New member

Posted May 29, 2006 · May 29, 2006

Hi Kathe.

I went to a rheumatologist about 15 years ago and he said I had Arthritis

and prescribed Sodium Diclofenac which I took for years for the pain. When I

read a study that indicated Celebrex may have some role in suppressing tumor

activity in Prostate cancer I switched to the Celebrex. It has been only

lately that the disease progression has put a serious hitch in my

git-a-long. I am not even sure that I have RA or OA. When I stand up from

bed in the AM it hurts in my hips and spine until I walk across the bedroom

and maybe out to the kitchen and get a cup of coffee. The moving about makes

the hip pain go away to a great extent. If I sit and watch TV, when I get up

I hobble like an old man...ooops! I am an old man......until I have moved

around a bit. When I make my daily trip for groceries, I get out of the

truck and limp to the store but then I loosen up and walk from one end of

the store to the other without the pain insinuating itself on my

conscienceness. I read a little and decided this sounded more like RA than

OA. How do my symptoms jibe with your understanding? RA or OA?

2463

" il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway

Re: [ ] New member

>

> Hi :

>

> Welcome to the group. We have wonderful supportive

> people here, and lots of great information. I am

> sorry to hear that the glucosomine you had been taking

> for so long has been of no benefit to you, and might

> also have brought on your cancer. That is so sad,

> when we just try to find a way to control one disease

> and another comes in as a by-product of what you were

> using. I have tried that too, and it did nothing for

> me either.

>

> I am 52, married 23 years, with two kids, 22 and 19.

> We live in southern california on a small farm with

> horses, dogs, and various fowl. It's a lot of work,

> but they get me up in the morning. I am currently

> taking Methotrexate, Enbrel, Mobic and Ultram for my

> RA, and take other meds for fibromyalgia. I have been

> dx with RA for 8 years now. I am so sorry to hear

> that your RA is causing such an impact on your quality

> of life. I have had to face some compromises, and

> have had to give some things up that I used to enjoy,

> but, by and large, I am doing well on the medications

> I am on now.

>

> Have you ever been on any DMARDs like Methotrexate,

> Arava or Plaquenil. NSAIDs are not going to control

> the disease process of RA, just mask it. Do you have

> joint deformities? I was wondering if the hip saddle

> is your name for the sacroiliac joints? I have

> trouble with that area too, and I like the idea of

> calling it a hip saddle, instead of SI, because I am a

> rider. Easier to say too.

>

> Anyway, just wanted to welcome you to the group. Hope

> to hear more from you - we are very chatty, and pretty

> much any question you might want to ask can be

> answered amongst us. Are you on any medical programs

> that might help you to get medication for your RA?

> We've talked a lot about scooters lately, maybe

> something like that would help you to get out and

> about easier. Take care -

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

Posted May 29, 2006 · May 29, 2006

Dear

I cant tell you what it sounds like to me

I have both unusual I know...but then so am I

You should be under a rheumys care while taking that medication

and should have your blood tested every 4 to 6 wks

are your finger knuckles turning in.?

When everything hurts getting out of bed, the chair and the truck, Oops older

gentleman of not it is definately some kind of arthritis

You have survived this long without a dx so is it necessary now.....I dont

know

I just wonder if the blood tests are taken

smiling at you and your wonderful heart

Bonnie Sue

---------------------------------

Ring'em or ping'em. Make PC-to-phone calls as low as 1¢/min with

Messenger with Voice.

Posted May 29, 2006 · May 29, 2006

,

That is a lot like me...a hitch in my git-a-long. When my hips hurt so much at

night I have to get up to stop the pain. Some how that seem to be a different

thing than limping and dragging when I start to walk. At this point I haven't

been diagnosed with anything. I went to a rheumatologist that took a couple

months to get the apt. Then she looked at all the positive lab test and said

she didn't know anything about that. She sent a letter to my GP saying she

found nothing wrong. This all started in Jan this year after a pulmonary

specialist found what he considered big trouble with my autoimmune system. I

have an apt. with a different rheum this Wed. Perhaps someone will answer your

question as to if this sounds like osteo or what.

