My Checkup and a Question

[Guest guest]

> I spoke to my rheumie about this.

> She said she will be glad to put me on it, but so far the studies do not

> prove it works (more than the " placebo effect " )..

> She has several patients on it.

> I believe the therapy concept is pretty dated... Dr. Brown is long dead,

I

> think...

> But if nothing else works, WHY NOT?

> Pris

Hi Pris,

I chose antibiotic therapy before trying anything else for a number of good

reasons. First, the side effects are almost non-existent and at worst

minimal and second, it made sense. Since an infection triggered my RA,

possibly an antibiotic is what is needed.

Also, just because the placebo effect does not work for this type of

therapy does not mean that it is still not a valid therapy. From what I

have read the main problem with AT is that since it works differently on

everyone, including the length of time that it takes to work, it is hard to

measure with these types of studies. In addition, just because a

particular therapy is dated, does not mean it is not effective. The

Chinese have used acupuncture for 3500 years in basically the same manner

in which it is used today. It is still a highly effective therapy for many

ailments, including pain management for osteoarthritis. I have personally

used acupuncture a number of times and the results are astounding.

I am not in way trying to be arbitrary here, but just because a particular

therapy is not the latest popular drug being handed out, does not make it

ineffective at all, and many doctors refuse to think out of the box.

Dr.Brown may be long gone, but there are many following in his footsteps.

Finally, if the folks at the Road Back Foundation were not on to something,

why would a medical researcher from Harvard Medical School (where they are

studying AT) agree to be their honorary advisor. I am very new to this

disease, but I am doing my homework. I have talked to a few people

connected with road back who are on AT. It took enormous patience, but

they have gotten results.

I will keep everyone posted on my progress.