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New to all of this! Need a little advice

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 4/14/2012 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Have been seing a Rheumatologis for joint pain and high sed rate. I've had left knee pain since childhood (42 now) due to sports injury. It flares up every so often. I've also had lower back pain for a few years. XRAY showed lipping. Doc said this and knee are likely osteoarthritis. Real problem is in both hips for last 8 months. Very painful in bed and after sitting for long time. Negative for RA in blood work but high sed rate on multiple blood tests has doc suspecting RA anyway. I'm 5 days into a methylprednisolone treatment. (3x day for one week) The doctor said that if I feel a lot better after the week then this would confirm the RA diagnosis and I should wean slowly (2 1/2 a day for a week, 2 a day for a week, etc.) If it doesn't work then I can wean more quickly after the 7 days (2 a day, 1 a day, done). I feel so stressed and pressured to diagnose myself. I do feel better. No more continuous hip pain but it pops up intermittently. Knee pain is pretty bad right now. Almost worse. How long should steroids take and how much improvement should I see after a week. I don't want to stop steroids too early. I'm just not sure if this is really RA. Lots of joint pain but no stiffness. Any advice about the steroids? Thanks! And sorry for the long post. 
Posted 4/15/2012 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Steroids usually help me within 24 hours, but sometimes it takes quite a bit of steroids to make a difference. I just had a flare that started Thursday p.m. It took 30 mg of prednisone to stop the almost unberable pain. What dose of steroids are you taking three times a day?

Best Wishes,
V
Posted 4/15/2012 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
I am taking only 4mg 3x a day. I definitely feel a bit better but every time I feel some pain I second guess myself. I hate that the doctor left it up to me to determine if I think I'm responding to steroids or not and then having to determine how to wean. Like I said I feel like he's left the diagnosis up to me.
Posted 4/16/2012 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Boron will help with Your osteo and probably your RA as well. Due to your high sed rate, it tells a story of severe gut permeability. Drop RA stressor foods from Your diet, Drop nightshade family vegetables from your diet. Add ginger capsule to every meal, take 9 mg of Boron with every meal, Take modified citrus pectin with every meal, do no eat late at night, have your Doc take a stool sample and check for candida albicans overgrowth or other intestinal bacterial problems. Heal your gut (intestines) and heal your condition.
Posted 4/16/2012 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Please remember what works for one individual does not work for others. Before attempting the above mentioned treatment, please consult with your healthcare provider.
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