Re: Vikki ~ Painful shoulders

[Guest guest]

Great advise Rainy Sue. I am very glad that I was in nursing school when

this happened to me. I learned what steroids did to the body and refused to

take them. My rheumy tried to get me to take them and I refused. It

really angers me when someone newly diagnosed is prescribed prednisone.

These doctors know what it does, but I think they take the easy way out and

prescribe it anyway. The patient gets relief and the doctor is a hero.

There are some people that absolutely MUST have it, and for them the pros

far outweigh the cons. I would rather see someone on pain meds than

prednisone.

a

----- Original Message -----

From: <Rysu19@...>

< egroups>

Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 2:37 PM

Subject: [ ] Vikki ~ Painful shoulders

> Hi Vikki,

>

> I am sorry for your midnight rendezvous. Those are no fun. I've had RA for

19

> years now. Diagnosed at 13 with JRA. I am now 32. I know how long it takes

to

> find a drug or drugs that will work for you. My first piece of advice, get

> off the Prednisone. I have been on it since the beginning of my disease,

and

> I can't get off it and it has given me osteoarthritis as well. It has

ruined

> my bones. But that took all the 19 years to do. Temporary use is OK. But I

am

> pretty sure everyone here will agree with me, don't get hooked on the

> Prednisone. By hooked, I mean your body will get hooked and depend on it.

My

> body stopped making its own cortisone because I kept feeding it

Prednisone.

> Now my body can't make its own cortisone. So, I can't get off it bcs of

the

> pain that comes. Call you doctor and ask for pain meds, or something to

help

> you sleep at night. If you don't sleep at night, you will be in more pain

all

> day. You need rest. Sleep is a very good drug for arthritis. You NEED your

> rest.

>

> The shoulders. I've been there, done that, and do it now. Just baby them.

For

> me, I always have to wait it out. One time it took a year. This last time

> about 6 months. A lot of rubbing, hot water, pain meds.

>

> If you have any questions, PLEASE feel free to ask me.

>

> ~Rainy Sue (one of the old veterans of this disease)

>

>

> Our websites: http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/

> http://www.rasupport.webprovider.com/

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