BVan (Betty)

Subject: Re: [ ] New member Fran

git-a-long. I am not even sure that I have RA or OA. When I stand up from

bed in the AM it hurts in my hips and spine until I walk across the bedroom

and maybe out to the kitchen and get a cup of coffee. The moving about makes

the hip pain go away to a great extent. If I sit and watch TV, when I get up

I hobble read a little and decided this sounded more like RA than

OA. How do my symptoms jibe with your understanding? RA or OA?

Posted May 30, 2006 · May 30, 2006

Welcome ,

This is an amazing group for information and support. I am sorry your

going through so much with the RA, we can all understand how your

feeling. I look forward to getting to know you, Tawny

Posted May 30, 2006 · May 30, 2006

Hi :

Well, I am no doctor, but to me it sounds like OA more

than RA. Do you have swelling in your joints? Warmth

or redness? When you say your hips are stiff in the

mornings, is it more than an hour? With RA, the pain

and stiffness lasts much more than just a trip to the

kitchen, mine lasts all day. My git-along has gone

along lol. Yes, it definately is hard to get up and

down after you have been sitting for a while, but if

your walk clears up after a few steps, then I would

say it might be more of an OA problem.

I sure hope that it is not RA that you have, not to

say that OA is a great thing (I have that too), but RA

is so much more damaging. If it were RA, I would also

have expected your doctor to have started you on a

DMARD like Methotrexate to try and slow down the

disease process. To have put you only on pain meds

was not the best way to treat you if it is RA, because

the pain meds only mask the RA, and the disease

process continues eating away at your joints and

causing deformity and disability.

I would suggest you go back to the rheumy and get

blood work done to ease your mind on this issue. It's

not always clear even with blood work, but it would

help to rule in or out RA, I would think. I am glad

that the Celebrex is helping you - I was on that and

it did help me too, but I stopped it with the Vioox

scare, and switched to Mobic which is not as

effective, but I think is safer in my case.

Anyway, in my humble opinion, I would say it is more

OA than RA, but check with your doctor, okay? There

are also meds you can take for OA, and you need to

check to see that you are not loosing bone mass or

anything. I hope that your prostate cancer continues

to be in good control. Hope this helps -

Kathe in CA

:

>

> >

Posted May 30, 2006 · May 30, 2006

Hi Kathe.

I am all messed up I guess. When I read about OA it said if the pain went

away with activity it was RA. All I know is when I get up out of bed I hurt

sumpin turrible in my back and hips but if I walk a little pretty soon it

doesn't hurt at all. If I sit in the chair and read the mail when I get up

it hurts again until I move around a little. No swelling. No redness.

Fingers hurt all the time if I clench them. Neck hurts all the time if I

turn my head. No pain when it's straight ahead. Shoulders hurt all the time

if I lift any weight. I am sitting here typing this and I have no pain

anywhere.

Old man Hogan had a goat that was all messed up like me. :-)

2466.

" il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway

Re: [ ] New member

>

> Hi :

>

> Well, I am no doctor, but to me it sounds like OA more

> than RA. Do you have swelling in your joints? Warmth

> or redness? When you say your hips are stiff in the

> mornings, is it more than an hour? With RA, the pain

> and stiffness lasts much more than just a trip to the

> kitchen, mine lasts all day. My git-along has gone

> along lol. Yes, it definately is hard to get up and

> down after you have been sitting for a while, but if

> your walk clears up after a few steps, then I would

> say it might be more of an OA problem.

>

> I sure hope that it is not RA that you have, not to

> say that OA is a great thing (I have that too), but RA

> is so much more damaging. If it were RA, I would also

> have expected your doctor to have started you on a

> DMARD like Methotrexate to try and slow down the

> disease process. To have put you only on pain meds

> was not the best way to treat you if it is RA, because

> the pain meds only mask the RA, and the disease

> process continues eating away at your joints and

> causing deformity and disability.

