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I'm a 25 year old, diagnosed yesteray that I have RA

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 3/6/2007 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
 

Hello everyone, hopfully I can get on here a ton...cause I have a ton of questions...

 

I have a specialist appointment in two weeks. I would love to know if anyone on here takes any herbel med's instead of the regular doc perscribed?

 

What should I expect to happen to me?  I do get swelling in my fingers mostly.  about 3 years ago I was having trouble with my shoulders. I wasn't able to lift my arms the pain was incredible.  It seemed to have disappeared when I started seeing a chriopractor.  Actually feel a ton better overall with the chriopractor. 

 

I guess I will know more once I see the doc, but doesn't hurt to ask everyone that suffers from it.

 

I'm scared that I will not have a normal life.

 

by the way my name is Jamie from Ontario, Canada.

 

Thanks!

Posted 3/6/2007 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Jamie,
I've had exactly that same issue with my shoulders, it was the worst pain I've ever had, and I was taking morphine at the time.

When I was diagnosed, I read Andrew Weil's books, looking for better foods help me naturally overcome the problem. While I would never say it was a waste because my diet is better now because of it, I could not overcome the issues without Methotrexate and Enbrel.

Normal life? Except for taking shots of Enbrel and pills of Methotrexate, I'm as active as ever. I put 3K miles on my road bike and 2K miles on the mountain bike last year, got a unicycle for Xmas, broken 2 bones, received 8 stiches in the face, and rode in Sedona, Crested Butte, Moab, Flagstaff, and everything Durango has to offer over the past calendar year. And I'm now capable on the unicycle, shopping for a mountain unicycle next.

So I don't know if that fits your definition of normal, but it sure is fun, and more agressive than most folks without a chronic disease!

btw, I'm still scared, that is probably why I'm more agressive with my fun since the disease ... Craig
Posted 3/6/2007 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Craig,

Thanks so much for responding to my post. I do play rec volleyball and play in tournaments, my boyfriend and I just bought mountain bikes for this spring and plan on putting them to use. I happy to hear you are able to be active and enjoy life...Thanks for the book idea...I think I'll go pick one up this week. I was thinking of going to see a dietitian previous to this for healthy living and now I guess I have something else to tailor it to.

Normal means living life the way you want and it seems your doing just that.
Well take care for now - hope you don't break anymore bones!! especially with only one wheel!

:) Jamie
Posted 3/8/2007 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Jamie, thought I'd put my two cents in. First welcome, I am new myself (just dx in Jan.) and Craig has helped me as well. I want you to know that along with recently being dx with RA i am also a chiropractor, (can't practice, sold 1 year ago due to RA) but bottom line is although adjustments are quite relieving, they are not maknig physiological changes in the progression of the disease. In other words, hit it from all angles, I think it's great that you're taking a "whole" look at things, I think that's very healthy and will help you not only physically but phychologically as life moves forward.

You're in the right place for support these people are amazing and have helped me so much, so quickly. Talk to you soon.
Posted 3/8/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)

Wow thanks so much for your input!! Sorry to hear you had to give up your practice.  I'm trying to be positive, I kind of new I would get something along these lines because arthritis runs in my family a lot.  I'll try everything I can to help stop the progression of my RA.  I'm afraid of not being able to run after my kids when I have them or be able to do things with my boyfriend right at the present time due to RA. 

Thanks for the encouragement I sure can use it!!!!

Take care,

Jamie

 

Posted 3/8/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't mean to put that thumbs down icon hahaha sorry
Posted 3/8/2007 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Jamie,

I am scared too. Just know we have each other for support. I am waiting for my results too.


I have my pointer and middle finger slightly swollen on each hand for the last 10 days or so. do you have all fingers swollen? if not, what fingers bother you?

Posted 3/8/2007 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. Well its more in my hand...between my knuckles of my pointer and middle on my left hand swells up most often (the knuckles on my palm). I crack my knuckles all the time...I did when I was younger, then I stopped for so long...it was on within the last year that I started up again...I'm not sure if this aggravates it?
Posted 3/8/2007 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
I cracked my knuckles for a while too. Stopped doing it for a while but never thought it could lead to RA.

That is what is so weird about the so called "symptoms". I have ZERO pain in my hands. In fact I have no pain in my fingers, they are just sore.

How long did it take you to find out your blood resutlts?

What kind of pain meds are you on?

I hope the current drugs will help us since you (we) are in the early stages.
Posted 3/8/2007 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
I don't really have pain...just can feel the swelling...it comes and goes...because I play volleyball I think I aggravate it sometimes...my blood tests (cause I had two) came back in a week. I'm not on any med's as of yet...I go see my specailist on the 27th of March.
Posted 3/8/2007 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
hi Jamie!

 

what a wonderful attitude you have!  that'll be your best asset believe me!

 

of course you probably already know that Rheumatory Arthritis is a chronic progressive disease.  so the likelihood of being on meds for the duration is high.

 

the great thing is that it sounds as though your case of RA was caught fairly early?

 

a lot of trouble will be prevented just by that!  so that's a great thing.

 

the rheumatologist you see will help guide you in starting a medication regimen depending on the severity of the RA.  immuno-suppressants, DMARDs, TNF inhibitors, and biologics are the drugs that actually HELP RA.  NSAIDs, though they help swelling & pain do nothing to slow the progression of joint disease.

 

depending on how your rheummy practices...he/she might start you on some pills, or might want to start you right away on meds like Enbrel or Humira. 

 

it takes some getting used to, but coping & learning to live with RA will get easier as you get to "know" it better. tongue sounds weird but kinda true.

 

i'm not too into herbal therapies...but i do believe in the following to help RA a great deal:  Cumin, curry, cinnamon, green shelled mussels, MSN, Omega fish oils.

 

and of course...lots of lovin' from your hunnie! tongue

i'm your age too...and have been dealing with RA for a looooong time.

 

glad you found Healing Well!  oh...and feel free to join in on our "Moanin'" thread!  (you too MomwithRA!)  it can get quite humorous...we basically wake up & gripe, LOL...our goal there is basically get a few chuckles in.

 

you take good care!

Posted 3/8/2007 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Wow everyone is so great...Thanks Erin, lots of great info...One thing I haven't asked is what are the side effects of all these drugs???
Posted 3/9/2007 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Jamie.. which meds are you wondering about?
Posted 3/9/2007 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure, I'm not on any yet so I was just wondering what a general effect of the med's where...I guess once my doc percribes one I'll know a bit better.
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