Q: Has anyone with RA or Fibro used alternative supplements that helped the illness and the pain???? If so let me know!!! Thanks, Terry
Hi, Ms Terry. My rheumatologist has me taking a Joint Health Supplement which is a natural eggshell membrane. It is kind of expensive, but he highly recommends it. I also have cut down my consumption of foods know to cause inflammation. For instance, I rarely eat red meat. I eat chicken and fish for protein. I also eat dark green leafy vegetables and the darly colored veggies like red and green peppers, etc. You can find foods that cause inflammation and foods that lessen inflammation online. I have a friend who is a nutritionist who first suggested this dietary change. Hope this helps! V
Oh, absolutely. I've had RA for over 40 years and for much of that time, have supplemented allopathic medication (i.e., traditional, Western medicine) with alternative treatments. Unfortunately, alternative treatments cannot cure your fibromyalgia or suppress RA in the way that the DMARDs (disease modifying antirheumatic drugs like methotrexate, Raven and the Biologics) can, so I would not recommend relying exclusively on alternative medicine. However, using a combination of both can get you further down the road towards feeling better.
Massage, whether regular or shiatsu can be a great help, although if you have fibromyalgia, as well, make sure you talk to the practitioner about being gentle until you find out how your fibromyalgia reacts to the pressure. Reiki, a Japanese method of healing, uses less pressure and made people uncomfortable for you. Acupuncture can also be a terrific help - for many years, I got regular acupuncture treatments and it was an important part of managing my pain. I also see a naturopathic doctor, who has been very helpful in terms of suggestions for supplements, etc. And they are certain natural medications/supplements that can be helpful to manage the side effects of the medications you're on, as well as possibly ease fibromyalgia. However, make sure you find a licensed naturopathic doctor to make sure that you get proper, expert advice - natural medicines are still medicines and can interact with your the drugs, so you need to speak to somebody who knows what they're talking about Erie it the good thing about naturopathic doctors is that they can also do acupuncture so you can hit two birds with one practitioner.
For more information, check out my post on alternative medicine.
vitamin D is increasingly being acknowledged as playing a role in the management of chronic pain and I've heard recommendations of up to 2000 units, so it sounds like this guy is on the right track. If your rheumatologist doesn't want to deal with this aspect of your care, talk to your family doctor - you can ask for a blood test to see how your vitamin D levels are. As well, check out the website for the American Naturopathic College as a first contact to see if there's a naturopathic doctor near you - they're experts in the supplements and natural medicine area and how they relate to and interact with other types of medication (e.g., your methotrexate) and would be good to consult.
keep us posted on your progress, please?
I take 10,000 units of Vitamin D3 twice a week under the direction of my
GP and my Rheumatologist. My Vitamin D tested at 22 six months ago. I was prescribed 10,000 units of Vit D five times a week for three weeks, and then once a week after that. My Vit D level is not where they want it, so they just changed it to 10,000 units twice a week. They want to see it up around 60. If you are going to take Vit D you do need blood tests to avoid toxicity. Hope this helps. V
yes i am taking alternative supplement ..cats claw pau de arco and adrenal responce its great i was taking metheltraxate i have been med free for about a month i weaned myself from methaltraxate .......look up cats claw on the internet. you will see the trials that have been done. and the many aliments it can help. it can cut the protein levels also. oh also i have stopped eating wheat and cheese ......becouse of the hormones and the fungus on the grains.
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Lene---I always look for your answer..you are a great help to many of us....
I have a Dr in my area telling RA people to take 5000 units of Vitamin D-3
per day........this dosn't sound right to me....what do you think????
When ever I mention Vitamins etc to my Rhemy---he laughs--so I can't get
a good answer about mixing things with my Methro (4 per week)..
There are no other RA doctors in my area...thanks again sooooo much..
may God bless, Terry