Guest guest Posted August 9, 2003 Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 Hi all, my name is Donna and I have mixed xonnective tissue disease, for those of you who are not familiar with this, to break it down I have ra, lupus, and fibromyalgia. Anyway, there are plenty of ppl who are worse off than me so I am not complaining. Actually, my main reason for coming into this group is for some issues that I am hoping someone may be able to help me with. Okay, here it goes, I have 2 dogs that I love more than anything and our daily walks are the highlight of their days, as well as mine. I have never been much into exercise, but when I take my girls out for a walk, somehow it is not exercise then, do ya'll know what I mean. Well, here lately, I have been getting severe shin splints and my hip hurts so bad that I am barely able to take them around the block, before we walked 2-3 mi. a day. And I know the hip pain at least, is because I am having a flare up and it is one of the rougher ones that I have, but I have never heard of shin splints being a problem with what I have. So, does anyone else suffer from them and if so have you found any way to relieve the pain and discomfort. Really anything that anyone can tell me would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you all so much and I hope that maybe I can return the favor and be of help to someone else one day. Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2004 Report Share Posted January 30, 2004 Hi wendy,welcome to the group, sorry to hear that you have been dx with RA. I don't really no about the insurance covering hot tubs. it would be great if they did. I know that the pain is rough, I am going through a lot of pain myself lately. I am on humira, also darvocet, and prednisone 5mg daily, planning on going off the prednisone. The darvocet doesn't help me much at all, Vioxx was causing me stomach problems. I have heard a lot of people does well on Methadone, I will be talking to my rheumy on my next visit about getting on it. Let us know, what type of med your going on, and how you are doing, take care Tawny > Hi! I had been told two years ago that I might have RA and it was > confirmed today. I have lots of pain in my hands, fingers, wrists, > shoulders and neck. I'm wondering if insurance might cover a hot > tub? I've heard they do sometimes. Mornings are REALLY tough! I'm > starting pred today (low dose) and was given Darvacet for pain since > Vioxx and Ultram haven't been helping much. I wake nightly after 4- 5 > hours with throbbing in my hands and shoulders. I'm starting > something next week after I talk with my eye doc. I can't remember > the name of it, but it takes 6 months to work and was once used in > high doses to treat Malaria. Does anyone have anything they can tell > me about any of these drugs? I can't imagine asking the doc for > methadone, but I know NOTHING about all this. What do most of you > take for pain? I would love any feedback!!! I'll take the Darvacet > before bed tonight I guess. > wendy from birmingham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2004 Report Share Posted January 30, 2004 hello wendy.. welcome.. just happen to be getting ready to go off line and your post popped up so thought i would give you the welcome! soonds like you have RA for sure. the medication you said was used for malaria is probably Plaquanil. i use it and it has done well by me so far.. abut 4 or 5 years.. didn't know it took that long to take effect, though. i have oticed some differene in my eyes but it could be cataracts (sp) as i am getting pretty old. at this time i use Napoxin for pain which is same as Advil but is 500 mg rather than 200 mg. other INSAIDs have been bad for my stomach.i am not aquainted with many drugs. Raglan made me have palsy like symptoms but many can take them with no such problems. oh.. don't know about the hot tub <g> i can't even sit in a regular tub for a soaking bath.. take a shower and have a stool in tub to sit on.! Let the tub fill up with enough hot water to soak my feet which is a lot of help.i go now.. love.. granny lee ----- Original Message ----- From: wendyhollander Hi! I had been told two years ago that I might have RA and it was confirmed today. I have lots of pain in my hands, fingers, wrists, shoulders and neck. I'm wondering if insurance might cover a hot tub? I've heard they do sometimes. Mornings are REALLY tough! I'm starting pred today (low dose) and was given Darvacet for pain since Vioxx and Ultram haven't been helping much. I wake nightly after 4-5 hours with throbbing in my hands and shoulders. I'm starting something next week after I talk with my eye doc. I can't remember the name of it, but it takes 6 months to work and was once used in high doses to treat Malaria. Does anyone have anything they can tell me about any of these drugs? I can't imagine asking the doc for methadone, but I know NOTHING about all this. What do most of you take for pain? I would love any feedback!!! I'll take the Darvacet before bed tonight I guess.wendy from birmingham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2004 Report Share Posted January 31, 2004 Hi , Welcome to the group although I'm sorry you have to be here. I've been dealing with RA for a bit over 5 years, but still remember the early days when things were totally out of control. Most health insurance will not cover a hot tub, even if your doc prescribes it. However, you may be able to write off some of the cost on your income tax return as a medical expense (with the doc's prescription). The pain is always worse when you are flaring up, and it's pretty typical to be in that state when you are first diagnosed. Once you get the RA under control, whether it's with Plaquenil (the malaria drug), methotrexate, prednisone, or any of the other various medications that are available, you'll find that the morning stiffness will be less, and so will the pain. It won't be all the way gone, but you won't always feel as awful as you do right now. Most of the drugs do take some time to kick in, but 6 months does seem long - you'll probably know in more like 6 weeks to 3 months if you are on the right medication for you. They typically start with a low dose, and raise it as needed. Prednisone is different though, and often will help you feel better in just a few days. However, it doesn't do anything to slow down joint damage and has nasty side effects if you're on too high a dose for too long. Good luck - let us know how you do. beth > Hi! I had been told two years ago that I might have RA and it was > confirmed today. I have lots of pain in my hands, fingers, wrists, > shoulders and neck. I'm wondering if insurance might cover a hot > tub? I've heard they do sometimes. Mornings are REALLY tough! I'm > starting pred today (low dose) and was given Darvacet for pain since > Vioxx and Ultram haven't been helping much. I wake