Information and opinions on health from Rena at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/40737/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/40737/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/40737/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/154845/chin Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:46:17 -0400 Rena      Just thought that I would share some information leading up to my surgery on July 2, 2012.  Maybe it will help someone.  :)      I have had symptoms of this evil tumor inside my spinal cord in my neck for about 8 years.  It was located at T1, C8 and C7 vertebra in my spine.  This location in my spine is where the nerves for my hands and arms come out and therefore these nerves... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/154845/chin http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/154605/back Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:38:58 -0400 Rena      I am recovering from surgery to remove a large tumor from inside my spinal cord in my neck (T1, C8, C7).  After a 9.5 hour surgery and 10 days in the hospital, I am recovering at home now. Wew!  What an ordeal! http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/154605/back http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/153590/mou Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:30:46 -0400 Rena      Last week (tuesday) after 8 years of cort. shots, carpul tunnel surgeries on both hands, ulnar nerve anterior submuscular transposition on my right arm (elbow) and ulnar nerve decompression in my left arm (elbow) and my hands arms not responding to all these treatments, a neurologist ordered MRI's of my neck and arms plus a referral to another specialist.  The MRI of my neck has found ground zero of all my arm/hand... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/153590/mou http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/40737/149324/kicked-curb-back Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:08:30 -0500 Rena I haven't done a share post in a while, so I thought I'd share. I've been through a rough patch this last year. I had carpul tunnel release surgeries on both hands which required me to stop my Enbrel for a while. That caused multiple really lovely RA flares. Then after years (5 to be exact) of my complants of pain in both my elbows, I started showing signs of severe muscle atrophy on my right hand and slight muscle atrophy/wasting in... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/40737/149324/kicked-curb-back http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/149323/year Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:00:06 -0500 Rena      I haven't done a share post in a while, so I thought I'd share.  I've been through a rough patch this last year.  I had carpul tunnel release surgeries on both hands which required me to stop my Enbrel for a while.  That caused a nice RA flare.       Then after years (5 to be exact) of my complants of pain in both my elbows, I started showing signs of severe muscle atrophy on my... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/149323/year http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/135809/bad-budeprion Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:38:43 -0400 Rena      I started taking a new med. (Budeprion) on 3-1-11.  By 3-25-11 I stopped due to the side effects I experienced.       I am sure everyone here has delt with or will deal with medication side effects.  Wow...this one really ran me thru the ringer.  My depression got much worse.  I experienced nausea, aching all over, fever and chills.  My ears began ringing and... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/135809/bad-budeprion http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/133888/acid Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:12:10 -0500 Rena      Hello everyone.  I have been off line for a while and have now decided to crawl out of my hole and back into the land of the living.      I have been struggling with a lot of health issues, as I am sure everyone else does too.   But...it seams that mine seam to all wait to hit me until their are at least (3) of them.  Murphy's Law is a Killer!!!      I just... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/133888/acid http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/126710/tired-spirit Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:46:05 -0500 Rena      Just wanted to post and say "Happy Holidays".  Hope everyone is able to relax a bit and enjoy the holiday season.  Sorry that I have been off line for a while.  I had to make an unexpected trip back to Missouri.  My father had emergency open heart surgery.  It was quite a big deal.  I spend a lot of time at the hospital.  Thank goodness for those vinyl love seats the hospital... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/126710/tired-spirit http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119205/news Sun, 05 Sep 2010 06:03:04 -0400 Rena      I started taking Enbrel in March.  It took a while to begin to see and feel the effects of my new RA drug.  In conjunction with giving myself Methotrexate injections, the Enbrel has visibly reduced swelling in my knuckles and has improved how I feel.  I have also been able to reduce my Celebrex from two pills per day to one pill per day.  I was allergic to Plaquenil, (broke out in a rash all over),... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119205/news http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119089/ra Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:08:19 -0400 Rena Arthritis & Rheumatism  © 2010 American College of Rheumatology September 2010 Volume 62, Issue 9 Pages 2569-2830 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: An American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative (pages 2569-2581) http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119089/ra