Questions?

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with RA about a year ago, at age 26, because of

swelling and pain in my hands and knees. At that time, they told me

that I probably wouldn't progress too much further in the next 5-10

years as long as I maintained meds, etc. Sunday night I woke up in

tears from pain in my neck and back that wouldn't be relieved. I

went to the ER and they diagnosed it as part of the RA. They gave me

60mg of Prednisone daily for 5 days and Percocet for the pain. Two

days later, I'm much better but still have stiffness in my neck and

back. I'm going to my Rheumy today as directed by the ER doc. Is

this a flare up? Does this mean I'll have neck and back problems

ongoing? The knees and hands weren't that bothersome but this makes

me wonder about continuing to work and be in good health in general.

I'm still wanting to have children in the near future and being out

of commission for 2 days is a little distressing when you are wanting

to have a baby?!?!? Wondering if anyone can relate or have any

advice for me? I'm thinking about quitting my job due to stress, as

I'm wondering if that is why this was brought on so suddenly. Any

advice would be appreciated?!?!

[Guest guest]

Hello, This is Steph in VA. I'm 26 & I was diagnosed with arthritis 4 years ago when I was 22. Who told you that you wouldn't progress if you maintained your meds? That is rarely true, especially since most of the meds only mask the symptoms. What meds are you on besides the Prednisone & Percocet? Your relief is because the Prednisone has decreased your inflammation.

As far as quitting your job, you & your rheumy are the only ones that can determine that. When my symptoms first started, I was in my last semester at college. It took doctors 2 months to diagnose me. I was in so much pain that I couldn't look for a job after graduation so I moved home for 6 months. As soon as I could, I got a full time job & have been working full time (and then some) ever since. I am the last person to tell you whether or not you should quit your job. I am the Child Services Coordinator at the local family shelter. I have a highly stressful position. I do my best to have a regular schedule, take my meds on a schedule, and know when to say "no". For me, I have to have a job for my sanity, money & my health insurance.

Take care,

Steph in VA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was diagnosed with RA about a year ago, at age 26, because of >swelling and pain in my hands and knees. At that time, they told me >that I probably wouldn't progress too much further in the next 5-10 >years as long as I maintained meds, etc. Sunday night I woke up in >tears from pain in my neck and back that wouldn't be relieved. I >went to the ER and they diagnosed it as part of the RA. They gave me >60mg of Prednisone daily for 5 days and Percocet for the pain. Two >days later, I'm much better but still have stiffness in my neck and >back. I'm going to my Rheumy today as directed by the ER doc. Is >this a flare up? Does this mean I'll have neck and back problems >ongoing? The knees and hands weren't that bothersome but this makes >me wonder about continuing to work and be in good health in general. >I'm still wanting to have children in the near future and being out >of commission for 2 days is a little distressing when you are wanting >to have a baby?!?!? Wondering if anyone can relate or have any >advice for me? I'm thinking about quitting my job due to stress, as >I'm wondering if that is why this was brought on so suddenly. Any >advice would be appreciated?!?!

Send instant messages to anyone on your contact list with MSN Messenger 6.0. Try it now FREE!