If you decide to do nothing

[Guest guest]

Remember, as well, that if you decide to do nothing and allow the inflammation

and pain to continue unchecked that our joints are being destroyed by this

disease and once damaged there isn't a medicine in the world that can nor are

our bodies built to regenerate these parts. Connie D

[Guest guest]

I had NO fusion but awful pain as of Feb. this year. My doctor suggested

biologics

to help with the pain. So I was on them from Feb-July. I just got back new

x-rays

that now show fusion from C2-C7!!! You tell me, do the meds really help? I am in

more pain than ever......

[Guest guest]

Connie, I agree.  I hear all these stories of people being afraid to try the new

medications and I think the same thing--you know that the disease untreated will

cause damage to your joints and possibly your heart and lungs and who knows

what other consequences there will be.  I'm 52 and I'm on the verge of

osteoporosis which is related to the autoimmune syndrome so I take Reclast.  Yes

there are risks to Reclast but, my 87 y.o. mother who has untreated osteoporosis

is having very painful fractures of her spinal vertebrae from a bad cough. 

There's not much they can do for her at this point and she's disabled and in

pain.  So if there's something I can do now that might improve my bone density

then I'm willing to take the chances.  So far the benefits outweigh the risks. 

If the information changes and people start having serious problems from the

drug, I'll stop taking it.  I can only go on the information that's available

now.  I do think that you should explore alternative therapies and wholistic

medicine, clean up your diet, get exercise, cut out any bad health habits, do

yoga, meditate, acupuncture, massage, hydrotherapy, and most of all have a good

support system and manage stress.....anything that will improve your health and

well being.  But, not doing anything in terms of medical intervention can have

very serious risks as well.

Joan