Hi. I've just been diagonosed with rheumatoid arthritis and its all been a bit of a shock. I've just turned 20 and I've been involved heavily in gymnastics since the age of 3. I was put a course of steroids for a month which made the inflammation and stiffness disappear. After coming off of the steroids i havent had any trouble. I recently went on holiday and although fine the whole time I was away, after sitting on the plane for 4 hours my knees have gone terribly painful when I walk. Also I have limited range of motion in my wrists and fingers. I was just wondering if anyone out there can assure me anymore that this is treatable. I'm starting to worry quite a bit now that I'm going to be suffering for the rest of my life. Fortunatly my blood tests for rheumatoid came back negative so it's suppose to be mild. My specialist has informed me he is 90% sure its treatable but I'm still feeling very down about it all as today I'm having trouble walking because of my painful knees. When I'm put on medication will it knock it out completly? Any advice or past experiences will be very much appreciated. Thanks x
You learn to play the cards you’re dealt…it’s as simple as that. You’ll have good days and bad; hopefully on the right medication you’ll have more good than bad. Decide from the start to keep a positive attitude and that will help you more than anything. It’s very easy to get depressed with any sort of chronic illness; and this one can be a painful one at times (lots of times;)
The right medication is key and they have made great improvements in recent years with medications that slows the progression down.
You’re life is not over…it’s just going to be different. Surround yourself with loving, supportive friends and family. You’re going to need help from time to time.
Keep coming back here. This is a neat group and I’ve found it very helpful to talk to others who share a similar life of ups and downs.
Welcome.
When i was first diagnosed with RA, I also felt the shock. I had been healthy all my life and didn't know what was going on with my body...all of a sudden. After the initial shock, I read everything I could get my hands on. Your being here at this message board is probably one of the best things you can do. You'll get a lot of good support here, and learn a lot.
I've had RA about 6 years, and the doc first gave me a steroid injection. It worked for a little while, then he started me on Feldene, being my RA was mild. He kept me on that for two years and I didn't know any better to ask him to give me something stronger. In the meantime, my fingers started deforming. (I also used to be a gymnast, etc. when I was younger, and one of my favorite sports was bowling, as I got older...I can no longer bowl...it's one of the fun things the doc tells me to stay away from at this time).
The point of my post...don't wait too long to ask for something that will help keep your fingers from deforming. If your knees hurt, then you need something more than just a steroid injection. Start asking for it NOW before the RA takes hold of your body.
I've been on Remicade now for almost 2 1/2 years and my RA is not progressing at this point. The doc I have now says it's too bad the original doc didn't get into the many medications available earlier on.
Good luck to you.
Sue
Thanks for your responses, its been good to hear about other peoples experiences. I saw the specialist tonight and he is putting me on methotrexate (think thats the right spelling). He has explained about having regular blood tests and that this tretment should clear up and keep my pain and swelling away. Is anyone else on this treatment? If so how effective is it? Thanks in advance Hi. I just got a definite diagnosis in February (after achy feet appeared in November) and when I walked out of the doctor's office that day, I felt like someone had dropped a bomb on me! I'm on methotrexate now too. That seems to be a popular first choice of rheumatologists now days. Sometimes they have to adjust the dose and/or add other meds (and there are lots of other medications). Did they put you on folic acid along with the methotrexate? They usually do. They have found that "early & aggressive" treatment is the best way to go with RA. Personally, I have found that the rheumatologist is all about finding the right meds and I've had to ask for other things like physical therapy, support group info, etc... This is a good place to look for advice and support. Best of luck to you!Hello All
I would like to pass on some hopeful information to you that are suffering from RA and related diseases.
My husband was just diagnosed with RA just three months ago and we found a wonderful website with an excellent therapy. It is called;
Please do take the time to read all the articles and information on this site, there is also a bulletin board where you can ask questions and Dr.'s information pack etc. This therapy is just too great not to let others know about it. It has saved my husband and also a friend of ours. There are contact people whom you can get ahold of in each state in case one wants to phone and speak in person.
I hope you will go and read this wonderful website.
Do take care and wishing everyone a pain free future.
Xjennax,
I’ve taken Methotrexate for a couple of years now….In December we added Humira which I take every two weeks by injection. I can’t remember what dosage I started at with Methotrexate; it was much lower than I take now. I take 9 pills a week (22.5mg I think that is) and it had gotten to the point that it wasn’t working anymore alone. In my case I’ve found that to be the case. What works well for you today might not work well in 6 months or a year. I think we’ve all been through that. It’s sort of the way this disease progresses I guess. I take my Methotrexate on Saturday night before I go to bed. Sometimes Sundays I’m kind of tired and drained feeling. But Sundays can be Lazy days for me. Sort of my excuse to rest. Forced rest which we all need a good bit of to stay in fairly good shape.
A lot of Folks here can’t tolerate the MTX very well. I personally have done fine on it in general. Hope that you will. Take Care.
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, especially given how young you are (not that RA doesn't suck at any age).
I am on mtx, enbrel, naxporin for my athritises, just remember you can not cure athritis, these meds help to make living more eays. It will always be there, nothing, antibiotics, steroids, magnets, etc will make it disappear, they will though help make it more managable. You can go into remission with athritis and have more flare ups further down the road too. What is important is to learn to live with it and to not let it interfere with what you like to do with your life. A very positive attitude helps and a very good support system too. Good luck and remember we always here to listen. meme
Hi thought I'd post an update. Been to see my specialist today he sounds very positive and thinks that methotrexate will work for me. My condition is relatively mild and seronegative so thats good news. I start the metho on Sunday and folic acid tomorrow. I'm going to be on 12.5g eventually. I have my chest xray next week and a blood test next month. Im currently taking prednisolone which will going to gradually as the method kicks in. I'm feeling really positive right now, he really is a good doctor. Very reassuring! I've also just got a job coahing sport in primary schools so everything is looking up. Fingers crossed it all works xThat's good news xjennax. I was wondering how things were shaping up for you.
Keep coming back here...this is a great source of support.
Take Care.
And Congrats on the new job!!