Crohn's disease and recently diagnosed yesterday with RA..HELP

Hi everyone.  I have been reading posts on here for sometime, and now would like to post.  My name is Ashley and I am 25 years old.  I was diagnosed with severe fistulizing Crohn's disease a month before my 21st birthday.  Since then, I have been hospitalized a dozen times, and in October of 2009 I had a small bowel resection.  I have been doing fairly well with my Crohn's since then, only flaring here in there.  I have been having severe joint and lower back pain ever since I had my daughter 10 months ago.  I recently have had an MRI, xrays, and bloodwork, and was told my by doc yesterday I tested positive for RA and my xray of the lower back, where I have had excutiating pain, showed pretty bad scoliosis mixed in with the RA, and it also showed that I do not have any cartilage whatsoever left in my lumbar spine causing bone to rub on bone.  I meet with my pain management doc Monday to discuss new pain meds, since the Nucynta 75mg hasn't even been touching my pain.  I have had two sets of spinal shots from my PM that has not given me any relief.  Tuesday I meet with my GP to go over my results from my tests further.  My doc said that this will not get better on its own, and I was also referred to a Neuro specialst that I have to call and make an appointment with on Monday. My doc was suggesting shots that inject a cushion type material in between spots of my spine where the cartilage is gone, or perhaps a different surgery.  We will discuss it more when I see my GP Tuesday.  I'm looking for any kind of helpful advice on RA.  I am a pro with my Crohn's disease, but this is new to me.  I am a school teacher who teaches develpomentally delayed/Autistic children, and my job is very hands on.  I am so scared that in the future as the progresses I will not be able to work.  My husband has been wonderful through all of this, and he wants to get just as educated on RA as me.

 

Thank yall so much!

 

Ash

You need to get seen by an RA doctor, there are many RA medicines that you could talk about, there is hope out there for RA, however once you do have damage that damage will stay, however medications to treat RA can prevent further damage which is what you want, so do not delay and find an RA doctor.
Keep us posted as we do care.
I take methotrexate injections every week now and getting used to it, it has taken me awhile to get thru some of the side effects like headaches and I have persevered and getting there, and I can tell it's helping as my joints are not so inflamed and the feet swelling is down, you'd be surprised how well these medications can help, but get into an RA doctor...
Many well wishes to you....

I have heard alot of people say they are on Humira for their Crohn's disease and it has saved their lives. I Ihave RA and I am on Humira. It had made a huge differance in my life. maybe it will work for both.