Re: Glad to find a place to whine

[Guest guest]

Some doctors seem to be uncomfortable in addressing pain issues but you do need someone to do that. There are pain management specialists and I think you should see one if possible. Also you don't say if you are on Prednisone. That is a corticosteroid that will not slow or stop joint damage but often will relieve symptoms while the RA medicines have time to act. Prednisone is usually effective in a day or so while RA medicines take weeks to months to become effective. You have to learn patience with RA. Prednisone has some bad side effects but the effects of untreated RA are often much worse. Good luck and God bless.

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

From: Rhonda

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 10:53 AM

Subject: Glad to find a place to whine

I'm 51 and finally just got to the point where I was comfortable in my life - got my mid-life crisis out of the way, renewed my marriage, re-committed my life to Christ, started a new wonderful job, have a wonderful 12 year old daughter. I'm not sure when this RA thing actually started, but my major symptoms started around November of 2002. I suddenly had a horrendous "kink" in my neck. It was so bad I was nearly crazy with the pain. I just kept thinking it was how I was sitting at work or perhaps a stress knot or something. I saw an acupuncturist who helped relieve the pain for about 5 minutes. Then saw a chiropractor 3 times. All in all, I was in pain for close to a month. Then, I fell & broke my ankle (perhaps the RA was why??) and while I was hobbling around with the big boot on my foot, I noticed my hands & fingers were swelling. I figured it was the winter weight add-on and that all I needed was to lose some weight. I used to wear lots of rings and one by one I had to take them off as my fingers kept swelling. I went in to have my annual pap exam and by that time had some pea-sized nodules in my hands & fingers. My OB/GYN guy referred me to a rheumatologist. The day before I saw him, I couldn't stand it anymore and had to have my wedding rings cut off by the jeweler. That was a tough one. Upon first exam, the dr. said he was 98% sure it was RA. My blood tests came back negative so he explained about sero-negative. He put me on plaquenil (in April) I have taken it religiously along with naproxen. I felt like it was getting worse, but decided it was in my head. My hands, wrists, shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles & toes are killing me. So I went in just this week and sure enough, he confirmed it is getting worse. Took some more blood (I've not heard anything on that yet) and prescribed Methotrexate & folic acid as well as Vitamin B6 after a discussion about carpal tunnel. He said when the RA gets under control, the carpal tunnel will also improve. I have zero energy and could nap at the drop of a hat (or my head on my desk) and today I am experiencing the nausea he told me to watch for with the Methotrexate and I feel like crawling in a hole. Also, the pain in my neck (and I don't mean my husband) is back and I'm walking around like a zombie, wishing I could just go home sick, but don't want to come across like a wimp.I am not liking this adjustment period here at all, but will do a Proverbs 3:5 and trust that God will get me through this as He has done every other crisis of my life.It's nice to find others who can understand.I'll pray for all of you as well as me.Rhonda