Re: elbows

[Guest guest]

on 8/7/01 10:10 PM, Gwen Armstrong at armstrog@... wrote:

> Hi all

> i have a lump thing on my elbow which is quite large and looks like it

> is filled with fluid. Is this a nodule? I had one before and it went

> down- but this is a bit painful and hurts like hell if I put it down on

> a hard surface.

> Anyone know what to do with this " thing " / and what it is?

Sounds like it _might_ be bursitis. Bursitis at the elbow is usually right

at the point of the elbow.

Jean

[Guest guest]

> my dr. took x-rays and said to come back in July. I know that

damage

> has been done as I can't straighten them out.

Swelling could be causing the inability to straighten your elbows;

try not to worry until you get it checked out.

Sierra

[Guest guest]

I understand your hesitation to take mtx and other drugs. It's a

struggle for a lot of RA patients, and some will tell you they

waited to take the meds for reasons similar to the one you gave. I

would have been one of those people if I had not already seen the

devastating effects of joint damage in my mom. I knew before I got

RA, had SEEN first hand, that drugs are a necessary evil, and much

much better than the alternative.

I am not sure if it will put your mind at ease, but as long as they

are watching your liver function, you should not have a problem with

mtx. Some have side effects, but I am not that familiar with them

because I have none. I take 17.5 mgs per week, and have for nearly

a year. Prednisone on the other hand, can have horrible side

effects. I am trying to get off of it as I have already experienced

significant bone loss (I'm 33) even though I take a very low dose.

Even with the side effects of prednisone, it's better than having

joint damage. The important thing is to know what the side effects

are and if there is anything you can do to counteract them. I wish

I had known from the beginning that doing weight bearing excercises

and taking 1500 mgs of calcium daily would lessen my chances of

having significant bone loss. One thing most doctors prescribe

along with mtx is folic acid (just so you know).

Jennie

> my dr. took x-rays and said to come back in July. I know that

damage

> has been done as I can't straighten them out. He said to call and

he

> would start me out on methotrexate if anything got worse. I guess

I

> should call but mtx really does scare me as does most meds. I

think

> it is because my dad took so many meds before he died and

everything

> he took damaged some organ so he would have to take something else.

> I will give the dr. a call after the weekend and see about the

mtx.

> Thanks - Jackie