Re: RA question

[Guest guest]

it takes about six months here.

Jolene

In a message dated 5/24/2008 11:16:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

flooringpro1@... writes:

Good Morning Everyone

If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

Rheumy?

--- In _ @groRA-SUPP_ (mailto: ) ,

" goodbead40 " <goodbead40@goo>

wrote:

>

> --- In _ @groRA-SUPP_ (mailto: ) ,

" shihtzumom " <shihtzumom1@>

wrote:

> >

> > Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see

a

> whole lot

> > of people with it though.

>

> Well, how old is this info saying it is rare, and how rare does it

say

> it is? I have never read that. Occurance of all autoimmunity has

risen

> drastically in recent years, it's more popular now than ever.....I

know

> a number of people with RA but I also know a whole lot more without

it.

> Also, a place like an infusion center is not a proper representaion

of

> the general population. RA and many other nasties will be a lot

more

> common there

>

> The question is whether the treatment is helping or not. As bad as

pain

> is, lack of it is not the only measure of health. The concern of

> whether it is needed or not is something to be discussed with a

good

> doctor.

>

>

>

**************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch " Cooking with

Tyler Florence " on AOL Food.

(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4 & ?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

[Guest guest]

I guess it depends on where you live. In WA state it only took about a month

to get in. Once we did find a Doc here in MS it did not take long. It is

finding one that took forever though. I have found it usually takes awhile when

you are a new patient to be seen by any specialist. We have gotten lucky

though cause my dd needs to see an Oncologist and they got us an appointment

within a week of calling.

In a message dated 5/24/2008 10:16:32 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

flooringpro1@... writes:

Good Morning Everyone

If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

Rheumy?

**************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch " Cooking with

Tyler Florence " on AOL Food.

(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4 & ?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

RA is rare when compared to the general population. Less than 1% of the

general population has RA, which makes it very rare. It makes sense that you

know alot of people with RA -- you have connected with people and you are

talking about places that people with RA meet -- infusion centers, etc.

Do your infusions make you feel better? If so, then you probably have one

of the diseases that the IV treats. I take Remicade and I can firmly say it

helps my RA and I do not doubt the presence of my RA. The infusions aren't like

Vicodin or Percocet. An average healthy person takes Vicodin they get high. Why

would a healthy person take an infusion when it wouldn't give them a high?

I hope that helps. It's just my 2 cents.

Take care,

Steph in VA

Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see a whole lot

of people with it though. Both my husband and myself have it, and the infusion

center is filled when either of us goes for our infusions. So my question

is....are we being diagnosed with RA too often so that doctors will make more

money? Or is the idea of RA being " rare " incorrect. I have seen this so many

times, that it worries me that I might be getting these infusions and taking

risky medicines and not really have RA. When I complain of pain in my knees,

especially, the rheumy says that is osteoarthritis. So, if my pain isn't from

the RA and therefore the meds don't change my pain, then do I REALLY have RA?

They say the hand mris show some RA and the fact that I felt better on the

Medrol says that I definitely have RA. Is that really so? It just worries me to

take these meds if they can be mistaken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The 2008 Charlottesville Arthritis Walk is Sat. May 3 at UVA's Stadium

The Walk raises both awareness of the prevalence of arthritis and money for

research & programs for people with arthritis! The Cville walk includes a

simultaneous Dog Walk as well.

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- Still Getting Things Done

[Guest guest]

>

> Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see a

whole lot

> of people with it though.

Well, how old is this info saying it is rare, and how rare does it say

it is? I have never read that. Occurance of all autoimmunity has risen

drastically in recent years, it's more popular now than ever.....I know

a number of people with RA but I also know a whole lot more without it.

Also, a place like an infusion center is not a proper representaion of

the general population. RA and many other nasties will be a lot more

common there

The question is whether the treatment is helping or not. As bad as pain

is, lack of it is not the only measure of health. The concern of

whether it is needed or not is something to be discussed with a good

doctor.

[Guest guest]

Good Morning Everyone

If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

Rheumy?

--- In , " goodbead40 " <goodbead40@...>

wrote:

>

> --- In , " shihtzumom " <shihtzumom1@>

wrote:

> >

> > Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see

a

> whole lot

> > of people with it though.

