joints . X ray shows bone lesions , MRI was last week , and my results will be in on Thursday. I either have RA , or non cancerous tumors , or cancer .... either way the hand is weak , painful , and limits my mobility...thus making my daily horse chores difficult , and this makes me grouchy and impacient. I guess both of us need to find a way to deal with our new problem emotionally as well as physically. Something that has helped me :

when I have a lot of pain I make sure my horses are either in another pasture or tied while I clean, not having to navigate around them while I clean means less chance of bumping my hand and having more pain. Training my horses to give me more "space" makes me feel better - safer . Once I have a diagnosis , i can research the problem a bit better .... I have a feeling its RA . I will be looking into natural remedies, as we live in Switzerland where homeopathy hollistic meds are more common then traditional meds. will share anything I find , and would love to hear of anything all of you have to offer . They say it takes 10 glasses of water to flush the toxins and acidity of 1 glass of cola from the perservatives ...if this is so , i think " water therapy , clean natural foods and no perservatives might make us feel better ... once diagnosed I will try this for a month no meds , and see how I feel. good luck to you

 

[Norah]

I also agree with muffn tuf ......I did not read her post untill after I wrote mine ... : )