I get you Char, my rheumy is like "you're already on the most I can give you and your joints are still deteriorating but there is nothing else I can do." But at least she says it with compassion, but...
I found it hard to give up at first but now I don't miss it at all. It's amazing how you just adjust. I still allow myself the odd glass of alcohol for celebrations but find after a couple of sips I...
Sounds like I'm sending BIG HUGS to both of you. Pain is such a debilitator. Hope things pick up for the two of you, I once was told when Pain is bad- to take it a day at a time or really bad- to...
Hi look there are good rheumys out there who actually listen to your concerns, mine is very reassuring but I have in hospital come across the ones who think they're "it" and you're a lesser mortal,...
I reckon a good podiatrist can help. I was really hobbling with my feet and my podiatrist made me orthotics that have halved my pain. She has put pads under the base of my toes and it takes the...
Hi Mo, It sounds as if you've been given the run around. If everything hurts could it be a form of fibro? It definately sounds more nerve related than joint related. You can have a form of RA with...
Hi Peggy, look up the half life of rituxan, my infusion specialist said it often takes 2-6 months for new meds to fully build up in your system, so don't get discouraged yet. I personally know...
Poor Char, make sure you bring your x rays to your specialist so he can see the damage.I have anti nausea meds which I use if I'm feeling sick from meds, it didn't seem to worry my GP to prescribe it...
I don't know if youre still around, I only drop in occassionally to this site, I can't believe you got no response! I had arava with methotrexate and sulphursolasine and it was the best I've ever...
It was rough for me initially but my body just sort of adjusted to it. Now I have no side effects apart from lower white blood cell counts. I have been on it about 7 years. I miss not being able to...
Have any of you had it? Pros and cons? I also have a couple of cysts along the tendon sheath, one of which is in an irritating spot and is quite hard.Having a cortisone shot into the tendon in 3...
Good luck with it Peggy, I hope it works well for you. After I came off orencia they were going to try me on rituxin but I asked to try humira again and luckily for me thats been working, not 100%...
I tried orencia and found it didn't really work for me. My infusion nurse said because of the half life it actually takes 5 months before you get the full effects of it. It did work for me just not...
For a bad flare you can get infusions of cortisone or prednisone equivalents and they can give you huge amounts over 3 days like 3 grams instead of mg. You go in incapable of walking and come out...
My heart goes out to you, I suffered from a frozen shoulder for only about 8 months and the pain was horrendous. I found the cotisone shots directly into the tendons helped the most. This was done...
hi Glea, if it continues go see a doctor my hubby had burning muscles and it was his thyroid not working properly. His would swell along the muscle sheath really wierd and for him feel very hot....
Hi Haapy,Yes I have a friend whos been on humira for over10 years and feels fantastic still. So you may be one of the lucky ones. My advice is to take every good day like a gift. I was also...
Hey Carole,I totally agree with you. Sometimes I laugh when they tell me they have RA too only in their finger! Or "oh the weather makes me stiff too" We all have Bad days when we feel like we're...
I agree, I was on steroids for5 years and lost bone density and a tooth, plus it gave me high cholesterol levels and my blood pressure was high too! Anyway thats how I got off it. 0.5 mg every 3...
Hi Don, one of the hardest things I did was to get off prednisone. I did it because the side effects were horrendous, I lost a tooth from masked pain, I got high cholesterol and blood pressure, I was...
Seizures don't sound good. Have you contacted your drs? Could they be a side effect of one of your meds? I agree with Don, it can take months of rheumy's varying your meds to come up with the right...
Heat helps for me too but I just heat up a wheat bag from the chemist or pharmacy in the microwave and then wrap it around the affected joint, hand, wrist what ever.Cortisone injections help too when...
Hi, I'd be tempted to ask for a referal to see a rheumatologist to check out whats going on. They will recognise and know if it is RA or something else. If the doctor you refer to is a rheumy then...
I didn't but I know that estrogen plays some part in the inflammation process as when I lost my ovaries my joint pain became unbearable until I went on an HRT (low dose estrogen only) so the hormones...
My physio told me just not too high or too hard when It comes to pillows and no sleeping on stomach....
Hi Tayisa,I also wondered if what you have is migraine related. I also get those continuous headaches and have found a visit to a physio really helpful, especially one who is good with necks. Mine...