>

> Well, how old is this info saying it is rare, and how rare does it

say

> it is? I have never read that. Occurance of all autoimmunity has

risen

> drastically in recent years, it's more popular now than ever.....I

know

> a number of people with RA but I also know a whole lot more without

it.

> Also, a place like an infusion center is not a proper representaion

of

> the general population. RA and many other nasties will be a lot

more

> common there

>

> The question is whether the treatment is helping or not. As bad as

pain

> is, lack of it is not the only measure of health. The concern of

> whether it is needed or not is something to be discussed with a

good

> doctor.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I live in Ny theres a lot of rhuematologists, but to find a good one you

have to wait. The first one (Quack)

Saw all my mris xrays and everthing including the psoriasis and sent me back

to my primary, who didn't even treat me them.. Told me i was depressed,

which of course i was i also have rsd, and so i had kept an appointment with a

rhuematologist i had made an appointment with which told six months.. Thank god

i kept the appointment.. While my blood word for ra was negative, the crp

test normal was .6 mine was 6.8... If it werent for him i wouldn't be walking

now. It takes about two doctors anymore to find out whats going on.. He was

livid that another doctor wouldn't treat me.. So now he thinks i have ra/and

or psoriatic arthritis. I went from not walking at all, to now walking

without a walker and cane. So there may be a lot of rheumathoids but finding a

good one is the key.

Jolene

In a message dated 5/24/2008 3:23:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

flooringpro1@... writes:

Hi everyone

I did a quick search on my insurance web site for Rheumeys ( 30 mile

radious of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. ). It came up with 46 different

offices. Keep in mind these are just the Rheumys that take my

insurance, and more than one doctor in most of the 46 offices. I

still think, it's a case of more than 1% has these conditions verses

a rarity in Rheumys.

> >

> > If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

> > Rheumy?

> >

>

**************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch " Cooking with

Tyler Florence " on AOL Food.

(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4 & ?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

[Guest guest]

Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see a

whole lot of people with it though.

Dear Group: I have asked this question before. When I was diagnosed

in 1972 (I was 17) NO ONE where I lived had even heard of RA. The

damned doctors where I lived couldn't even diagnose it.

NOW I see TV ads for meds for it ALL THE TIME. That tells me in and of

its self it is NOT rare.

I have asked this question before: Can some one tell me the ratio of

people w/ RA in today's population compared to the ratio of people

diagnosed w/ RA, say 30 - 40 years ago?

Would love to see those statistics.

I would try, but I'm mathematically disabled....Yep, been tested and

labeled...... ;-)

Good Luck,

Shauna

[Guest guest]

I have been reading it in recent information sent to me in packets from

various pharmaceutical companies, and in info from the Arthritis Foundation,

including their magazine which I subscribe to. I have also heard it in tv

commercials for RA meds.

[ ] Re: RA question

Good Morning Everyone

If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

Rheumy?

--- In , " goodbead40 " <goodbead40@...>

wrote:

>

> --- In , " shihtzumom " <shihtzumom1@>

wrote:

> >

> > Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see

a

> whole lot

> > of people with it though.

>

> Well, how old is this info saying it is rare, and how rare does it

say

> it is? I have never read that. Occurance of all autoimmunity has

risen

> drastically in recent years, it's more popular now than ever.....I

know

> a number of people with RA but I also know a whole lot more without

it.

> Also, a place like an infusion center is not a proper representaion

of

> the general population. RA and many other nasties will be a lot

more

> common there

>

> The question is whether the treatment is helping or not. As bad as

pain

> is, lack of it is not the only measure of health. The concern of

> whether it is needed or not is something to be discussed with a

good

> doctor.

>

>

>

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

[Guest guest]

Why would people take the meds and infusions if it didn't make them high,

you asked. Well, like me, if their doctor told them they needed it, many

would just go along with the doctor instead of questioning it, believing the

doctor must know what he was talking about. However, we know that doctors

don't always do things for " our " good, but many times it is for their own

financial good that they prescribe things. I have seen the bills from my

insurance company. The rheumy bills the insur. Company over $5600 per

infusion. I think they actually get paid close to $4000. That is an

incredible amount of money, and a pretty good incentive for getting as many

as possible on the infusions, don't you think?

