Re: Mike & Ankylosing Spondylitis

[Guest guest]

Hello Mike! I have a question about ankylosing spondylitis. My doctor thinks

that I might have this as well (will find out hopefully tomorrow) & I was

curious as to just what your symptoms are. Does it effect your feet, hands,

wrists, hips, knees & shoulders? I just started sulfasalazine this week, so I

don't know how it is going to work, but I feel like I've been kicked in the

stomach. Since at this time I know next to nothing about this disease, where

did you learn that it is the worst form of RA? I'm probably wrong but I thought

that AS & RA were similar types of diseases (auto-immune, systemic) but affected

different parts of the body. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Lori

http://users.adelphia.net/~tmihalko/Stitching/index.html

Re: [ ] New, Confused, and Extremely Depressed

Hi sparro- Sorry to say but you don't get RA and then it goes away. What you

experienced in your 20's was prob. arthritis in early stages or someting

isolated. It does not go away. Maybe you are not being believed because you tell

your story this way. Anyone who knows anything would not believe you if you said

that you had RA and then got rid of it. Your doctor should set you straight. Do

you have the same doc as your early 20's and are you seeing a Ruemitoligist?

(spelling is bad!)

A ruemy is the only person who should be diagnosing RA. And Metheltrxate and

folic acid will do nothing for your pain, it just slows the disease from

progressing. Before you lable me a " know it all " I have AS. Ankilosing

Spondilitis. It is the worst form of RA. It is a auto-imune disease where you

imune system attacks your spine, and the discs, musules and joints attached to

your spine with constent inflamation . I have had it for 23 years (well it

became active 23 years ago, I was born with it as you were with RA) It is very,

very painfull. It is also debilitative.

(please excuse my spelling I am a college grad, but my spelling is really

bad!!!)

I spend at least one week in the hospital a year, and I take injections once a

week as well as Remicade infustions every 6 weeks and spinal steroid injections

3 times a year. Let me give some advice

1. If you are not seeing a ruemy doctor-see one. They should be the only one

treating you. NEVER GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. You need to be on an anti-inflamitory DAILY!. Alive or advil at least, but

you should try Celebrex, or Mobid which are prescriptions. You may however find

that Alive and advil work fine.

3. You need to be on some pain med-even Darvicete which is the weekest

narcotic is better than nothing but you NEED something.

4. Metheltrxate is fine and the Folic acid is just to protect your liver from

the Methtrex-niether do anything directly for pain.

5. Eat protien-protien attacts the inflamation molicules that cause the

iternal swelling. The swelling presses against the largest group of nerves in

your body and cases pain!!

6. If you have cramps or spasims eat bananas and drink a glass of tonic water

(without the Gin!) every day before you go to bed. Tonis water has Quinine in it

and the bananas have potasium both of which helps cramps and spasims.

7. GET SOME PAIM MEDS. Don't feel like a drug addict. It is a quality of life

issue. As well as helping with the pain, pain meds help you to calm down and

feel better, all around. Watch yourself though you have to take as directed, you

are young and you have a lot of years to pace yourself.

Well I am getting tired and going to bed. Any time you need advise or have

quetions please feel free to write.

Feel better and God Bless!

Mike

all around

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