Re: Newbie to group and to RA

[Guest guest]

Welcome....

 

I would not wait until January. You must look for better options.

Your symtoms are quite familiar to me. Constant use of ibupoferin is

questionable.

Raniolo

From: pedigreesnb <pedigreesnb@...>

Subject: [ ] Newbie to group and to RA

Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 3:36 PM

I was diagnosed about three months ago with RA, because of results from blood

work. My complaints were stiffness in the morning and fatigue. I was told I was

diagnosed early but I believe I have had RA for several years because I have had

the complaints for several years. I was told that the complaints were related to

my Hypothyroidism (I was diagnosed with 10 years ago about the same time the

stiffness and fatigue started). I also experience swelling of the hands and

ankles but that has started just recently. I believe I have RA in both elbows,

one hand, one hip, both knees, both ankles and the toes of both feet. I am so

stiff in the mornings I can hardly walk and cannot stand up straight, and this

lasts for about an hour and a half. If I walk any distance I experience severe

pain in my ankles, so much I limp (it feels as if I'm walking on two sprained

ankles). I have always walked as exercise and would take long walks an hour or

more, now I can barely

do two blocks. I also have exercise equipment at home but it too causes severe

pain in my ankles. My family doctor has referred me to a specialist but my

appointment is January 2010! He also told me to take Ibuprofen (which helps the

swelling but does very little for the pain) and to make sure I exercise, that

the disease will become worse if I don't. Is there anything I can do diet wise

or range of motion exercises that will help?

Pedigreesnb

[Guest guest]

I agree with . January is way too long to wait. RA should be

attacked aggressively from the beginning. Where are you located? If

you tell us, maybe someone will know another rheumatologist for you to

call. Ibuprofin will do nothing to halt the progress of the disease or

prevent joint damage.

Sue

On Jul 14, 2009, at 3:48 PM, CATHERINE RANIOLO wrote:

> Welcome....

>

> I would not wait until January. You must look for better options.

> Your symtoms are quite familiar to me. Constant use of ibupoferin is

> questionable.

>

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I feel your pain, I waited 2 months to get in to see my rheumy. Is that the

only doctor in your plan that you can use? If you can just get into any rheumy,

you can always switch or get a second opinion later. You need to be on DMARD

drugs and you'll have to see a rheumy for that.

Good luck, in PA

[ ] Newbie to group and to RA

I was diagnosed about three months ago with RA, because of results from blood

work. My complaints were stiffness in the morning and fatigue. I was told I was

diagnosed early but I believe I have had RA for several years because I have had

the complaints for several years. I was told that the complaints were related to

my Hypothyroidism (I was diagnosed with 10 years ago about the same time the

stiffness and fatigue started). I also experience swelling of the hands and

ankles but that has started just recently. I believe I have RA in both elbows,

one hand, one hip, both knees, both ankles and the toes of both feet. I am so

stiff in the mornings I can hardly walk and cannot stand up straight, and this

lasts for about an hour and a half. If I walk any distance I experience severe

pain in my ankles, so much I limp (it feels as if I'm walking on two sprained

ankles). I have always walked as exercise and would take long walks an hour or

more, now I can barely do two blocks. I also have exercise equipment at home but

it too causes severe pain in my ankles. My family doctor has referred me to a

specialist but my appointment is January 2010! He also told me to take Ibuprofen

(which helps the swelling but does very little for the pain) and to make sure I

exercise, that the disease will become worse if I don't. Is there anything I can

do diet wise or range of motion exercises that will help?

Pedigreesnb

[Guest guest]

I know exactly how you are feeling. Ibuprofen is definitely not the solution.

You need RA medication, the sooner the better. Is there another rheumatologist

in your area that you could see before January 2010? I would even suggest that

you travel out of your immediate area to get in sooner. I was very fortunate in

that it only took about four months before I was diagnosed and began treatment.

I was also fortunate in that the first medication given worked very well and

within a month, I had my life back. RA is a huge pain...literally..but it can

be managed and you can live and walk normally again. I am able to go to the gym

three days a week and walk 2 miles every evening. Hang in there, but do all

that you can to get to a rheumatologist sooner.

-Jackie

>

> I was diagnosed about three months ago with RA, because of results from blood

work. My complaints were stiffness in the morning and fatigue. I was told I was

diagnosed early but I believe I have had RA for several years because I have had

the complaints for several years. I was told that the complaints were related to

my Hypothyroidism (I was diagnosed with 10 years ago about the same time the

stiffness and fatigue started). I also experience swelling of the hands and

ankles but that has started just recently. I believe I have RA in both elbows,

one hand, one hip, both knees, both ankles and the toes of both feet. I am so

stiff in the mornings I can hardly walk and cannot stand up straight, and this

lasts for about an hour and a half. If I walk any distance I experience severe

pain in my ankles, so much I limp (it feels as if I'm walking on two sprained

ankles). I have always walked as exercise and would take long walks an hour or

more, now I can barely do two blocks. I also have exercise equipment at home but

it too causes severe pain in my ankles. My family doctor has referred me to a

specialist but my appointment is January 2010! He also told me to take Ibuprofen

(which helps the swelling but does very little for the pain) and to make sure I

exercise, that the disease will become worse if I don't. Is there anything I can

do diet wise or range of motion exercises that will help?