As for the infusions helping me, I don't know if they do or not. They don't

change any of my pain, because supposedly my pain is from osteoarthritis.

That's why I am questioning this diagnosis. Now, my husband has psoriatic

arthritis (severely) and I don't have any question at all that his diagnosis

is correct. He also gets the Remecade infusions. We both take methotrexate

also. It just seems that it this is so rare, then both of us having it in

the same family is improbable also. (Not impossible, but definitely

improbable.)

[ ] Re:Re: RA question

Hi ,

RA is rare when compared to the general population. Less than 1% of the

general population has RA, which makes it very rare. It makes sense that you

know alot of people with RA -- you have connected with people and you are

talking about places that people with RA meet -- infusion centers, etc.

Do your infusions make you feel better? If so, then you probably have

one of the diseases that the IV treats. I take Remicade and I can firmly say

it helps my RA and I do not doubt the presence of my RA. The infusions

aren't like Vicodin or Percocet. An average healthy person takes Vicodin

they get high. Why would a healthy person take an infusion when it wouldn't

give them a high?

I hope that helps. It's just my 2 cents.

Take care,

Steph in VA

Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see a whole

lot of people with it though. Both my husband and myself have it, and the

infusion center is filled when either of us goes for our infusions. So my

question is....are we being diagnosed with RA too often so that doctors will

make more money? Or is the idea of RA being " rare " incorrect. I have seen

this so many times, that it worries me that I might be getting these

infusions and taking risky medicines and not really have RA. When I complain

of pain in my knees, especially, the rheumy says that is osteoarthritis. So,

if my pain isn't from the RA and therefore the meds don't change my pain,

then do I REALLY have RA? They say the hand mris show some RA and the fact

that I felt better on the Medrol says that I definitely have RA. Is that

really so? It just worries me to take these meds if they can be mistaken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The 2008 Charlottesville Arthritis Walk is Sat. May 3 at UVA's

Stadium

The Walk raises both awareness of the prevalence of arthritis and money

for research & programs for people with arthritis! The Cville walk includes

a simultaneous Dog Walk as well.

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to

change the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret

Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- Still Getting Things Done

[Guest guest]

It's because rheumys are even rarer.

Sue

On Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 11:11 AM, flooringpro1 wrote:

>

> If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

> Rheumy?

>

[Guest guest]

When I first began having issues with my knees, the first thing that was done

was to have a complete bone scan to see if they could see any evidence. There

was not any. OA is more common than RA and is a condition of wear and tear on

the body and aging. My knee pain showed the bilateral joint effusions that go

with RA. Yet, I am seronegative except for elevated CRP, Sed, Westegren tests.

I often wonder why I am taking the medication as well. I do know my body is

responding to the treatment. when I have to stop taking my sulfasalazine due to

colds and infections (which I am going on my I think 6th antibiotic since sept.)

I notice my pain and flare increases. My latest diagnosis was unspecified

connective tissue disease. My next form of treatment is methotrexate or enbrel.

I will find out next week which it will be. Yet, I'm like you. I don't want to

be taking these medications, continuing to get colds, etc. if I don't even have

the disease. I wonder how they

figure out in difficult cases what to give for medications to treat if they

can't figure out what is wrong with the patient

shihtzumom <shihtzumom1@...> wrote: Whenever

I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see a whole lot

of people with it though. Both my husband and myself have it, and the

infusion center is filled when either of us goes for our infusions. So my

question is....are we being diagnosed with RA too often so that doctors will

make more money? Or is the idea of RA being " rare " incorrect. I have seen

this so many times, that it worries me that I might be getting these

infusions and taking risky medicines and not really have RA. When I complain

of pain in my knees, especially, the rheumy says that is osteoarthritis. So,

if my pain isn't from the RA and therefore the meds don't change my pain,

then do I REALLY have RA? They say the hand mris show some RA and the fact

that I felt better on the Medrol says that I definitely have RA. Is that

really so? It just worries me to take these meds if they can be mistaken.

[Guest guest]

There are over 100 types of inflammatory arthritis as well as Fibromyalgia,

Lupus, Lyme, etc. There is a shortage of rheumatologists due to the fact that

there are not as many new doctors entering the field. Doctors are tending to go

to the fields where they will make the most money. This has been shown in

recent studies. So not everyone going to the rheumatologist necessarily has RA.

flooringpro1 <flooringpro1@...> wrote: Good

Morning Everyone

If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

Rheumy?