>

> I would suggest you go back to the rheumy and get

> blood work done to ease your mind on this issue. It's

> not always clear even with blood work, but it would

> help to rule in or out RA, I would think. I am glad

> that the Celebrex is helping you - I was on that and

> it did help me too, but I stopped it with the Vioox

> scare, and switched to Mobic which is not as

> effective, but I think is safer in my case.

>

> Anyway, in my humble opinion, I would say it is more

> OA than RA, but check with your doctor, okay? There

> are also meds you can take for OA, and you need to

> check to see that you are not loosing bone mass or

> anything. I hope that your prostate cancer continues

> to be in good control. Hope this helps -

>

> Kathe in CA

> :

>>

>> >

Posted May 31, 2006 · May 31, 2006

,

Welcome to the group. I know you will find a lot of

helpful info here. The people are great. Please go to

a rheumy and get on some meds that can help you. I was

like that before I started taking the mtx. Of course

now I also take the enbrel shots. I hope that things

get better for you soon.

Beth in AR

--- Kennedy <ikennedy2@...> wrote:

> Hi all.

>

> I am a 75yo male and have had RA for a while but it

> is progressing to the point where it is greatly

> affecting my QOL. It is in my neck (where it

> started), shoulders, hip saddle, hands and feet now.

> It is becoming a severe aggravation in the morning

> getting out of bed but seems to abate with activity.

> Any heavy exertion, lifting, getting up and down

> from the floor, etc, is almost impossible.

>

> I take 200mg of Celebrex twice a day for the pain

> but no other n-saids. I have found that the otc meds

> have little efficiacy for me. I wasted a lot of

> money on Glucosamine/Chondroitin over the years and

> no longer take it. Mostly because it has been shown

> to stimulate tumor activity and I have PCa. I did

> not realize it was not helping me until I stopped

> taking it and nothing happened. :-)

>

> Looking forward to meeting all of you.

>

> 2463

> " il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

Posted June 30, 2006 · June 30, 2006

I've had opportunity to try a pain doctor twice, and both were fiascos. The

first one overbooked on purpose and we all had to wait for him to finish his

shift as an anesthesiologist at the hospital, then wait for him to start

seeing patients. People were in agony and he's taking his time. When he did

see patients, it would be for one or two minutes, then spend 15 minutes on

paperwork or dictation. He finally gave me some cortisone shots in my neck

muscles and charged $60 for the medicine and $60 for each time he put the

needle in my muscle about an inch apart. To get those shots from my neck to

my shoulder, the bill was almost $600! One needle and one load of steroids.

We had some words and he never got his money from me and very little from

Medicare. I'm not sure if it's the same doc, but he saw me for almost 2

minutes and I had to chase him into the hallway to try to ask questions. He

flippantly said to take increased Prednisone for my lower back and Sciatic

nerve pain, and I ended up in the hospital with Atrial Fibrillation twice,

apparently because of the increased Prednisone. I'm going to have to see him

again because I have no other choice, but this time, I'll make the rules and

he'll give me the time and attention I deserve and will pay for. I still

don't know what was found on the MRI, just that it was 'significant', and it

hurts 24/7 at level 8-9 even with Morphine I'm already taking. I hope you

have better luck than I had.

Dennis in Eastexas

" You can't always fix it with money "

[ ] New Member

>I have fibromyalgia and OA. I work full time in Public Health as an

> RN. I love my job and my family but I hurt all the time. I am new here

> and just trying to find out what other ppl are doing and trying and

> what's working. I have tried alot of things. LOTS.... I am considering

> pain management Drs.. what yall think?

> Oh yeah, I'm from South GA...

>

Posted July 1, 2006 · July 1, 2006

--- In , " mimicindy27 " <mimicindy27@...>

wrote:

>

> I have fibromyalgia and OA. I work full time in Public Health as an

> RN. I love my job and my family but I hurt all the time. I am new

here

> and just trying to find out what other ppl are doing and trying and

> what's working. I have tried alot of things. LOTS.... I am

considering

> pain management Drs.. what yall think?

