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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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I don't know if my advice or story will help but im 18 with rheumatoid arthritis and i am on celebrex, plaquenil, and i take some vitamins and methotrexate injections, i was bearly diagnosed about 3 weeks ago but i was told i was just to be very careful with my eye sight while taking the plaquenilView Thread
I don't know if my advice or story will help but im 18 with rheumatoid arthritis and i am on celebrex, plaquenil, and i take some vitamins and methotrexate injections, i was bearly diagnosed about 3 weeks ago but i was told i was just to be very careful with my eye sight while taking the plaquenilView Thread
So after all that should I try another biologic or pray for no more flares. I would like to get back to my passions within reason but I'm afraid those days are gone for good. I do exercise. Any suggestions.View Thread
The skin around my fingernails have started to peel severely. Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms? If so, what did you do?
Very depressed!View Thread
i do not know what to do given i have no insurance and cant afford doctor visits or blood work and x rays or meds. Even if i could go to a visit beng on med would also incur costs of follow up blood work etc.
i am too tired to take on a second job to afford self paid health insurance. no one seems to understand what people with RA goes thru and very frustrating that i am always tired and in pain and people think i am crazy because i look fine, i walk a little funny due to foot ad hip but otherwise i dont look ill.
i would like to be able to talk to others with RA and see if anyone has info on ways to get doctor visits paid etc.View Thread
Between flare-ups, I have no symptoms. In fact, I'm very active and even run half-marathons. My running has never brought on a flare-up - in fact it seems to keep them at bay. It often feels like nothing at all has brought on a flare-up (for example, my current one happened after I hadn't even gone on a run in a month). But I have also had flare-ups that appear to be the direct consequence of bending my knees too much - for example after a 26-mile bike ride on a bike that was too small for me (causing my knee to bend at a sharper angle than is natural). The pain is not worse or better depending on the time of day or the weather.
The swelling can get so severe (the knee becomes the size of a cantaloupe) that the slightest touch to the knee is extremely painful - for these especially bad episodes, I use crutches to get around.
In the past six months, I have had six flare-ups. Normally I experience 2 to 3 flare-ups per year. When these flare-ups started in 2005, they would alternate between my left and right knees. Then for five years,only my left knee flared up. Now, for the first time in five years, my right knee has flared up again - and this time, both knees are swollen and I can barely walk or stand.
Treatment and Diagnosis History:I first saw a knee specialist at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute who thought I may have the beginnings of osteoarthristis based on an MRI of my left knee. My next doctor, in Las Vegas, gave me injections of Euflexxa and I then went without a flare up for a full year. My orthopedist in San Diego did not agree with the osteoarthritis diagnosis after looking at an x-ray and MRI of my knee both when it's healthy and when it's swollen. He does not think it is mechanical but rather a malfunction of my immune system. He sent me to a rheumatologist, who has given me a "working diagnosis" of Palindromic Rheumatism . He has extracted the fluid from my swollen knee twice. The first time, the fluid was bloody and when tested in the lab it showed gout crystals. The second time, the fluid was not bloody and showed no gout crystals but did show "inflammatory properties." Last year, I started taking 0.6mg of Colchicine twice daily, and at first I didn't have a flare-up for several months but now I get them more often than ever. In addition to the colchicine, which I am still taking, I began taking 300mg of Hydroxychloroquine once daily on January 11, 2013.
I am eating an anti-inflammatory diet, reducing my intake of sugar, grains, and Omega-6 fatty acids, while increasing my vegetable and Omega-3 fatty acid intake.
Potentially Related Family Medical History:My maternal grandmother had rheumatoid arthritis late in her life. My mother was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her knee. My father and his brother and nephew all suffer from Psoriasis, but it has not developed into Psoriatic Arthritis in their cases - although Psoriatic Arthritis is one possible diagnosis my rheumatologist has mentioned for me because of this family history.View Thread
Cinnamon and InflammationArthritis is not the only condition that is driven by inflammation. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's dementia, cancer and many other chronic illnesses are inflammatory
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/385614-arthritis-cinnamon/#ixzz2JDf9VujdView Thread
I am so exhausted by the time I get home I don't even bother making dinner, I just head straight to the couch.
This job is taking a toll on my body, and I'm not sure how much longer I can handle it. Do I tell my boss and make it look like I'm trying to get out of doing work? I have no idea what to do. I can't afford to work part time right now.View Thread
However, I've had this ongoing pain in my neck and radiating down my arm for about 5 weeks now. This is a chronic pain that comes on about 2 times a year and this time I'm taking Celebrex and at first that helped.
However, I use ice and heat alternately and the pain just won't go away, and then 3 weeks ago, my pointer finger 'went to sleep'! Just underneath from the base to beneath the fingernail.
Holding my hands down, the tingling starts--like it's 'waking up', but I shake it and warm it, etc. and when I bend my arm or type--like now, it's asleep. It is really uncomfortable alot of the time. Feels like it's burning at times. Sometimes the numbness goes to the base of the thumb and the inside of the middle finger--but the pointer finger is just 'numb and asleep'! Very uncomfortable!!
