Hi everyone, I am 42 years old and was recently diagnose with RA. I am new to the writing but not to the site. It has been a emotional and physical rollercoaster ride. Reading what others are going through makes me realize that i am not alone. It all started Nov 2008. I went to my primary doctor and explain to him that my left knee was very painful. He recommended x-rays and blood work and referred me to a othropedic doctor. The blood work came back and RF was 774. My primary doctor referred me to a rheumatologist. Rheumatologist ran own test and concluded that i had RA. Since March 2009 I've been out of work. I have been started on enbrel and methotrexate. In May I had knee surgery. I had to stop medications. I resumed medication the end of May. I have not seen any significant changes in my symptoms but have develope side effects that are bothersome such as a rash on my face, chest, and arms. I have brought this to the attention of my rheumy but she says the benefits of the drug out weighs the discomforts of the rash. I would agree but the medication hasn't done much for my symptoms. I know its still early to see any real results, but I feel more joint pain in even more joints. Patience, Patience, Patience!!!. Do you think I should ask for another medication? And by the way I am taking vicodin for the pain. I take 7.5/750mg. It takes the edge off. I guess this is good as it gets......at least for now. Thanks
Sorry you're having such a tough time. I've had the disease since age 6 (am now 38) and finding the right drug combo for you may take some time. That said, if you're on meds and they're not working then it would seem that fine-tuning is needed. These are our bodies and we know absolutely if something's working or not - so I feel strongly that we should have every right to question treatment if it's not working.
Generally, you might be interested in other things that I've found can help manage the disease:
rest - it's demoralising and (for me!) totally boring but rest during bad times is vital. Getting a good night's sleep is important, too. (Is your bed/mattress the right one for you?) Might seem obvious but I've found that, if I don't get enough sleep or it's disturbed because I had an afternoon snooze, I can suffer the next day.
diet - avoid red meat though no need to exclude it totally if it doesn't make you feel worse. Foods rich in Omega 3 are good - such as fish - though I always take a cod liver oil supplement just to keep the joints oiled. I've also been told to avoid anything in the nightshade family: tomatoes, potatoes, peppers/capsicum, aubergines/egg plant, tobacco. Acidic foods and drinks upset me so I side-step oranges, lemons, limes, white wine, etc. That said, people laugh when I say that red wine makes me feel better - but it's true and others with arthritis have been surprised to realise that themselves. I don't know why it is but who am I to question such a lovely thing?!
Physical maintenance - even at times when I've barely been able to move, I've kept up with yoga. With a good teacher, they can fine-tune activity to meet your needs and your physical ability. I also go swimming when I can. Some movement is imperative for us or we can stiffen up. Also, breathing and meditation can calm you emotionally and physically; they certainly do for me. My worse day was when I was lowered onto a pile of pillows by my teacher then we sat and did nothing but breathing exercises as I could barely move. I'd also add that I've found - however bizarre it may seem - that if I'm upset about something or have a build-up of emotion that I've not let out, my left knee (and only that joint) lets me know; if I can't straighten it properly, my yoga teacher makes me work at it and - without fail - I burst into tears after it pops into place. Not from the pain so much but, I've realised, because I've been worried about something or perhaps I've not been telling my loved ones how I'm feeling as I don't want to worry them. It all has to come out ... we have to remember, somehow, to be kind to ourselves and be honest about how we're feeling. I'd add that just the fact that I'm doing something physical, even if it's not alot, makes me feel like I'm in some sort of control.
Stress - modern life means that we all have it though it can make us feel so much worse. Work, the disease itself, personal issues ... you know yourself best so think about what relieves your stresses and see if you can find a way to do more of it. I was fortunate that I had a job that allowed me to work from home. If I hadn't, I may have had to change my job; feeling guilty about others carrying the workload made my body worse - so, a vicious cycle.
Other treatments - if it's something you'd be open to, you could try acupuncture. I know that it doesn't work for everyone (or that some think it's a waste of time) but it has for me - providing physical and emotional relief. (Do your research: as in walks of life, there are some who aren't always as good as they tell us. Recommendations are always good, of course, and finding someone who is familiar with the disease would be excellent.)
So your's is an unwelcome visitor - and mine, I've increasingly thought, is a petulant child that demands attention when it's not getting what it wants. If you can find the things that mean the visitor is quiet or even absent for periods, then you will have begun to be the host in control.
Please keep us posted on how you're doing - and I hope that today is a good day.