> Oh yeah, I'm from South GA...

>

>Hello and Welcome I have RA,OA, and Fribo and other thing I

Tried pain Mamagement it did not work for me He just keep giving me

more and more meds I got so I did not not know what was going on in

the world I was so high and still had the pain.. I am on

Mtx,Enbrel,and other thing and I am doing the best now on Enbrel.

still have some bad days. but more good days. good luck to you hope

you find something that works for you.

Janet IN IL

Posted July 1, 2006 · July 1, 2006

--- In , Crispin <bcrispin@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello,

> I would like to introduce myself. My name is and I live in

Oxnard, California, with my husband and 2 beagles. I just celebrated

my

> 64th birthday. I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylosis (a

rheumatoid arthrits in the spine) almost 2 years ago. Looking back,

I have had

> mild, slowly-progressing symptoms for about 25 years but it is only

in the past 2 years the symptoms and rate of progression have greatly

> increased. I found the article about estrogen deprivation and

arthritis interesting as I went off estrogen RT a little more than 2

years ago.

>

> I have an acquaintance who is trying to sell me a nutritional

supplement called Mangosteen. It is supposed to be good for

arthritis, cholesterol

> and high blood pressure, all of which I fight. I was wondering if

anyone on the list has any experience with this supplement?

>

> I still work full time as a librarian, have a small, home-based

business I run with my husband's help, plus we play in a chi

band. It is

> getting harder and harder to keep up the pace and sometimes

standing for an hour at a time playing a guitar is very painful. I

am desperately

> fighting giving-in to the pain. I'm sure many, if not most, of you

have gone through that. I am taking Voltaren and it helps but

certainly does

> not eradicate the discomfort.

>

> I am looking forward to reading all your posts and gathering as

much information as I can about my condition and options open to me.

>

> Crispin

>

HI , I am in Arizona. And a long time ago used to live in Santa

Barbara....so I know a bit about Oxnard. WELCOME! have an aunt who

has had problems with autoimmine diseases (not RA or Lupis but

something different)...she swears by mangosteen juice. Says its a

wonder drug. I have never tried it so I can't tell you if it's true

or not. I did try Noni juice when first diagnosed...because at that

time I would have tried anything to make this go away. I had been off

of my meds for three months (trying to get some help) and was in

agony at the time. I can't say that it did anything that I noticed as

improvement. I took it for about 3 bottles and gave up because I was

on so many meds at that point that I felt that I was poisioning

myself. It may be worth a try for you...I think everyone is

different, and what didn't work for one may work for another....but

don't buy it from a salesperson...it is a pyramid type business even

though they say it isn't, and it's very expesive to buy that way. I

have seen it by the single bottle for a reasonable price at costco

here in AZ. ...then you could try it for a minimal inerstment!!! Good

luck and welcome...it's not a nice disease to have....but this is a

nice place to learn what other people are doing....what's working and

what's not!We are all in the same boat...some just have more leaks

than others..so you have to paddle harder!!! Jenna

Posted July 1, 2006 · July 1, 2006

WOW... Has anybody had success with pain management? I also do massage. I

usually get them monthly. If I could afford weekly it would be wonderful. I

usually feel better that nite anyway. Usually the next day or so, the pain is

just as bad.. But that is me.. I currently dont take anything for the OA because

of the expense and because I have had gastric bypass and the risks of ulcers etc

are so great. Plus right now I am severely anemic and am about to have testing

to rule out any gi bleeding..

Also, has anyone tried the Certo in purple grape juice daily for arthritis?

Wonder if anyone had any success with that?

__________________________________________________

Posted July 1, 2006 · July 1, 2006

In a message dated 7/1/06 1:19:21 PM, siofra520@... writes:

> I would like to introduce myself. My name is and I live in

> Oxnard, California, with my husband and 2 beagles. I just celebrated

> my

> > 64th birthday. I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylosis (a

> rheumatoid arthrits in the spine) almost 2 years ago.>>>>

>

I have this too, what are you symptoms?