nightly after 4- 5 > hours with throbbing in my hands and shoulders. I'm starting > something next week after I talk with my eye doc. I can't remember > the name of it, but it takes 6 months to work and was once used in > high doses to treat Malaria. Does anyone have anything they can tell > me about any of these drugs? I can't imagine asking the doc for > methadone, but I know NOTHING about all this. What do most of you > take for pain? I would love any feedback!!! I'll take the Darvacet > before bed tonight I guess. > wendy from birmingham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2004 Report Share Posted January 31, 2004 Welcome to the group and I'm sorry you have occasion to be here. I take Prednisone while waiting for the RD medicines to take effect. Now I am on Remicade at 6 mg/kg every 6 weeks and Methotrexate, 15 mg a week and off of Prednisone except for special circumstances. Here's a link to a site with a lot of general information about medicines for RA. You should be on a DMARD soon, but many of them take several weeks to months to become fully effective. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/meds/ Insurances are so different you will have to ask about your specific case. Some do sometimes cover a hot tub but I don't know what is required before that happens. Good luck and God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: wendyhollander Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 3:05 PM Subject: new to group Hi! I had been told two years ago that I might have RA and it was confirmed today. I have lots of pain in my hands, fingers, wrists, shoulders and neck. I'm wondering if insurance might cover a hot tub? I've heard they do sometimes. Mornings are REALLY tough! I'm starting pred today (low dose) and was given Darvacet for pain since Vioxx and Ultram haven't been helping much. I wake nightly after 4-5 hours with throbbing in my hands and shoulders. I'm starting something next week after I talk with my eye doc. I can't remember the name of it, but it takes 6 months to work and was once used in high doses to treat Malaria. Does anyone have anything they can tell me about any of these drugs? I can't imagine asking the doc for methadone, but I know NOTHING about all this. What do most of you take for pain? I would love any feedback!!! I'll take the Darvacet before bed tonight I guess.wendy from birmingham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2004 Report Share Posted January 31, 2004 Hi and welcome, sorry you have to be here but your in good company. You will get all the support and information we can give you. Good luck with the hot tub but i'm thinking probably not. Depends on your insurance company. The Prednisone will do wonders in a couple of days. If is doesn't call your doc and ask to raise the dosage. I am taking the med your probably thinking of, Plaquinil. It is very hard on the eyes, it causes macular degeneration. Be sure to get a comprehensive baseline eye exam before taking if for very long. I am taking Oxycodone for pain. It is an synthetic morphine. I've been taking it for months and take just enough to control pain and I am not feeling the least bit addicted. I am also taking Methotrexate, Enbrel, Trazadone, Folic Acid, Calcium and a vitamin supplement. The pain and morning stiffness are terrible symptoms to have to deal with, I know, I've only had the disease less than a year now. It may take a few weeks to a couple months for the right meds and dosages to get things under control but the Prednisone will help greatly. The important thing is to treat the disease aggressively to minimize joint damage. Most damage is done in the first two years of having the desease. Insist that you be treated aggressively and do not be afraid to assert yourself. It is your health and your money, they work with and for you. Best of luck and God Bless. If I can be of any help you can email me if you wish. Jay > Hi! I had been told two years ago that I might have RA and it was > confirmed today. I have lots of pain in my hands, fingers, wrists, > shoulders and neck. I'm wondering if insurance might cover a hot > tub? I've heard they do sometimes. Mornings are REALLY tough! I'm > starting pred today (low dose) and was given Darvacet for pain since > Vioxx and Ultram haven't been helping much. I wake nightly after 4- 5 > hours with throbbing in my hands and shoulders. I'm starting > something next week after I talk with my eye doc. I can't remember > the name of it, but it takes 6 months to work and was once used in > high doses to treat Malaria. Does anyone have anything they can tell > me about any of these drugs? I can't imagine asking the doc for > methadone, but I know NOTHING about all this. What do most of you > take for pain? I would love any feedback!!! I'll take the Darvacet > before bed tonight I guess. > wendy from birmingham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2004 Report Share Posted January 31, 2004 welcome wendy! I hope you are able to get some relief soon! I use my Jacuzzi a lot and it really helps...especially before bed. Carla ----- Original Message ----- From: " wendyhollander " <wendyhollander@...> <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 6:05 PM Subject: new to group > Hi! I had been told two years ago that I might have RA and it was > confirmed today. I have lots of pain in my hands, fingers, wrists, > shoulders and neck. I'm wondering if insurance might cover a hot > tub? I've heard they do sometimes. Mornings are REALLY tough! I'm > starting pred today (low dose) and was given Darvacet for pain since > Vioxx and Ultram haven't been helping much. I wake nightly after 4-5 > hours with throbbing in my hands and shoulders. I'm starting > something next week after I talk with my eye doc. I can't remember > the name of it, but it takes 6 months to work and was once used in > high doses to treat Malaria. Does anyone have anything they can tell > me about any of these drugs? I can't imagine asking the doc for > methadone, but I know NOTHING about all this. What do most of you > take for pain? I would love any feedback!!! I'll take the Darvacet > before bed tonight I guess. > wendy from birmingham > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2004 Report Share Posted January 31, 2004 > I am taking the med your probably thinking of, Plaquinil. It is very > hard on the eyes, it causes macular degeneration. Be sure to get a > comprehensive baseline eye exam before taking if for very long. From what I've read, and according to my rheumatologist, eye problems are a POSSIBLE side effect, and are related to dose and length of time one is on the medication. With regular eye exams, a problem can almost always be detected in time to stop the medication, in which case, the problem usually reverses. Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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