Looking for help or suggestions

[Guest guest]

I haven't been on line for quite awhile but here I am again and

thought perhaps some one may have some suggestions.

I am a 43 female in apparent good health. I have had RA for

3 years. Ra has caused me to have intestitial Lund Disease. I have

some slightly deformities in my hands,wrist, elbows, ankles and my

greatest deformity are my toes. I am currently on plaquenil and have

been on it for nearly a year. It has helped me some; however, I

still have flares up and the deformity continue to occur as with my

toes. I have not treated the RA more aggresively b/c We were trying

to concieve. In any event, I think the plaquenil has helped me but I

believe it has made my vision worse.

I have had two cases of erythema nodosum(big red bumps that can be

the size of a golf ball) occur on my back of my heels and the side

of my feet. The Ra doc attributed the erythema to the RA; however,

I don't think they r related.

My index toes are twisting to the point that if i am standing

straight they are already turning the corner...lol..sad but true.

Therefore, my first question is, should I go to a foot doctor to

try and correct the joint curve in my toes or should I go to a RA

doctor and wait to see what they say. I have not seen the Ra doctor

in a couple of months b/c she does not accept my husband's new

insurance.

My second question is can someone recommend a RA Doctor in Stuart or

Port St Lucie Florida. My previous doctor, Dr , was great &

recommended by the group.

Thanks & Many Blessing in the New Year

Cookie

Thanks

[Guest guest]

Dear Cookie- The risks of not using biologics and DMARDS to stop your RA are now very apparent. Once the damage occurs, there isnt much you can do short of surgery to straighten toes and fingers. You should talk to elizabeth on this board about conceiving. She had humira on board as well as prednisone I think. Get your pain under control, as well as the inflammation involved, stop the progression of deformity and take conception off the table until you are better. Hugs, Deborah

On 1/6/07, pr_jem <pr_jem@...> wrote:

I haven't been on line for quite awhile but here I am again and thought perhaps some one may have some suggestions.I am a 43 female in apparent good health. I have had RA for 3 years. Ra has caused me to have intestitial Lund Disease. I have some slightly deformities in my hands,wrist, elbows, ankles and my greatest deformity are my toes. I am currently on plaquenil and have been on it for nearly a year. It has helped me some; however, I still have flares up and the deformity continue to occur as with my toes. I have not treated the RA more aggresively b/c We were trying to concieve. In any event, I think the plaquenil has helped me but I believe it has made my vision worse. I have had two cases of erythema nodosum(big red bumps that can be the size of a golf ball) occur on my back of my heels and the side of my feet. The Ra doc attributed the erythema to the RA; however, I don't think they r related. My index toes are twisting to the point that if i am standing straight they are already turning the corner...lol..sad but true. Therefore, my first question is, should I go to a foot doctor to try and correct the joint curve in my toes or should I go to a RA doctor and wait to see what they say. I have not seen the Ra doctor in a couple of months b/c she does not accept my husband's new insurance.My second question is can someone recommend a RA Doctor in Stuart or Port St Lucie Florida. My previous doctor, Dr , was great & recommended by the group.Thanks & Many Blessing in the New YearCookieThanks

[Guest guest]

I am 56, have had RA since age 15. Am very happy on

embrel and methotrexate. As a Kaiser Permanente

patient, I only pay $5 per month for the prescription-

thank God, because the price is about $1500 per month.

Tried Remicade and Humira- first was too inconvenient

bcs I had to go to the dr's office. The Humira was

Sooooooo painful to inject. For me, embrel has been

the best. My hands and fingers are very very weak, but

the disease has ceased progression.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

After having RA for so many years it is

quite possible that the problems with your hands are much more osteoarthritis

instead of RA. Maybe your RA is pretty well controlled but the damage to your

joints is permanent. Please talk it over with your rheumatologist to see which

it is and to get a planned path forward. God bless.

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of emhenry

Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007

8:50 AM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject:

Re: Looking for help or suggestions

I am 56,

have had RA since age 15. Am very happy on

embrel and methotrexate. As a Kaiser Permanente

patient, I only pay $5 per month for the prescription-

thank God, because the price is about $1500 per month.

Tried Remicade and Humira- first was too inconvenient

bcs I had to go to the dr's office. The Humira was

Sooooooo painful to inject. For me, embrel has been

the best. My hands and fingers are very very weak, but

the disease has ceased progression.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Weak Hands?? Try www.wisdomking.com and type in 3/4 edema compression gloves. They are a god send. Hugs, Deborah

On 1/7/07, emhenry <emhenry2002@...> wrote:

I am 56, have had RA since age 15. Am very happy onembrel and methotrexate. As a Kaiser Permanentepatient, I only pay $5 per month for the prescription-thank God, because the price is about $1500 per month.

Tried Remicade and Humira- first was too inconvenientbcs I had to go to the dr's office. The Humira wasSooooooo painful to inject. For me, embrel has beenthe best. My hands and fingers are very very weak, but

the disease has ceased progression.__________________________________________________