Judy in NJ

[Guest guest]

Judy, you don't sound like a crybaby at all. I am sorry you are having

such a tough time. What sort of doctor are you seeing? I'm assuming that

your current physician is a GP. I would recommend that you see a

rheumatologist for another assessment (or a different rheumy if this guy

is one). As June suggested, you might want to seek another opinion about

your subcutaneous nodules.

You aren't on any sort of DMARD (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug).

Have you ever tried any? If your fingers are getting noticeably worse,

what is your doctor waiting for?

It's no good that you are having so much pain either. Your physician

should be doing something more to help eliminate the pain.

I know it's a big effort to change doctors, but, if you can find a good

one, you will be very happy that you did.

Re: [ ] Welcome, Judy!

> Hi , Since you have a few Judys, I guess you could signify me by

saying

> Judy in NJ..... unless other Judys also come from NJ.. As far as the

bumps

> are concerned, my doctor hasn't said much about them except that I

shouldn't

> worry. I have looked up symptoms of RA on various sites & the nodules

are

> something that happens with this disease, but not often. I've had

very

> painful RA now for over 4yrs. and the only medication that helps so

far is

> Arthrotec 75. I take two pills a day... one every 12 hrs. and in

between I

> take Darvocet (or Percocet) on my bad days (mostly every day). Of

course, no

> medicine actually " takes the pain away " but it makes it tolerable so

you can

> get through the day. I've not been having good days the past couple

of

> weeks... the pain is intense & perpetual no matter what pills I've

taken and

> my right hand (I'm right handed) has been going numb a lot. The

doctor said

> I also have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand & I wear a

flexible brace

> which helps some. My fingers in the right hand are no longer straight

& seem

> to be getting worse lately. It makes it difficult to walk with my

cane since

> my hand goes numb & the frustration of this disease never ends. There

are

> days when I want to just give in, get a wheelchair and forget about

ever

> walking again but thank God something stops me and I continue dealing

with

> it. Sorry if I sound like a crybaby.. I'm sure most of you have it

worse

> than I do. I'm glad I found this group. Judy in NJ