>

> Pedigreesnb

>

[Guest guest]

Pedigreesnb,

OMG, Please try to get in to see your rhuematologist earlier or attempt to see a

different one. The best way to battle these diseases, is to fight early and

aggressive. Perhaps you can find another Rhuematologist on the

www.arthritistoday.org site or at the arthritis foundation at www.arthritis.org

I believe we need to be our own advacates and take control of our own destiny's.

Fight and continue to fight for our health and our medical care.

You really should start some NSAIDS as soon as possible.

My ankles are really bad as well, and my doctor encourages light exercising to

help with flexibility and pain relief... I know he is right, but it causes more

pain and I can barely walk most nights as is...

Best of luck with your challenges... Please keep us posted...

We all care and understand...

Bonnie

>

> I was diagnosed about three months ago with RA, because of results from blood

work. My complaints were stiffness in the morning and fatigue. I was told I was

diagnosed early but I believe I have had RA for several years because I have had

the complaints for several years. I was told that the complaints were related to

my Hypothyroidism (I was diagnosed with 10 years ago about the same time the

stiffness and fatigue started). I also experience swelling of the hands and

ankles but that has started just recently. I believe I have RA in both elbows,

one hand, one hip, both knees, both ankles and the toes of both feet. I am so

stiff in the mornings I can hardly walk and cannot stand up straight, and this

lasts for about an hour and a half. If I walk any distance I experience severe

pain in my ankles, so much I limp (it feels as if I'm walking on two sprained

ankles). I have always walked as exercise and would take long walks an hour or

more, now I can barely do two blocks. I also have exercise equipment at home but

it too causes severe pain in my ankles. My family doctor has referred me to a

specialist but my appointment is January 2010! He also told me to take Ibuprofen

(which helps the swelling but does very little for the pain) and to make sure I

exercise, that the disease will become worse if I don't. Is there anything I can

do diet wise or range of motion exercises that will help?

>

> Pedigreesnb

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group. Range of motion exercises to help me, I try to do them

once a day usually in the afternoon after the stiffness goes away. Many of them

are posted on the net. I stay away from  anything that puts stress in joints. I

was in the same boat, got lots of stuff for the inflammation but nothing for the

pain. You have too insist. As for the exercise equipment , it really ends up the

same as 90% of American household, it makes a wonderful wardrobe rack. I walk

'till my ankles begin to hurt just a little, then you gotta go back.

Stan

Seattle, Sun!

Subject: [ ] Newbie to group and to RA

I was diagnosed about three months ago with RA, because of results from blood

work. My complaints were stiffness in the morning and fatigue. I was told I was

diagnosed early but I believe I have had RA for several years because I have had

the complaints for several years. I was told that the complaints were related to

my Hypothyroidism (I was diagnosed with 10 years ago about the same time the

stiffness and fatigue started). I also experience swelling of the hands and

ankles but that has started just recently. I believe I have RA in both elbows,

one hand, one hip, both knees, both ankles and the toes of both feet. I am so

stiff in the mornings I can hardly walk and cannot stand up straight, and this

lasts for about an hour and a half. If I walk any distance I experience severe

pain in my ankles, so much I limp (it feels as if I'm walking on two sprained

ankles). I have always walked as exercise and would take long walks an hour or

more, now I can barely do two blocks. I also have exercise equipment at home but

it too causes severe pain in my ankles. My family doctor has referred me to a

specialist but my appointment is January 2010! He also told me to take Ibuprofen

(which helps the swelling but does very little for the pain) and to make sure I

exercise, that the disease will become worse if I don't. Is there anything I can

do diet wise or range of motion exercises that will help?

Pedigreesnb

[Guest guest]

Welcome Pedigreesnb,

I'm sorry your going through so much pain. You really need to find

another rheumy. If you can find one, just contact your family doctor,

and tell them you cannot wait until January. That is really horrible,

making you wait that long, and taking Ibuprofen, no way.

Good luck,

Tawny

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

wrote:

>

> I was diagnosed about three months ago with RA, because of results

from blood work. My complaints were stiffness in the morning and

fatigue. I was told I was diagnosed early but I believe I have had RA

for several years because I have had the complaints for several years. I

was told that the complaints were related to my Hypothyroidism (I was

diagnosed with 10 years ago about the same time the stiffness and

fatigue started). I also experience swelling of the hands and ankles but

that has started just recently. I believe I have RA in both elbows, one

hand, one hip, both knees, both ankles and the toes of both feet. I am

so stiff in the mornings I can hardly walk and cannot stand up straight,

and this lasts for about an hour and a half. If I walk any distance I

experience severe pain in my ankles, so much I limp (it feels as if I'm

walking on two sprained ankles). I have always walked as exercise and

would take long walks an hour or more, now I can barely do two blocks. I

also have exercise equipment at home but it too causes severe pain in my

ankles. My family doctor has referred me to a specialist but my

appointment is January 2010! He also told me to take Ibuprofen (which

helps the swelling but does very little for the pain) and to make sure I

exercise, that the disease will become worse if I don't. Is there

anything I can do diet wise or range of motion exercises that will help?

>

> Pedigreesnb

>