Guest guest Posted January 24, 2002 Report Share Posted January 24, 2002 Dear , Hello! Is your daughter at Geisinger Ctr. in Danville, PA? If so, try Dr. Oleginski. He is the wonderful rheumatologist that 1st diagnosed me (when I saw him he was at a different hospital). I can give you his phone number if you like. Take care, >From: " " <shellye@...> >Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis ><Rheumatoid Arthritis > >Subject: new member >Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 17:03:05 -0500 > >Hello,my name is shelly evans.i was wondering if this group also deals with >juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.my 12 year old daughter alisha hasnt been >diagnosed yet,but was referred to a rheumatologist at geisinger medical >center in pa.she has been having pain in a few of her joints and her >sedrate >was 43 with normal being 0-20.i dont know anything about this disease and >would love to know what to expect for more testing and what to expect for >her future if she does have the disease.can someone please help?thanks in >advance! >Harry and (adult hypo) parents to- >-12/5/86 >Alisha-12/28/89 >-9/17/93-3/11/94-infantile hypophosphatasia >Chyanne-6/7/96 >Sierra-5/25/00-infantile hypophosphatasia,multisuture >craniosynostosis,hydrocephalus,shunt placement,august 7,01,failure to >thrive.CVR,FOA-oct.25,01,shunt >revision,g-tube-nissen-dec.11,01,developmental delays >http://www.geocities.com/shellyeus/family_pictures.htm > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ " Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time. " (Edelman) " Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. " (Emerson) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2002 Report Share Posted May 15, 2002 Kate: I, too, experience pins and needles in my left back/shoulder. I always thought this was a result of one of the many medicines I've been taking. It's not painful, but I do notice it now and again. I'd be interested if anyone else, like me and Kate, have this symptom. I just find it more irritating than anything else. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2002 Report Share Posted May 16, 2002 Hi Kate.. I am sorry to hear of your pains…. at the bottom of your email you mentioned the pins and needles…is compression neuropathy or peripheral neuropathy in my opinion….it is caused from the inflammation process pressing on your nerves…it is sometimes very hard to bear the feeling…. Dairy is good to take out…also they say red meats can increase inflammation in the body….take omega 3 supplements… My husband and I have sero negative rheumatoid arthritis….the blood work is normal but you still have the body under attack…. There is an antibiotic approach to RA also if you are interested…http://roadback.org/ It is a lengthy read in there but might be an approach your doctor wants to consider also.. Good Luck and I amsure you will find lots of support in here. Sincerely Sam -----Original Message----- From: Kate Buechner [mailto:katebuechner@...] Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 8:12 AM To: Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: New member Hi. my name is Kate, I am a 31 SAHM & have just been diagnosed with RA. I first started having symptoms about 9 mths ago, 4 mths after the birth of my 2nd child. It started with intense pain in my knees. Then it spread throughout my body, my fingers, toes ankles, shoulders, back, hips, basically everywhere. I found it really difficult to manage on a day to day basis. My GP started my on Naproxen, which did nothing & ordered some blood tests which came back neg for RA. However, after about 2 mths of continuous problems he decided to refer me to a rheumatalogist. She started me on Vioxx. Fort the first 3 mths I thought it had all gone away. In February it all went crazy. I was in pain everyday. I had to get my husband home form work so many times as I just physically couldn't look after my kids. Finally,I now have a diagnosis, although my blood test are still coming back neg. the only indication is that my sediment levels are sky high. I am continuing on Vioxx & now also taking Sulfasaline but haven't noticed any major difference with this. the biggest thing I have discovered to decrease the pain is to take dairy products out of my diet. Has anyone else had any benefit with this? I also wanted to ask does anyone else experience pins & needles. I have them in my left hand all the time. I wake up at night with my fingers totally numb & incredibly painful. Is this another symptom of the RA or is something else going on? Kate http://briefcase..au - Briefcase - Save your important files online for easy access! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Do you ever have prob with your hands itching and burning? The things I have learned to do and not to do are if you are cleaning where gloves, sometimes you will find that things like comet will cause you probs, you may notice that you get prune hands for no reason,this is normal with RA, I can't remeber what it's called but it is just one of those things. Pam, Im so glad you wrote this! For years I have had a problem where my hands will suddenly get red and hot to the touch and itch like crazy (an internal itch if that makes sense) and then usually swell up so badly that the skin actually feels hard....this has stumped my docs for years and was just put off as an allergic reaction to something. I notice that it does happen sometimes when I wore latex gloves at my last job so I figured it was a latex allergy...thank you for making me feel a little more normal! btw, I was told about 8 years ago that I had CTS because of some weird swelling and pain along with pins & needles in my hands, it isnt CTS, after xrays showed the area to be normal. Now I know it was RA. Meg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2002 Report Share Posted May 29, 2002 Hi there… Hi.. just trying to help here… are you sure the burning is not inflammation??? could it be peripheral neuropathy from the inflammation pushing against the nerves??? please note further down the in the article it mentions RA What is Peripheral Neuropathy? Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological disorder resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves. It may be caused by diseases of the nerves or as the result of systemic illnesses. Many neuropathies have well-defined causes such as diabetes, uremia, AIDs, or nutritional deficiencies. In fact, diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy. Other causes include mechanical pressure such as compression or entrapment, direct trauma, penetrating injuries, contusions, fracture or dislocated bones; pressure involving the superficial nerves (ulnar, radial, or peroneal) which can result from prolonged use of crutches or staying in one position for too long, or from a tumor; intraneural hemorrhage; exposure to cold or radiation or, rarely, certain medicines or toxic substances; and vascular or collagen disorders such as atherosclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and polyarteritis nodosa. A common example of entrapment neuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome, which has become more common because of the increasing use of computers. Although the causes of peripheral neuropathy are diverse, they produce common symptoms including weakness, numbness, paresthesia (abnormal sensations such as burning, tickling, pricking or tingling) and pain in the arms, hands, legs and/or feet. A large number of cases are of unknown cause Maybe this is all wrong information for you both….but I am trying to help Sincerely -----Original Message----- From: nodramapls2001 [mailto:nodramapls2001@...] Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 3:16 PM To: Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: New member Do you ever have prob with your hands itching and burning? The things I have learned to do and not to do are if you are cleaning where gloves, sometimes you will find that things like comet will cause you probs, you may notice that you get prune hands for no reason,this is normal with RA, I can't remeber what it's called but it is just one of those things. Pam, Im so glad you wrote this! For years I have had a problem where my hands will suddenly get red and hot to the touch and itch like crazy (an internal itch if that makes sense) and then usually swell up so badly that the skin actually feels hard....this has stumped my docs for years and was just put off as an allergic reaction to something. I notice that it does happen sometimes when I wore latex gloves at my last job so I figured it was a latex allergy...thank you for making me feel a little more normal! btw, I was told about 8 years ago that I had CTS because of some weird swelling and pain along with pins & needles in my hands, it isnt CTS, after xrays showed the area to be normal. Now I know it was RA. Meg Your use of is subject to the Terms of Service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2002 Report Share Posted May 30, 2002 Hi Thanks for your response. I have thought of using soy products, but unfortunately I have a strong allergy to peanuts ( the only allergy I have) & I have read that you can have allergies to soy as well with this, so I'm a bit nervous to try it. I have looked at rice milk as an option, but unfortunately where I live it is hard to get. So at the moment, I am only having a small amount of milk in coffee each day & no other dairy products. I am trying to cut out the milk in coffee as I think that's the easiest option. I have drunk decaf coffee since being pregnant with my kids, & I don't drink soda too often, but I will take notice of that in the future as well. Thanks. Kate -----Original Message----- From: DeNicola [mailto:sdenicola@...] Sent: 21 May 2002 20:09 Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: New member Hi Kate, I also test negative for the rheumatoid factor. My symptoms started in 9/99. I saw 12 different doctor in 8 weeks. The only reason they believed something was wrong was my elevated sed rate as well (normal is 15-20 and mine went close to 200 so they knew something was very wrong). I also noticed that symptoms went lowered after I had a diagnosis and started Prednisone but that didn't last long. I take Azulfidine EN (the enteric coated ones, they're easier going down.). I was on it for 3 months before I noticed an improvement. On the advice of a doctor, I switched from from regular dairy products to organic milk and soymilk. It's not as bad as I thought. I noticed a huge difference by cutting all caffiene and carbonated beverages (even ginger ale). I did it slowly. Now I notice a difference when I have soda or coffee. I switched to herbal tea w/o caffiene. Hope that helps. , age 24, Reactive Arthritis http://www.sold.com.au - The Sold.com.au Big Brand Sale - New PCs, notebooks, digital cameras, phones and more ... Sale ends June 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2002 Report Share Posted May 30, 2002 Daren, No, I haven't been tested for carpal tunnel syndrome, but when I mentioned the pins & needles to my rheumatalogist, she added it to the list of symptoms of my arthritis, so I am pretty sure it is related. I also get inflammation of my left collar bone from time to time, but never my right, so I think there may be a link. thanks for you feedback Kate -----Original Message----- From: darensother [mailto:darensother@...] Sent: 16 May 2002 19:48 Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: New member > I also wanted to ask does anyone else experience pins > & needles. I have them in my left hand all the time. I > wake up at night with my fingers totally numb & > incredibly painful. Is this another symptom of the RA > or is something else going on? > > Kate > PINS AND NEEDLES IN YOUR HANDS/WRISTS AND THE PAIN SO BAD IT WAKES YOU UP AT NIGHT ARE CLASSIC SIGNS OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED (NERVE CONDUCTION TEST) FOR C.T.S. DAREN http://www.sold.com.au - The Sold.com.au Big Brand Sale - New PCs, notebooks, digital cameras, phones and more ... Sale ends June 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2002 Report Share Posted June 3, 2002 Kate, Please tell me more about your symptoms, because everything you have said matches what I told my Dr and he sent me to be tested for CTS. Daren --- Kate Buechner <katebuechner@...> wrote: > Daren, > > No, I haven't been tested for carpal tunnel > syndrome, > but when I mentioned the pins & needles to my > rheumatalogist, she added it to the list of symptoms > of my arthritis, so I am pretty sure it is related. > I > also get inflammation of my left collar bone from > time > to time, but never my right, so I think there may be > a > link. > > thanks for you feedback > > Kate > -----Original Message----- > From: darensother [mailto:darensother@...] > Sent: 16 May 2002 19:48 > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Subject: Re: New member > > > > I also wanted to ask does anyone else experience > pins > > & needles. I have them in my left hand all the > time. > I > > wake up at night with my fingers totally numb & > > incredibly painful. Is this another symptom of the > RA > > or is something else going on? > > > > Kate > > > > PINS AND NEEDLES IN YOUR HANDS/WRISTS AND THE PAIN > SO > BAD IT WAKES > YOU UP AT NIGHT ARE CLASSIC SIGNS OF CARPAL TUNNEL > SYNDROME HAVE YOU > BEEN TESTED (NERVE CONDUCTION TEST) FOR C.T.S. > > DAREN > > > > > > http://www.sold.com.au - The Sold.com.au Big Brand > Sale > - New PCs, notebooks, digital cameras, phones and > more ... Sale ends June 12 > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2002 Report Share Posted June 6, 2002 Daren When I first down the arthritis road, I would get intense pain in my knee which would last for a couple of days & then go. It would be in my shoulders, where I couldn't live my arms, in my fingers so any kind of movement hurt. Over time the pain has changed. I know have swollen joints in my finger & toes all the time. But when I am having a flare I will get intense pain in a particular joint area for 2 days & then it goes away. This can be anywhere, hip, ankle, knee, shoulder, wrist, collar bone, lower back. With the pins & needles I mainly get this at night, but I can get it at anytime of the day just not as badly as at night. I normally wake up with intense numbness in my fingers, but I can still feel the sensation of the pins & needles. I have to move it around to lessen the pain but this doesn't always work. I just recently got a referral from my dr because of the pins & needles to go to a rehab centre, & on the referral