> >

> > Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see

a

> whole lot

> > of people with it though.

>

> Well, how old is this info saying it is rare, and how rare does it

say

> it is? I have never read that. Occurance of all autoimmunity has

risen

> drastically in recent years, it's more popular now than ever.....I

know

> a number of people with RA but I also know a whole lot more without

it.

> Also, a place like an infusion center is not a proper representaion

of

> the general population. RA and many other nasties will be a lot

more

> common there

>

> The question is whether the treatment is helping or not. As bad as

pain

> is, lack of it is not the only measure of health. The concern of

> whether it is needed or not is something to be discussed with a

good

> doctor.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone

I did a quick search on my insurance web site for Rheumeys ( 30 mile

radious of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. ). It came up with 46 different

offices. Keep in mind these are just the Rheumys that take my

insurance, and more than one doctor in most of the 46 offices. I

still think, it's a case of more than 1% has these conditions verses

a rarity in Rheumys.

> >

> > If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

> > Rheumy?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

You're right. Rheumatoid arthritis is not rare and, unfortunately, there are

less than 5000 rheumatologists in the US.

Not an MD

> [ ] Re: RA question

>

> Hi everyone

>

> I did a quick search on my insurance web site for Rheumeys ( 30 mile

> radious of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. ). It came up with 46 different

> offices. Keep in mind these are just the Rheumys that take my

> insurance, and more than one doctor in most of the 46 offices. I

> still think, it's a case of more than 1% has these conditions verses

> a rarity in Rheumys.

>

>

[Guest guest]

But then in small towns or rural areas, there are virtually no

rheumatologists. I have to travel to a larger town to see one. In my

area, it takes six months to get in to see some of the rheumys. All of

them are very, very busy. You're really lucky to have so many available

in your neck of the woods.

Sue

On Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 02:12 PM, flooringpro1 wrote:

>

> I did a quick search on my insurance web site for Rheumeys ( 30 mile

> radious of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. ). It came up with 46 different

> offices. Keep in mind these are just the Rheumys that take my

> insurance, and more than one doctor in most of the 46 offices. I

> still think, it's a case of more than 1% has these conditions verses

> a rarity in Rheumys.

[Guest guest]

My question is why would you ever go to a doctor you didnt trust your life with

? My RA tells me straight up, if you dont believe it is helping, then stop

taking it. I didnt think the celebrex was helping so I stopped, well it took

about 4 days and I couldnt even get out of bed hardly because I was so stiff.

But she is all for me being apart of the meds I am taking, and deciding if I

want to take it. So my advice would be to shop around for a RA doc that you can

feel comfortable with...

[Guest guest]

Me too Sue! I have to travel almost 3 hours from my area to the specialist at U

of Michigan. So it's 7 hours round trip just about. And as pointed out,

there are only 5000 rheumatologists in the US right now. With Lyme, Lupus, and

over 100 types of inflammatory arthritis alone, on top of Fibromyalgia and other

disease they treat, there is always sure to be a waiting line. I used to have

to go every 8 weeks, now I go every 12 weeks unless I have an emergency and need

to be seen sooner.

Sue <marysue@...> wrote: But then in

small towns or rural areas, there are virtually no

rheumatologists. I have to travel to a larger town to see one. In my

area, it takes six months to get in to see some of the rheumys. All of

them are very, very busy. You're really lucky to have so many available

in your neck of the woods.

Sue

On Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 02:12 PM, flooringpro1 wrote:

>

> I did a quick search on my insurance web site for Rheumeys ( 30 mile

> radious of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. ). It came up with 46 different

> offices. Keep in mind these are just the Rheumys that take my

> insurance, and more than one doctor in most of the 46 offices. I

> still think, it's a case of more than 1% has these conditions verses

> a rarity in Rheumys.

[Guest guest]

I know this isn't directed at me, but it isn't always that easy.  If you have

strict HMO policies you go who you are told to go to, with very little

concession.  It can be a long row of hurdles to jump to get a change in RDs.  I

know my RD established, " healthy " 3 month visit is $180.  That is quite a chunk

of change.  Of course, if you have to have more services, then that is more

money.