Is this RA or part of Raynaud's or and indication of a pinced nerve?
Not sure which direction to go. My doctor is out of town, but I have a call in to him to see if I need an MRI to see if I do have a pinched nerve in my neck. I'm in my 70's and female--and have had Raynaud's symptoms (hands and feet) for about 8 years now.
Do I need to see a Rheumatologist or can my internist handle this?
Thanks.View Thread
It is very hard to deal with the emotional affects of RA. On top of the medication, the side affects AND the chronic pain comes the anger and sadness over actually having the disease. I've had RA for 4 years now (I'm only 29 now) and I can tell you that everyday has been a struggle for different reasons all relating to the disease.
I cope with it by just throwing myself into my work and my hobbies. I still went to graduate school and got all A's still traveled to Europe and other places. I am a teacher and still work very hard- people are shocked that I have it. I love to read, write, excercise, watch old movies, bake, shop, fashion etc.
My biggest struggle is with the jealousy, I have a lot of great friends and a great family but I can't help feeling jealous of them because they can do so so many things that I cannot. If I see an older person walking up the steps I get angry and roll my eyes- I don't want to be like this but I do think it is normal. I don't think it's fair and I cry at least once a day due to pain or fatigue or nausea- something related to the RA.
I am just taking it one day at a time and doing the best I can do. I know that things can always be worse.
I want to know if other people feel this way? I would love to hear how others with RA deal with the chronic pain and jealousy for their loved ones who have no health concerns at all.
Since all my friends are very young and can do everything they have a hard time relating and I get upset because I get very jealous of them- it's not their fault. That's life.
Julia
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Another thing is that I ordered compression gloves for my hands this past week and my only options were nude, black & grey. I am a huge fan of those colors but I would love to see some fun colorful options. Just because our bodies are trying to fight a war doesnt mean that we should succumb to generic looking medical aids. I was also thinking about a rhinestoned cane.
We go through so much everyday between pain & medications. I dont want to sadly look at my nude glove wondering how my hands will be in a couple years. I want to look at a glove that inspires me and feels me with hope. A glove that can be a conversation starter with people who dont know about RA, somthing to spread the word. I want to have accessories that make me feel fun and vibrant, not sad, old & in pain. How do you feel about this? Would you buy more aids if they were more fashion foward? What aids would you like to see with more options? Surely it cant be just me who wants change?View Thread
I was just diagnosed for EARLY RA a little more than 3 weeks ago. I wasn't really all that scared, more like releaved. I has a positive ANA about 2 years ago and the MD I saw just dismissed me because I wasn't in all that much pain. I went back to my primary MD bc I was having some pain in my left thigh. This promted a few tests and again had a positve ANA. Although the pain in my left thigh was unrelated to the ANA my MD was still concerned and referred me to yet another Rheumatologist. I was scared he would dismiss me bc to be honest I wasn't really in a lot of pain. It was mostly in the mornings and after I sat for a while. I went to the Rheumatologist prepared for the worst and while I was there he did blood work, a nerve conduction study and A LOT of x-rays. He also put me on 10mg of Prednisone per day. At the follow up he confirmed I have Early RA and put me on 400mg of Plaquanil per day and started tapering the Prednisone (thank goodness!). I haven't really had an changes in pain or anything but I know that the Plaquanil can take quite a while to kick in. I did start doing research and found the "RA Diet" which is essentially eating Gluten and Dairy free as well as just healthy in general. I was also told to start doing a little light to moderate excersize every day to keep myself in remission. Can someone tell me, am I on the right track? I just don't want to wake up on morning and REALLY be unable to move. Thanks!View Thread
Anyways, the other day I cut refined sugar completely from my diet. No sugar in bread, tomato sauce... And on the same day I cut omega supplements because I read a forum online where people's hand stiffness went away after stopping the supplements. The next morning my fingers were not swollen for the first time in weeks but still stiff. Yesterday they were stiff but I tried shaking my hands (something new) and the stiffness instantly went away. Today I woke up feeling fine.
Anyone have anything like this happen to them? I know there can be times of remission but it was getting worse, dramatically so actually up until I stopped sugar and omega. Not sure which was causing the problems if it was even either of these two because I'm terrified to reintroduce it.View Thread
1: What are the biggest problems you have with your handbag today (i.e zipppers, pockets, overall handbag weight)
(Please list brand and style if you know it)
2: what hand positions are hard for you to make in regards to using your handbag? Do you have trouble grabbing your zipper? reaching into your handbag? Holding the weight on your arm?
3: if YOU could have a handbag designed for your arthritis needs what would it include?
4: Do you feel you have to choose function over fashion and settle for a bag that is not as nice that helps your hands or do you choose fashion over function and deal with your hand pain? Why?
Thank you!!View Thread
Does anyone know if the Enbrel is billed through Medicare B and C?
thank youView Thread
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