Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Hi,name is Kathy and I am new to this group.I have slowly experienced arthritis in different parts of my body. Two or three years ago I was prescribed Vioxx for my wrist. Last year, around this time, my left knee started giving me problems. My doctor xrayed it and said it was inflammed and put me on a three month supply of Vioxx. It cleared up. In October, my right knee started giving me problems. The pain that I have had with my right knee is much more severe than with my left knee. My doctor initially put me on Vioxx. I took it up til last month. It wasn't working so I went back to my doc and he placed me on Ultram and Naproxium (sp). I have been reading a lot about arthritis. I am concerned about whether I might have RA. I read that when RA starts that if it effects one joint, like my left knee, then it will effect the right knee as well. Do both knees need to be bothering me to be considered RA? It sounds like I might be wanting to have RA but I don't. I am just trying to figure out what is wrong. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 It could be some kind of inflammatory arthritis, maybe RA or maybe some other one. You should be seeing a rheumatologist because these doctors specialize in problems with the joints. There are some 171 different kinds of arthritis and this link may tell you a little about many of the more common ones. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/disease/ If you click on Rheumatoid Arthritis and scroll down about halfway you will find the seven criteria used by the American College of Rheumatologists to diagnose RA and if you meet any four of the criteria you can be diagnosed with RA. RA is most often bilateral but not necessarily. In fact, there are a great many variations of RA. Often a doctor will prescribe Prednisone to see if its antiinflammatory characteristics will help your symptoms. If it helps, then it is likely an inflammatory arthritis like RA but if it doesn't help it is likely something else. It is often difficult to diagnose arthritis so please go to a doctor you feel comfortable with and who will treat you in an aggressive manner. If you have RA, early aggressive treatment is necessary to avoid permanent joint damage. Good luck and God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: Kathy Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:51 PM Subject: Is it RA? Hi,name is Kathy and I am new to this group.I have slowly experienced arthritis in different parts of my body. Two or three years ago I was prescribed Vioxx for my wrist. Last year, around this time, my left knee started giving me problems. My doctor xrayed it and said it was inflammed and put me on a three month supply of Vioxx. It cleared up. In October, my right knee started giving me problems. The pain that I have had with my right knee is much more severe than with my left knee. My doctor initially put me on Vioxx. I took it up til last month. It wasn't working so I went back to my doc and he placed me on Ultram and Naproxium (sp). I have been reading a lot about arthritis. I am concerned about whether I might have RA. I read that when RA starts that if it effects one joint, like my left knee, then it will effect the right knee as well. Do both knees need to be bothering me to be considered RA? It sounds like I might be wanting to have RA but I don't. I am just trying to figure out what is wrong. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 Hi Kathy.. Welcome to the group...though, I do sincerely hope you do NOT have RA! !...I would not wish this disease on my worst enemy...! Have your doctor do a " Rheumatoid panel " of blood tests...plus an ESR test as well..will show or at least help somewhat in diagnosing if you have true RA...usually RA presents itself symmetrically with joint pain on one side, say the wrist..it will also be on the other side as well... though, in my case that did not happen..kinda moves from place to place...and I am only 45!... Please keep us posted on your condition...ok?? Take care Lindy > It could be some kind of inflammatory arthritis, maybe RA or maybe some other one. You should be seeing a rheumatologist because these doctors specialize in problems with the joints. There are some 171 different kinds of arthritis and this link may tell you a little about many of the more common ones. http://www.arthritisinsight. com/medical/disease/ If you click on Rheumatoid Arthritis and scroll down about halfway you will find the seven criteria used by the American College of Rheumatologists to diagnose RA and if you meet any four of the criteria you can be diagnosed with RA. RA is most often bilateral but not necessarily. In fact, there are a great many variations of RA. Often a doctor will prescribe Prednisone to see if its antiinflammatory characteristics will help your symptoms. If it helps, then it is likely an inflammatory arthritis like RA but if it doesn't help it is likely something else. It is often difficult to diagnose arthritis so please go to a doctor you feel comfortable with and who will treat you in an aggressive manner. If you have RA, early aggressive treatment is necessary to avoid permanent joint damage. Good luck and God bless. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Kathy > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:51 PM > Subject: Is it RA? > > > Hi,name is Kathy and I am new to this group.I have slowly > experienced arthritis in different parts of my body. Two or three > years ago I was prescribed Vioxx for my wrist. Last year, around > this time, my left knee started giving me problems. My doctor xrayed > it and said it was inflammed and put me on a three month supply of > Vioxx. It cleared up. In October, my right knee started giving me > problems. The pain that I have had with my right knee is much more > severe than with my left knee. My doctor initially put me on Vioxx. > I took it up til last month. It wasn't working so I went back to my > doc and he placed me on Ultram and Naproxium (sp). I have been > reading a lot about arthritis. I am concerned about whether I might > have RA. I read that when RA starts that if it effects one joint, > like my left knee, then it will effect the right knee as well. Do > both knees need to be bothering me to be considered RA? It sounds > like I might be wanting to have RA but I don't. I am just trying to > figure out what is wrong. > > Kathy > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 --- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " lem820 " <lem820@y...> wrote: > Hi Kathy.. I would not wish this disease on my worst enemy...! Good to remember that everyone's experience with it is different; for some, the condition is mild. Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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