Re: New to group Ruth

[Guest guest]

Ruth:

Welcome to the group! The people here are very caring

and supportive - you are not alone, we do understand

what you are going through.

First, congratulations on your new baby! Wow, I

cannot even imagine how hard it must be for you to be

taking care of a newborn, and two other children, with

your RA being so bad, and having so much pain.

I use rice socks on my wrists, ankles, and knees -

these are made with old socks, and fill them with rice

(not instant), not too full - just enough so they are

pliable - and heat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

The stay warm for quite a while and really form to the

joints. You can also try parafin was baths for your

hands - I think you can get those at any drug store.

Also, hot water soaks and hot showers, baths, whenever

you get the time, have helped me.

Are you under the care of a rheumatologist right now?

What has he said regarding your treatment - RA should

be treated aggressively from the start to give you the

best chance of not developing any bone or joint

deformities. I know that you don't want to take

anything right now since you are breastfeeding, but I

think I have read that some women have been able to

use low dose prednisone while doing that to help with

their RA pain.

Once you stop breastfeeding, your doctor should get

you on a treatment program right away - and once you

find the right medication/combo of meds you should

have less pain within a few months. I know, that's a

long time, but you need to be patient as it takes the

meds time to kick into your system and begin working.

The only thing I know that works right away in

relieving pain and inflammation is Prednisone - but it

is not something that we want to take for too long

generally because it can cause side effects.

I wish there was more I could do to help you, but just

know that you are not alone, we have all been where

you are as far as RA pain and being frightened of what

is happening to our bodies and our futures, and we do

understand, and are here for you, 24/7. There is life

after RA, so take heart, okay? So, please come and

vent anytime, let us know how things are going, and I

will keep you in my prayers.

Take care - hang in there -

Kathe in CA

--- annabelle506 <annabelle506@...> wrote:

> Hello everyone, my name is Ruth and I've had RA for

> 2 years now, it's > been rough ride, I recently had

a baby and during my> pregnancy my RA > went in

remission, but those days are long gone it> has flared

up twice > as bad as before. I am struggling very

hard, I am in> constant pain, my > hands my knees

ankles, it becomes unbearable at> times. I'm not

taking > anything now be/cuz I am nursing my baby, but

I find> myself in extreme > pain, Ive lost a lot of

my hand strength, I'm> worried that it's > getting

worse with each passing day. I need some> advice from

any of > you regarding what I can do to ease the pain,

I have> very bad days > when I just cry all day

because I have 3 children> who need me... and

> always so tired and with pain I don't have the

> energy and the truth is > I feel this disease is

taking over my life ...please> any advice will

> be so greatly appreciated...thank you again

>

> Ruth

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