Since I am new to this site, I thought I'd start with my story of living with rheumatoid arthritis. I was diagnosed at age 18. Before starting on arthritis medicines, I had progressed to pain so bad I used to leave clothes next to my bed to stand on in the morning because my feet hurt so bad. I scooted down my steps because of the knee pain. And my fingers were so swollen it hurt to turn the door knob. It's been mostly under control since getting on medication. For years I was on Indocin which is an NSAID. Over the years certain things have broken down or lost range of motion. I can't straighten my arms fully. But that is mild...they almost go all the way out. My wrists are a different story. They are completely fused. I can't flex my hands back or side to side. My RA likes to eat away at my tendon's. I've had 3 hand surgeries to repair ruptured tendons. While they were in there, the doctor removed spurs and the heads of my wrist bones. I tried to work as a kitchen lady a few years ago while my young children were in school. The 4 hour shift killed my feet. I had to brace myself on my car before I could walk in my house. I had pain in one foot so bad, I couldn't walk for more than 30 minutes. The foot would shake in pain afterwards. I ended up having to have the bones in that foot fused with pins that are postioned crossways. Now I have a lovely nodule that formed on the bottom of my right foot on the ball of the foot near the pinkie toe. That makes trying to work out to lose weight painful. I just turned 40 2 weeks ago. That is a little scary since many stories are told about people feeling like they are falling apart at 40. I am not sure what to expect since I've been falling apart since I was 18. I take Naproxen, Methotrexate, Enbrel and Folic Acid. I'm trying to get consistently active. I attend college, work 35 hours weekly and raise 2 teenagers who are on the go for school and sports constantly. I love my life despite my disease. I won't let it make me unhappy or keep me from working, playing and living my life. (At least that is what I think now...check back with me in a few years to see what the dreaded 40s do to me).
Turning 40, was the beginning of changing my life and I am much happier now that I am close to turning 50 that I was 10 years ago. You certainly have the right attitude in terms of living well with RA, so rock the 40 and ignore the doomsayers!
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Hi, Christine!
I am a Missourian, too. We live about three hours from each other. Thanks so much for sharing your story. I think it helps all of us to share information and how we cope with our RA and our busy lives.
I was Dx with RA two years ago. I had it for about ten years prior to that, though. I am seronegative. My RA is attacking my tendons, too. My knees have disappeared. They are somewhere under all that muscle and tendon swelling. I recently bought a scooter so that I can go out and enjoy local events and go to the mall, etc. I am so excited. I can't walk more than five or ten minutes ( bad ankles and fee), and I haven't gotten out much the last two years.
I think you are doing a marvelous job with your busy life. Do you have much trouble with fatigue? I am so amazed at your strength. I still work 40 hours a week, but it is in an office where I sit down most of the day. I could never stand on my feet for more than 5 or ten minutes. What type of work do you do?
I know it isn't easy to have RA, but I am thankful that we have meds available to us now that weren't around not so many years ago. I take MTX, Celebrex, Prednisone, Humira, Neurotin and other meds for other medical conditions.
Very nice reading your story. Please stop by often to chat or ask any question you like. Hopingyour 40's are the best years yet.
Blessings,
V
Hi V!
I don't work on my feet anymore. I got my property/casualty license a few years ago and I work in a small insurance office in my home town. It's an amazing work environment with the best boss I've ever known. However it doesn't include benefits or provide the kind of pay that I would need to sustain myself on my own. Judging by the direction my marriage has gone in the last 5 years, I have started to prepare for the inevitable. I was recently browsing for ideas for a part time weekend job so I could stay on top of my college loans, save for my kids college and help fund all the sports expenses this summer. So far I haven't found anything that I don't have to stand for hours. I have learned my lesson from the kitchen job. I can't do that type of job anymore. My body would picket me if I did that. So if anyone has any ideas for extra income, I'd love to hear it!
You are the first person I have talked to that had the same issues with tendons. Even some doctors act like that is something they hadn't heard of before. I have my moments of fatigue. Especially with the school schedule. I know I am a person that prefers 9 hours of sleep. I usually get 5 or 6. I'm in bed by 11:00pm to midnight every night and up by 5:30am. I drink a lot of coffee throughout the day. I really just do that because I love it and I'm compulsive...not out of a plan to caffinate myself to get through the day.
I need to go finish dinner...long day at the ballfields for select softball. It was nice talking to you. I hope we can chat some more soon!
ChristineG
Hi, Christine,
I have had tendonitis for decades and bursitis lately. Do you have bursitis, too? My RD doesn't seem surprised by it, and mine is much better since starting Humira. I really like my RD. Sorry to hear you are having some trouble in the marriage department. Hope things work out well for your. How are you doing this weekend?
V
No I don't have bursitis. I'm happy to hear your Humira is working. Do you take anything else with the Humira? I'm on Enbrel and Methotrexate. They're mostly doing the trick. Sometimes if it's a bad day, I still take Naproxen. If I could make more of my foot pain go away I'd be pleased. I'm trying to lose weight and it's very challenging to work out in pain. Thank you for your kind words. My husband lost his dad tragically in 2006 and since then has been in depression and acting out in escalating forms including indifference all the way to betrayal. I feel stuck right now. I need the great insurance we have for my RA and I want to finish school. So, I'm making do and trying to get a solid foundation behind me with my resume and finishing a degree. My biggest recent worry is accumulating student loan debt and I'm trying to figure out how to squeeze any extra work in to help offset that. I hope you had a good Mother's Day!
Christine
V, how are you this week? Lene, and you? We all complain, but forget to ask you guys how ya'll are doin...... And to ALL the moms Happy belated Mothers Day!!!! My daughter bought us tickets to see KC & the sunshine band with the village people for my mothers day gift!That should be lots of fun!!!Talk about a blast from the past... They are going to be at the Biltmore House , I live a few miles away and never been there!!!! People travel from all over to see it and this wil be my 1st!Anyways, you guys have a great day! Hopefully, I rattled some happy past memories of fun!