Re: Help I am a young mother with RA and a crummy Doctor

October 29, 2008

I’m sorry for the troubles you are having. You really need to

see a rheumatologist if possible. The medications you are on seem to be merely

treating symptoms and the Vicodin was also treating symptoms rather than the

RA. You need to be on a real RA medication like Methotrexate or even a weaker

one line Palquenil or Sulfasalazine. Treating the symptoms will just let joint

damage proceed, and that is why you need something that will slow or stop joint

damage. Once it happens, joint damage cannot be reversed to early treatment is

necessary. I hope you can get what you need, and Vicodin is not it.

Prednisone is also good for treating symptoms and it is not a narcotic or addictive.

God bless.

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

[mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of rabideau28

Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 10:20 PM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: Help I am a young mother with RA and a

crummy Doctor

Hi, I am 24 years old. I have an 8 month old

learning to walk now.

She is my life. But, there are days that I can't hardly move because

I am in so much pain. My doctor is crummy....she keeps giving me

these meds that don't work. Flexeral, zanaflex, motron 800s, and

ultram...none of these are working for me.

I had went to the ER one day because I could hardly move. The doc

there gave me vicodin. This worked excellent for me. Gave me the

feeling like I was " normal " again. I told my doc that they worked and

she said, " sorry they probably worked too good and you can't get them

here " .....What am I supposed to do.

This doctor is a cheap doctor for low income people that cant get

medicaid or have insurance. I pay a ten dollar co pay and 5 dollars

for scrpts...that is nice. but the doctor just wont listen to me. I

am no addict I am in pain all day long never ending and I cant get

any relief!!!! I just don't understand why she said they worked to

good and that I cant get them there. When I looked on the website and

it shows that they can give them out. I have only went to the ER one

time since my daughter has been born for this condition. I thought

that I had rebroke my tailbone from natrual birth. come to find out

it is RA. My dad has it and my grandma. I just dont know what to

do....

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October 30, 2008

First off, you must get a referral to a Rheumatologist. A Primary Care Doctor is not equipped with knowledge of how to treat RA with a biologic (most effective). You should be on the proper medications. I am on disability and low income (medicare/medicaid) can see my own doctors. I have my PCP, a Rheumatologist and others. You need better blood tests, better meds. Most doctors will turn you into an opiate addict just to pass you off. It does not stop the disease or halt the progression of the destruction to the joints. You can go online to www.arthritisfoundation.org to get support group chapters in your area. Call them. Talk to them and get advice in real time. It is the responsibility of the PCP to refer you. It is not his job as internist to treat a serious disease like this. Be your own advocate. If you are not already on disability and have worked in the past you should apply for emergency aid which will give you better medical benefits access across the board. Deborah B

On Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 7:38 PM, Harold Van Tuyl <hvantuyl@...> wrote:

I'm sorry for the troubles you are having. You really need to