Is your pain symmetrical? Often with RA it is both sides at once, sometimes one side worse than the other. If your inflammatory markers are up it can make all sorts of joints hurt that you never even...
There are all the biological meds but whether they will prescribe them with high liver enzymes I don't know. There are others too, quite an arsenal out there but they may wait for the liver to settle...
Heat and Ice both work too. I heat to get joints moving and ice them if they are very swollen. My doc swears by fish oil but I'm having that reflux from it. Cactus juice is another natural anti...
Hi Don, when I first went on humira injections instead of pens I went up to our local emergency room and asked the nurse there if she would show me how to inject. They were so good and told me I...
Aguilarjorge, why aren't you on meds? If you have RA then you need to halt the progress or you will end up with permanent damage. Even your GP can prescribe anti inflammatorys until you see a rheumy...
Hi Now what, Look we all start off with different symptoms, so I don't know if what you are experiencing is RA but your rheumy will. They are amazing at recognising symptoms. Usually they do an all...
Hi Bad,Wow you have had a rough time lately. Lets hope its caused by the lack of oxygen rather than MS. Does your rheumy think MS? they are pretty cluey at times, plus they are very cautious of side...
Hope you're feeling better, I often suffer from insomnia due to the aches and pains but recently my rheumy put me on 5 mg of Endep. Its a really old treatment for depression but at much higher...
I'm in Sydney too, I see Dr Jan Vaile through her rooms at RPA 95504822. I absolutely love her, she is so enthusiastic, always listens and is very comforting. Times I've ended in hospital sometimes...
Yeah, it totally depends on how much damage is in your ankles but if it is just pain caused from fluid and swelling then once you get correct meds and sometimes see a podiatrist to fix your gait,...
Hi Carole, I was on at least 5mg if not 10 or 15mg of pred for about 5 years and decided the side effects were too great, I lost a tooth. Had high blood pressure, my cholesterol was through the roof...
Hi Bad, sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it. Your cat sounds amazing. I had two half Burmese cats years ago and they would walk 1-2 kilometres with me no worries, fetch rolled paper back...
Hi Alicat,It is so frustrating having one thing after another. I do hydro therapy and one of the woman there said to me you always have something else wrong with you! So I can identify with you. I...
Sounds scary. Was it a reaction to the Humira? Or don't they know? Hope you recover soon. Or was it just a flare? A friend couldn't walk after she had a child. She had a massive flare from the...
I know what you mean. Getting out of the car with my disabled sticker I can feel myself being stared at. I feel like shouting at people to mind their own business I'm in pain. I look young and...
Hi all Now they think I have a frozen shoulder instead of torn tendons. I'm not sure if this is a better diagnosis or not. It sounds as if I have the beginnings of the capsule thickening and...
They will have to keep a check on your white blood cells, it gets very dangerous if your neutrophils drop below 1. It means you have no resistance to disease or fighting disease. They should give you...
I personally hate tramadol, it causes my muscles to get sort of itchy, and I have to keep moving. I feel very uncomfortable on it. You can get a higher dose of Panadol/codeine which may work better...
Lexi Rae, that sounds absolutely terrifying. I would be so angry and frustrated. On holiday in Ireland I was admitted to hospital with an ovarian cyst, I was shocked at the reverence with which their...
Thanks Vicki, I was hoping someone here would have some knowledge for me but I had a rotator cuff repair on my other shoulder so appreciate how slow shoulders are to heal, how is your shoulder now? I...
Hi All,I usually post in RA but wondered if anyone here has suffered from or knows anything about frozen shoulders. I just had a diagnosis last Friday having been in agony now for at least 2 months,...
My worst consequence from prednisone is a loss of bone density and I lost a tooth. Seemingly its common as the pred masks pain so you don't realise you have an infected tooth as there is no pain. My...
Sorry Bad, I know they are going to revisit who is elligible but I don't know the exact new criteria. Surely you would still qualify? No doubt we will find out soon enough. golitho...
Hi Thanx, sounds like the tendons to me if its on top of your toes and ankles. Yeah, you have to raise them as soon as you get home and ice them. Have you got sensible 'nana' shoes, something flat...