Re: Re: Very Little Relief

[Guest guest]

.....I have nothing new to contribute....just a warm hug and hope you call your doc and demand the relief you deserve. There will be an answer, you just need to be persistant, and I know that when I'm hurting, I don't have the strength to ask..........Fondly, Sandy

From: ""

Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Very Little Relief Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 03:18:21 -0000

I've seen where others have also said that they are on Methotrexate, I am not. Does that help in addition with the Remicade? I take the plaquinel in order to keep the lupus in control. I will try the hand exercises and see if i am able to get some crafts done. It wasn't fun being in pain all day today since it was my birhtday. My husband made cake and everything. Not something he normally does. I will be calling my Rheumy to see if there is anything else I can do or take. My younger son came home for a few days and I really want to spend time with him and not have a hard time getting around. (he's in the Army 82nd Airbourn- at Fort Braggs N. Carolina). He's my baby but he is the one who is taking care of me lately. Always calling to check up and sends me cards to say "I love you".

I will start to take a few more hot soaks and see if I feel a little better, he's taking me to lunch tomorrow... :-) Thank you for your information.

> I'm sorry that you're having so much trouble. I'm fairly well controlled with 15 mg Methotrexate weekly and 6 mg/kg Remicade every 8 weeks. I'm usually off Prednisone but I have to go back on about 5 mg for a week or so before my Remicade infusion. When you get in touch with your Rheumatologist you might ask about different medications or higher doses. > > For about a year I had to have Prednisone in order to function because my RA medicines had not kicked in yet. If you can't or won't take Prednisone then the other choice may be a pain management specialist to get stronger pain medications or other treatment. > > I do find that exercise helps to reduce the stiffness and pain in my hands. Several years ago when I was recovering from carpal tunnel syndrome surgery my orthopedic doctor told me about some finger exercises. The fingers have three joints so you first bend the joint closest to the fingernail, straighten the hand, bend the next joint, straighten, bend the third joint, straighten, bend all three joints, straighten, then bend the thumb across the palm. This works for me for RA pain and stiffness if I do it about 10 times in a session and have three or four sessions a day. At first I might not bend very much but with time motion is greater and pain is less. A physical therapist may be able to help you with these and other exercises to help your pain. > > Good luck and God bless. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 6:38 AM > Subject: Very Little Relief > > > Morning. I am not able to deal with all the pain I am dealing with. I > can't and even will not take steriods any more. I am still on > remecade and plaquinel and they they don't help enough. I have a lot > of pain in my back and neck. Which is causing headaches all the time. > Plus, my hands hurt so much that I am having a hard time typing and I > hurt to much to do my crafts(crochet-crossstitch-knit-hand quilting). > I don't work so my crafts are the only things that give me great > pleasure. > I have been taking motrin, asprin, and anything else to help with > the pain. I am unable to get ahold of my Rheumy with the holiday, > he's on vacation. Any suggestions? I am so depressed about all this. > Sorry if I am complaining so much. > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

As far as I know Remicade is approved by the FDA only in combination with Methotrexate. I think the theory is that the Methotrexate will lessen the likelihood of rejecting Remicade because Remicade is one-third mouse protein. I know some people use another DMARD (such as Plaquenil) instead of Methotrexate with Remicade and some use Remicade without any other DMARD. It's important to find out what works for you, but that usually takes time.

My youngest son is 43 but he is the one that follows my disease most closely and when he calls he asks me how I am, and then asks my wife how I really am. God bless our children, especially the youngest.

Good luck and God bless.

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

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 8:18 PM

Subject: Re: Very Little Relief

I've seen where others have also said that they are on Methotrexate, I am not. Does that help in addition with the Remicade? I take the plaquinel in order to keep the lupus in control. I will try the hand exercises and see if i am able to get some crafts done. It wasn't fun being in pain all day today since it was my birhtday. My husband made cake and everything. Not something he normally does. I will be calling my Rheumy to see if there is anything else I can do or take.My younger son came home for a few days and I really want to spend time with him and not have a hard time getting around. (he's in the Army 82nd Airbourn- at Fort Braggs N. Carolina). He's my baby but he is the one who is taking care of me lately. Always calling to check up and sends me cards to say "I love you". I will start to take a few more hot soaks and see if I feel a little better, he's taking me to lunch tomorrow... :-) Thank you for your information.> I'm sorry that you're having so much trouble. I'm fairly well controlled with 15 mg Methotrexate weekly and 6 mg/kg Remicade every 8 weeks. I'm usually off Prednisone but I have to go back on about 5 mg for a week or so before my Remicade infusion. When you get in touch with your Rheumatologist you might ask about different medications or higher doses.> > For about a year I had to have Prednisone in order to function because my RA medicines had not kicked in yet. If you can't or won't take Prednisone then the other choice may be a pain management specialist to get stronger pain medications or other treatment.> > I do find that exercise helps to reduce the stiffness and pain in my hands. Several years ago when I was recovering from carpal tunnel syndrome surgery my orthopedic doctor told me about some finger exercises. The fingers have three joints so you first bend the joint closest to the fingernail, straighten the hand, bend the next joint, straighten, bend the third joint, straighten, bend all three joints, straighten, then bend the thumb across the palm. This works for me for RA pain and stiffness if I do it about 10 times in a session and have three or four sessions a day. At first I might not bend very much but with time motion is greater and pain is less. A physical therapist may be able to help you with these and other exercises to help your pain.> > Good luck and God bless.> ----- Original Message ----- > From: > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 6:38 AM> Subject: Very Little Relief> > > Morning. I am not able to deal with all the pain I am dealing with. I > can't and even will not take steriods any more. I am still on > remecade and plaquinel and they they don't help enough. I have a lot > of pain in my back and neck. Which is causing headaches all the time. > Plus, my hands hurt so much that I am having a hard time typing and I > hurt to much to do my crafts(crochet-crossstitch-knit-hand quilting). > I don't work so my crafts are the only things that give me great > pleasure.> I have been taking motrin, asprin, and anything else to help with > the pain. I am unable to get ahold of my Rheumy with the holiday, > he's on vacation. Any suggestions? I am so depressed about all this.> Sorry if I am complaining so much. > > > > > >