 

Also, if you live in a remote area, your choices are restricted greatly.  I live

in an area where a 30 minute drive can get me dozens, if not hundreds, of RDs. 

Many of them refuse new patients, others may not take certain insurances, others

may have a 6 month wait for new patients...

 

Specialists, in general are a pain.  With my new orthopedic surgeon I lucked

out.  I only had to wait, at the time 6 weeks to see him, otherwise I would have

had to wait until October!  My son's pediatric endo is usally booked 6 months in

advance.

 

Shandi

From: <kmitch1966@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: RA question

Date: Saturday, May 24, 2008, 4:53 PM

My question is why would you ever go to a doctor you didnt trust your life with

? My RA tells me straight up, if you dont believe it is helping, then stop

taking it. I didnt think the celebrex was helping so I stopped, well it took

about 4 days and I couldnt even get out of bed hardly because I was so stiff.

But she is all for me being apart of the meds I am taking, and deciding if I

want to take it. So my advice would be to shop around for a RA doc that you can

feel comfortable with...

[Guest guest]

I think most do trust their doctors as long as they know they have a good one.

Yet again, with very complex, complicated medical cases where we present an

enigma to our doctors, its just difficult to know what to treat. They can treat

you as having early RA being seronegative and all but unspecified connective

tissue disease can turn into other things as well. The hospital I am treated

at, has been listed in US News and World Reports top ten hospitals for several

years. I know my doctor is a professor and specialist in her area. It's just

always a worry when one doesn't know for sure what is wrong. Some are ill

enough without additional things adding on to it.

<kmitch1966@...> wrote: My

question is why would you ever go to a doctor you didnt trust your life with ?

My RA tells me straight up, if you dont believe it is helping, then stop taking

it. I didnt think the celebrex was helping so I stopped, well it took about 4

days and I couldnt even get out of bed hardly because I was so stiff. But she is

all for me being apart of the meds I am taking, and deciding if I want to take

it. So my advice would be to shop around for a RA doc that you can feel

comfortable with...

[Guest guest]

That's very true Shandi. HMO and PPO are really strict. I know last time I was

at my doctors office they were telling a woman they no longer took her HMO plan.

There was an article out a few months ago, that many rheumatologists might quit

taking Medicare. Many rheumatologists where I go have quit treating those with

only FMS. They provide them with a free seminar on how to manage but want their

family doctors to treat. They say that so many people are getting it and there

is no cure at the time, and a GP can write the scripts for what is supposed to

help. They kept me since my case is complicated and I have other

rheumatological conditions. Many are so overbooked with complex patients with

multiple diagnosis that they don't have room for new patients. I've run into a

few doctors too that if you are disabled, they tell me they don't have time as

its too much paperwork. Luckily, I have a great doctor. It's just some medical

cases don't follow the classic symptoms

and that makes their job harder. I have found in any specialty not just

rheumatology there is usually a wait. I had to wait 6 weeks to get back into

the liver clinic and I'm already a patient there. And when I had to go to a new

cardiologist he had a 3 month waiting period as well.

" S. Pruitt " <seriouslysanibel@...> wrote: I

know this isn't directed at me, but it isn't always that easy. If you have

strict HMO policies you go who you are told to go to, with very little

concession. It can be a long row of hurdles to jump to get a change in RDs. I

know my RD established, " healthy " 3 month visit is $180. That is quite a chunk

of change. Of course, if you have to have more services, then that is more

money.

Also, if you live in a remote area, your choices are restricted greatly. I

live in an area where a 30 minute drive can get me dozens, if not hundreds, of

RDs. Many of them refuse new patients, others may not take certain insurances,

others may have a 6 month wait for new patients...

Specialists, in general are a pain. With my new orthopedic surgeon I lucked

out. I only had to wait, at the time 6 weeks to see him, otherwise I would have

had to wait until October! My son's pediatric endo is usally booked 6 months in

advance.

Shandi

From: <kmitch1966@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: RA question

Date: Saturday, May 24, 2008, 4:53 PM

My question is why would you ever go to a doctor you didnt trust your life with

? My RA tells me straight up, if you dont believe it is helping, then stop

taking it. I didnt think the celebrex was helping so I stopped, well it took

about 4 days and I couldnt even get out of bed hardly because I was so stiff.