she has called it carpal tunnel syndrome, but says that it is related to the arthritis. hope this helps Kate -----Original Message----- From http://www.sold.com.au - The Sold.com.au Big Brand Sale - New PCs, notebooks, digital cameras, phones and more ... Sale ends June 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Hi Jeff: Like , I am also on Methotrexate and Enbrel. I've been on the Enbrel for about 10 weeks now and am definitely seeing improvement. I am also on 5 mg prednisone and hoping to taper off it completely in the next couple of months. Giving yourself shots isn't too bad - I just pretend I'm on ER or something. I have suffered no side effects at all. I am lucky that way, but I definitely feel that an increased quality of life is worth the risk of side effects. If they become too awful, then you have to make that decision. Good luck to you. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Hi Jeff My name is Jan and I was diagnosed in 1995. I refused to use harsh medication at first but was forced to. I am on relafen, azulfadene , plaquenil and methotrexate. The methotresate was like a new lease on life for me. I could do things I hadn't done in years. It did take time for the doctor to determine how much and it did take a few months to kick in but when it did it was well worth it for me. I know that all of us are different and I wish you luck. -------Original Message------- From: Rheumatoid Arthritis Date: Monday, March 10, 2003 1:03:41 PM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: New member Hi all I am just starting my life with RA. I just went ot my rumatoligest ( by the way I can't spell very well) for the first time today and she confirmed to me that I have RA. I was in just a bit of denile. I am 32 and have a new baby. I only found out because I wanted to get my knee fixed so i could play with my daughter when she got older. I was on prednisone 10mg for 15 days and it did nothing for me. I accutally had more swelling than normal. I started on celebrex and ultracet tonight. I was wondering how long it took for the celebrex to start working? My doctor wants to start me on Methotrexate or Enbrel when i go back in six weeks. She wants me to help her to determine which one. I have the pamplets but wonder if anyone has personal experance to help me. Thanks Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 In a message dated 3/10/2003 10:05:03 AM Pacific Standard Time, jeffgrocka@... writes: Hi all I am just starting my life with RA. I just went ot my rumatoligest ( by the way I can't spell very well) for the first time today and she confirmed to me that I have RA. I was in just a bit of denile. I am 32 and have a new baby. I only found out because I wanted to get my knee fixed so i could play with my daughter when she got older. I was on prednisone 10mg for 15 days and it did nothing for me. I accutally had more swelling than normal. I started on celebrex and ultracet tonight. I was wondering how long it took for the celebrex to start working? My doctor wants to start me on Methotrexate or Enbrel when i go back in six weeks. She wants me to help her to determine which one. I have the pamplets but wonder if anyone has personal experance to help me. Thanks Jeff Boy, the pharmaceutical companies must be having a field day with RA. And diabetes and heart disease.... I take Advil. It works fine. What are all those other meds supposed to do?? And can anyone tell me that they really work? anna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 please keep me in prayer i had few things happen. i was with a friend she pulled my little figer and pulled my ear and nose. she thinks its funny and dont think i have bad arthristis which i am in pain alot. she just pull my figer so hard... she say she wont belive i have arthristuis and wants to see xrays...this lady made me mad and just thought she was right and thinks i am lazy now my figer hurts and i dont like the way she is my christian lady friend told me that i did not need that when i am not well. she told me i most do what my doctor tells me and not others. please pray. i know God dont want me abuse. my doctor told me to rest more and take my cemo pills and prisozn and iron and other meds to keep me from being sick from the cemo. he also put me on never pills to help me get some sleep. he took me off my pain meds dew to they did not work and my card never pays my RA Doctor wants to start me on new treatment after my mom get home from frirda there is sideafest to the treatment and want to talk to mom and me and my family frist...being disabled with this is so hard sometimes i just cry why me. others say oh your just lazy i just think God for my mother and family and church family and you all here that understands. please email me back i do need support at this time oh i also take arthristis taylon 2 every 6 to 8 hours to help my pain