Information and opinions on Rheumatoid Arthritis from Ellen at MyRACentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.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/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014 http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014 http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/90699/word Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:21:21 -0400 Ellen Allow me to share some good news.  Just got some blood test results, and for the first time, my neutrophils are on the low end of normal (they're the inflammatory white blood cells...).   It's good for RA, yet I wouldn't want them to go any lower (because they also protect against bacterial infection)!   and this is 7 days after my most recent Enbrel injection. Sounds like my doc was right to tell me to try and back off... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/90699/word http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/85495/thumb Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:44:48 -0400 Ellen Has anyone had their thumb (the 2 'end bones' - the "PIP joint") fused? Now since I've put off the wrist fusion, my thumb is causing immense pain at times (like whenever I grasp something, unless I flex my thumb first).  I searched and found that the last ('distal') joint can be fused.  (I seem to be into fusion research this year - LOL!)  I have always had what is called (by my mother, at least!) an "Indian thumb", it bends... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/85495/thumb http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/84662/affe Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:06:25 -0400 Ellen This is an ongoing question: Each year for the past several years, I have lost energy in a major way as summer turns into fall and winter.  I live in the "North Country" region of New York State (north of the NYS Thruway, which runs from Albany through Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.  I probably have 'seasonal affective disorder' (SAD) on top of the RA, but what is concerning me now is, that it seems to happen earlier every... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/84662/affe http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/80802/site Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:04:35 -0400 Ellen This is the best, short explanations of the effects of RA on the body, and the disease mechanism that I have run across.  It appears to be meant for doctors (maybe to show their patients?) but it is an excellent presentation for anyone who wants to know more about the nuts & bolts of why these things are happening to our bodies (and minds - there's a physiological explanation for the mood/depression that often comes along for the ride -... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/80802/site http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/80469/memo Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:05:43 -0400 Ellen Hi - I am constantly finding myself in the situation of trying to re-connect or re-create some event (be it journaling, a retreat, an activity, a relationship) from the past that simply doesn't work anymore for me.  And that can get frustrating and discouraging, until I call myself back into the present and admit that I am here & now, and I have to act out of that reality, and not the old one!   For instance, there is a annual... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/80469/memo http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/75868/poll Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:40:43 -0400 Ellen http://www.roadback.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/aboutrbf.display/display_id/360.html This page has the summary Harris Poll Press Release.   http://www.roadback.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/studies.display/display_id/416.html This links to the complete 80-page Harris Poll Survey document about the study.   Would love to hear from individuals who are on the antibiotic protocol if you are willing to share your story! Ellen http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/75868/poll http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/75852/rash Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:51:05 -0400 Ellen Hi - I had had a slight rash on one leg starting about a year after I started Enbrel, then a couple years later it also appeared on the other leg, a little bit worse, gets a little better then somewhat worse.  I thought at first it might be infected bug bites (it was summer when it first happened).  I put triple-antibiotic cream on it and it seemed to help.  But it came back.  It itched a lot but otherwise seemed... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/75852/rash http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/73165/wrist Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:09:09 -0400 Ellen Hey - I'm sitting at my computer weeping for the wrist I'm about to lose (as a joint, that is ... my former chiropractor once said to me, "Don't let anyone talk you into having your wrist fused."  Well, guess what?  I talked the surgeon into it.  I'm scheduled for the wrist fusion on June 23rd, a lot earlier than I expected, but the date was the first one available, and amazing fit into between my husband's travel in June and our... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/73165/wrist http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/69903/share Wed, 06 May 2009 09:41:43 -0400 Ellen I thought this topic deserved its own place, because of the questions Paul MH (maybe he can tell us what the MH stands for - homeopathy?) has raised in the thread following Sara Nash's post on fatigue  However, I'd like to state at the outset that the purpose of this is not to brainwash anyone (in either direction) but to share your experience - i.e., NOT  to tell others what to do, but to share what has worked for you for RA. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/69903/share http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/69694/cells Mon, 04 May 2009 15:26:48 -0400 Ellen In my job as secretary to the physics & chemistry departments at a university, I run across a lot of interesting stuff.  Here's the latest - in a journal called Chemical & Engineering News, of all things!   (Lots of overlap between Chem, Bio, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals... these days!) http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/87/i17/html/8717scic1.html   Basically, Japanese researchers have found a specific immune... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/55014/69694/cells