Pris

Posted July 3, 2006 · July 3, 2006

Hi :

Welcome to the group! I am sorry you are suffering so

much from pain - I also have RA and Fibromyalgia, so

know what you are talking about. For my RA, I am

taking Enbrel, Methotrexate, and Mobic; for my Fibro,

I take Lyrica, Skelaxin, Ambien CR, and Zanaflex. For

pain of both, I take Ultram. I am also on meds for

high blood pressure and asthma. Lots of meds, but

they keep me going.

Has your doctor talked to you about adding another

medication to the Methotrexate? Sometimes that will

help strengthen both medications. You should talk to

him about either that, or stopping the Mtx which you

say is not helping, and going on to another DMARD.

The Prednisone is great, takes the pain away, but is

only masking what the disease process itself continues

to do to your joints. It can also cause cataracts and

raise your blood sugar, so I try to stay off it as

much as possible. It's great when you are going from

one medication to another, as a bridge, but then I

taper down on it as soon as I can. It also makes me

mentally very serious, very cranky, intense, and I

don't like that feeling.

Anyway, you have a lot of issues to deal with in

regards to your parents, and your husband's illnesses

too. Stress is not a friend of RA. Try to take time

for yourself, quiet time, just sitting and relaxing,

or reading, watching t.v., maybe take a short walk.

I know it is hard to think of anything other than just

getting the pain to stop, but meditation has been

helpful to some. Anything to take your mind off the

pain as much as possible.

See your doctor, let him know the Mtx is not helping,

and discuss your options as soon as possible. Active

early and aggressive treatment of RA is the only way

to treat this disease effectively. Also, talk to your

doctor about meds for fibro. I have had a lot of help

with my nerve pain with use of Lyrica. Ambien CR and

Zanaflex help me to sleep. Sleep is a big problem

with fibro, as I am sure you know, and getting the

restorative sleep is an important link in helping

control your pain.

I hope that this helps you - take care - let us know

what your doctor says -

Kathe in CA

--- Tait <sarah.tait@...> wrote:

> Hi all! I just joined because I feel I need to learn

> more about RA. I have

> been diagnosed with it since December. I also have

> fibromyalgia and am in

> intense pain today-even oxycontin has not touched

> it.

> I> I am on methotrexate but have no relief with

that.

> When I take prednisone it

> helps but I don't want to gain lots of weight since

> I am already heavy.

> Today I just want to fall off the planet or anything

> as long as the pain

> stops.....

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

Posted July 4, 2006 · July 4, 2006

Welcome, Lynn. This is a great group. You will get a lot of

understanding and support here. And our moderators, a and , do

a wonderful job of educating us about RA and other autoimmune diseases.

If you work full time, I can understand that that takes all of your

energy. Does your husband help out at all? If not, you should recruit

him to do some of the house cleaning. Your daughter is old enough to

start helping, too, with small chores. And when you do clean, take it a

little at a time, small steps. The house does not have to be spic and

span all the time.

Good luck and hang in there.

Sue

On Tuesday, July 4, 2006, at 03:48 PM, Lynn Burrell wrote:

> I have just joined this group. I have been recently diagnosed with

> RA. For years they thought is was Fibro, now they are not sure it

> ever was. I am on Plaquinel and Arava daily. For pain I can only

> take Darvocet. I am allergic to aspirin, that covers all the anti

> inflamatories. I take Zaniflex for the spasms. I also haveDiabetes

> which rules out Predisone. I am just starting to get some relief from

> the addition of the Arava, (MTX family) but I still don't have the

> physical endurance I need to work full time, take care of my husband

> and 7 year old daughter and keep the house clean. We order out every

> night and my house needs a good cleaning. Any hints or ideas would be

> welcome.

Posted July 4, 2006 · July 4, 2006

Hubby is great, he tries, but he too works 7 days a week with side work and a

bad back. My daughter is a little spoiled, she helps some, but not as much as

she could. As for spic and span, I am just trying to keep the board of health

away. thanks for the support.

Re: [ ] new member