some. angela " FancyLadyRider Sig's "" Delilah's Design's "Copyrighted © Design Send a Blooming Basket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 Well, I can tell you that Placquenil has really worked for me. I don't have any observable joint damange, other than some slight enlargement of finger joints, and it's been ten years since I was diagnosed, and much longer since I began having symptoms. I have smaller flares, my joints swell, are extremely painful, and hot, but once the swelling goes down, they return almost to normal. People who have started the stronger disease-modifying medications earlier in their disease have the best results and less damage from the disease itself(research backs that up). ----- Original Message ----- From: mowthpeece@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 11:50 PM Subject: Re: New member In a message dated 3/10/2003 10:05:03 AM Pacific Standard Time, jeffgrocka@... writes: Hi all I am just starting my life with RA. I just went ot my rumatoligest ( by the way I can't spell very well) for the first time today and she confirmed to me that I have RA. I was in just a bit of denile. I am 32 and have a new baby. I only found out because I wanted to get my knee fixed so i could play with my daughter when she got older. I was on prednisone 10mg for 15 days and it did nothing for me. I accutally had more swelling than normal. I started on celebrex and ultracet tonight. I was wondering how long it took for the celebrex to start working? My doctor wants to start me on Methotrexate or Enbrel when i go back in six weeks. She wants me to help her to determine which one. I have the pamplets but wonder if anyone has personal experance to help me. Thanks JeffBoy, the pharmaceutical companies must be having a field day with RA. And diabetes and heart disease....I take Advil. It works fine. What are all those other meds supposed to do?? And can anyone tell me that they really work?anna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 Hi I have been on Methotrexate for a few years now & have no side effects form it. I was having tablet form at first but because I have Crohn's Disease as well it was not working. After a few months I was put on injections & I have been good. I do not say that this is the one for you but I would make it the last resort in medications. It can have some very bad side effects in the liver area. It can cause Focal Nodule Hypoplasia. "I think that is how you spell it". Basically it is tumours & enlargement of the liver. I know this from a friend I met at the specialist's room's who has it from the Methotrexate. She is only 27 I am also on Prednisone & Placquenil but have been having to see an eye specialist every 6 months as Placquenil can cause Glaucoma. My right eye has the start of Glaucoma & that only started 3 years after starting the tablets. Stay well all. Deb. ----- Original Message ----- From: Hasenstab Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 9:32 PM Subject: Re: New member Well, I can tell you that Placquenil has really worked for me. I don't have any observable joint damange, other than some slight enlargement of finger joints, and it's been ten years since I was diagnosed, and much longer since I began having symptoms. I have smaller flares, my joints swell, are extremely painful, and hot, but once the swelling goes down, they return almost to normal. People who have started the stronger disease-modifying medications earlier in their disease have the best results and less damage from the disease itself(research backs that up). ----- Original Message ----- From: mowthpeece@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 11:50 PM Subject: Re: New member In a message dated 3/10/2003 10:05:03 AM Pacific Standard Time, jeffgrocka@... writes: Hi all I am just starting my life with RA. I just went ot my rumatoligest ( by the way I can't spell very well) for the first time today and she confirmed to me that I have RA. I was in just a bit of denile. I am 32 and have a new baby. I only found out because I wanted to get my knee fixed so i could play with my daughter when she got older. I was on prednisone 10mg for 15 days and it did nothing for me. I accutally had more swelling than normal. I started on celebrex and ultracet tonight. I was wondering how long it took for the celebrex to start working? My doctor wants to start me on Methotrexate or Enbrel when i go back in six weeks. She wants me to help her to determine which one. I have the pamplets but wonder if anyone has personal experance to help me. Thanks JeffBoy, the pharmaceutical companies must be having a field day with RA. And diabetes and heart disease....I take Advil. It works fine. What are all those other meds supposed to do?? And can anyone tell me that they really work?anna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 In a message dated 3/11/2003 3:38:59 AM Pacific