Ok, first of all I go back to the doctor on Thursday, this will be my second visit the first to tell me the news about Ra and this the follow up.
I have some questions:
1. I have been getting Charlie Horses in my calf's, in my hands and the top portion of my feet, the feet will draw my toes upward (Big toe most of the time), the hands the thumbs and little fingers will draw in towards the palms of my hands, the calf's I can maybe understand because of riding my stationary bike but the other puzzle me?
Could this be because of the Pred? the RA or what? I can't do hardly anything with my hands with out them cramping.
2. Most here say that pred. is bad so what do you think the doctor might Rx to replace the Pred?
3. I have come to believe the RA is a very expensive disease to have and control ( if that can be said) What can I expect to pay per year to treat this menace? Meds, Dr's tests blood work etc? The reason I ask is because I have no insurance and will not be able to get Medicare until a year from now.
Let us know what meds your on and the amounts. Sometimes these can effect our systems. I get a lot of muscle twitches and the occasional cramp . Both are in the calf area. Sucks I knowthe only med is Pred 10 mg once a day!
And advil
[QUOTE=slo_hand2]
3. I have come to believe the RA is a very expensive disease to have and control ( if that can be said) What can I expect to pay per year to treat this menace? Meds, Dr's tests blood work etc? The reason I ask is because I have no insurance and will not be able to get Medicare until a year from now.
[/QUOTE]
Each month, I spend less than on fish oil, about for generic plaquenil (it would be about w/o insurance), and the occasional naproxen/medrol dosepak/vicodin are all very cheap as well (and not used very often).
I'm not sure how much the periodic bloodwork costs, but my co-pay for the labwork is typically or so (and the insurance company generally pays 90% on diagnostics).
You might see if the rheumatologist will treat you at the same rate he/she charges insurance patients - they typically have a lower negotiated fee.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com