hi diagnoised with RA today

[Guest guest]

Hi

I have been diagnoised with RA today before it wa thought I had

psorisic arthritis. Anyhoooooo my finger joints are really bad at

the moment, but if I can help it I would like to stay away from

prescribed drugs for the time being, I have been taking naproxen etc

but they didn't work so i would like to give alternative therapys a

try and just wondered if anyone has tried anything or have some help

and advice for me )

Thankyou

Ruth

[Guest guest]

Hi Ruth -- Welcome to the group. Lots of great information here.

Sorry about your diagnosis -- I got the same about 4 years ago. Many people say now is the best time to have RA because of the new medications that are coming out. These DMARDS (disease-modifying drugs) are the ones that put a halt to the joint deformities that used to be so common to RA. So while I can appreciate your hesitancy to use prescribed drugs, they really seem to be the thing that stops the joint damage. Not sure they can be avoided!

A place I go to get lots of information about the medications is http://www.arthritisinsight.com

Good luck!

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

From: SANDYLANDSEBONY

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 2:00 PM

Subject: hi diagnoised with RA today

HiI have been diagnoised with RA today before it wa thought I had psorisic arthritis. Anyhoooooo my finger joints are really bad at the moment, but if I can help it I would like to stay away from prescribed drugs for the time being, I have been taking naproxen etc but they didn't work so i would like to give alternative therapys a try and just wondered if anyone has tried anything or have some help and advice for me )ThankyouRuth

[Guest guest]

Ruth:

My doctor says that nowadays when you are diagnosed with RA they like to

tackle the disease pretty aggressively before damage to the joints set in. I

guess that was not the case a few years ago. My cousin's husband has pretty

severe psoriatic arthritis and was only given pain management drugs and

anti-inflammatories for a long time. He has suffered crippling arthritis in

his right hand and can barely hold a pencil, was almost on permanent

disability because of his inability to walk. And he's only about 35. Finally

he is on Remicade and can walk pretty well. But the damage to his hand is

done and there is nothing they can do to repair the joints except replace

them.

I, too, don't really want to be on heavy drugs, but the alternative of

letting the disease become crippling is not an option for me. You might want

to consider this when you think about how to manage your disease. I have been

lucky and have not had any major side effects from the drugs: prednisone,

methotrexate, neoral and plaquenil. I don't know that it's working yet, but

am hopeful that it will at least slow the progression of the disease and not

allow any permanent damage. I also do a lot of alternative stuff and diet

because I don't want to just rely on the drugs. There may be other options

open. I encourage you to research them.

good luck.

gloria

[Guest guest]

Hi Ruth,

I am new to the group. I also have RA.

I have it also in my finger joints, hips, knees and also

in my back and feet. I was recently prescribed

Vioxx for it and belive me it was working wonders,

then this stuff came up so I stopped taking it a

couple of days ago and am coming back into the

pain again tonight. Does anyone know what is

good to help this? Thanks...Joy

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

From: SANDYLANDSEBONY

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2002 2:25 AM

Subject: hi diagnoised with RA today

HiI have been diagnoised with RA today before it wa thought I had psorisic arthritis. Anyhoooooo my finger joints are really bad at the moment, but if I can help it I would like to stay away from prescribed drugs for the time being, I have been taking naproxen etc but they didn't work so i would like to give alternative therapys a try and just wondered if anyone has tried anything or have some help and advice for me )ThankyouRuth