Standard Time, saludo@... writes: .. People who have started the stronger disease-modifying medications earlier in their disease have the best results and less damage from the disease itself(research backs that up). Who's done the research? peace, anna In seeking wisdom the first step is silence, the second: listening, the third: remembering, the fourth: practicing, the fifth: teaching others. - Ibn Gabirol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2003 Report Share Posted March 14, 2003 When I was first diagnosed, I spent days and days in the medical school library here, looking up all the research that I could find. That was about 9 or 10 years ago, and I can't cite the authors, but if you wanted to find it, I'm sure it's even more readily available now. That's why I opted to begin taking plaquenil even though I had only very mild symptoms at the time. ----- Original Message ----- From: mowthpeece@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 6:53 PM Subject: Re: New member In a message dated 3/11/2003 3:38:59 AM Pacific Standard Time, saludo@... writes: .. People who have started the stronger disease-modifying medications earlier in their disease have the best results and less damage from the disease itself(research backs that up). Who's done the research?peace,annaIn seeking wisdom the first step is silence, the second: listening, the third: remembering, the fourth: practicing, the fifth: teaching others.- Ibn Gabirol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2003 Report Share Posted March 14, 2003 I searched by typing early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the address line of Internet Explorer and came up with a bunch of hits many of which are pushing a particular idea that is not generally accepted. I like one that has guidelines and has keys to show how credible various statements are and how firm the recommendations are (A is well documented, B is fairly well documented, and C is some documentation - but they use other terms to describe these ratings). http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/48/ Grandpavan1927 ----- Original Message ----- From: Hasenstab Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 4:33 PM Subject: Re: New member When I was first diagnosed, I spent days and days in the medical school library here, looking up all the research that I could find. That was about 9 or 10 years ago, and I can't cite the authors, but if you wanted to find it, I'm sure it's even more readily available now. That's why I opted to begin taking plaquenil even though I had only very mild symptoms at the time. ----- Original Message ----- From: mowthpeece@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 6:53 PM Subject: Re: New member In a message dated 3/11/2003 3:38:59 AM Pacific Standard Time, saludo@... writes: .. People who have started the stronger disease-modifying medications earlier in their disease have the best results and less damage from the disease itself(research backs that up). Who's done the research?peace,annaIn seeking wisdom the first step is silence, the second: listening, the third: remembering, the fourth: practicing, the fifth: teaching others.- Ibn Gabirol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 15, 2003 Report Share Posted March 15, 2003 I'm a 75 year old man diagnosed with RA in December 2001. I'm now on 15 mg Methotrexate weekly, Remicade 6 mg/kg, 0.1 mg Synthroid, and decreasing Prednisone (currently 1.5 mg daily), along with a bunch of vitamins and some other medications to counter the effects of the meds listed above. I function reasonably well but have trouble getting up from sitting on the floor and walking down stairs. I have some finger stiffness and joint pain but I'd rather tolerate that than risk side effects of more medications. I also post fairly regularly as Grandpavan on the Arthritis Insight message board for RA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2003 Report Share Posted March 17, 2003 Hi , Methotrexate is one of the disease modifying drugs. Enbrel is a TNF inhibitor (TNF produces inflammation). The meds are supposed to slow down the progress of your arthritis in addition to easing the symptoms. Meds like Advil and Ibuprofen help with pain but don't stop the progression (of course the newer meds don't work for everyone, you can still develop a tolerance). You're lucky Advil works for you. I'd have to take half a bottle to be able to move if I didn't take anything else. Take care, in VA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Boy, the pharmaceutical companies must be having a field day with RA. And >diabetes and heart disease.... > >I take Advil. It works fine. What are all those other meds supposed to do?? > And can anyone tell me that they really work? > >anna MSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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