But she is all for me being apart of the meds I am taking, and deciding if I

want to take it. So my advice would be to shop around for a RA doc that you can

feel comfortable with...

[Guest guest]

When I first saw my rheum in 1997, I had to wait at least 3 months to

see him, also. His office is about 10 miles south of here. Now I see

him every 4 months but if I have a problem can see him sooner. I don't

have RA but do have fibromyalgia and OA.

Debbie L

--- In , " flooringpro1 " <flooringpro1@...>

wrote:

>

> Good Morning Everyone

>

> If RA is so rare, than how come it takes 3 months just to see a

> Rheumy?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I certainly hope that my rheumatologist doesn't quit taking Medicare

patients. I don't think that Medicare allows enough for specialists. I

go to my rheumy every four months. My last bill was $131, including

blood work. Medicare reduced it to $86.39, and paid 80% of that.

Sue

On Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 06:17 PM, stephanie wrote:

> There was an article out a few months ago, that many rheumatologists

> might quit taking Medicare.

>

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: " stephanie " <stephieann2@...>

>Many rheumatologists where I go have quit treating those with only FMS.

>They provide them with a free seminar on how to >manage but want their

>family doctors to treat.

The rheumatologist that I've been to for a couple of diagnosing sessions

does not treat my fibro. She gave me a brochure on exercising and the place

to call for a $25 per person seminar on FMS. I never went because by that

point, I knew the general stuff they would tell you, exercise, eat right,

avoid stress, etc. My GP treats with a few meds because I asked her to.

Darcy

[Guest guest]

hi christine, i had the same questions at one time about the pain & meds. so

what i did was STOPPED THE MEDS that i thought were not HELPING. guess what, i

was TAKING 2 of the same meds but different NAMES. there was NO need for that

mishap, no one was getting HURT except me!!!! so sometimes i just go with my GUT

FEELING!!! theres no need to be taking meds that are not working & you still

have pain, so STOP & you be the JUDGE of your BODY!!! i hope i could be of help,

god bless, melyndagamez 5/25/08 3:35p.m.central

[ ] RA question

Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see a whole lot

of people with it though. Both my husband and myself have it, and the

infusion center is filled when either of us goes for our infusions. So my

question is....are we being diagnosed with RA too often so that doctors will

make more money? Or is the idea of RA being " rare " incorrect. I have seen

this so many times, that it worries me that I might be getting these

infusions and taking risky medicines and not really have RA. When I complain

of pain in my knees, especially, the rheumy says that is osteoarthritis. So,

if my pain isn't from the RA and therefore the meds don't change my pain,

then do I REALLY have RA? They say the hand mris show some RA and the fact

that I felt better on the Medrol says that I definitely have RA. Is that

really so?  It just worries me to take these meds if they can be mistaken.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks. I'm getting the idea that quite a few people wonder about the meds

like I do.

Re: [ ] RA question

hi christine, i had the same questions at one time about the pain & meds. so

what i did was STOPPED THE MEDS that i thought were not HELPING. guess what,

i was TAKING 2 of the same meds but different NAMES. there was NO need for

that mishap, no one was getting HURT except me!!!! so sometimes i just go

with my GUT FEELING!!! theres no need to be taking meds that are not working

& you still have pain, so STOP & you be the JUDGE of your BODY!!! i hope i

could be of help, god bless, melyndagamez 5/25/08 3:35p.m.central

[ ] RA question

Whenever I read about RA it always states that RA is rare. I see a whole lot

of people with it though. Both my husband and myself have it, and the

infusion center is filled when either of us goes for our infusions. So my

question is....are we being diagnosed with RA too often so that doctors will

make more money? Or is the idea of RA being " rare " incorrect. I have seen

this so many times, that it worries me that I might be getting these

infusions and taking risky medicines and not really have RA. When I complain

of pain in my knees, especially, the rheumy says that is osteoarthritis. So,

if my pain isn't from the RA and therefore the meds don't change my pain,

then do I REALLY have RA? They say the hand mris show some RA and the fact

that I felt better on the Medrol says that I definitely have RA. Is that

really so?  It just worries me to take these meds if they can be mistaken.

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