Just Diagnosed - Unsure what path to take... | Arthritis Information

 

I am a 30 year old athletic male who has just been told I have Psoriatic or Rheumatoid arthritis and are stressing about what to do next.  I guess the shock of being told this is kicking in and I want to work out what is the best action plan to take - Hit it hard now or Go natural and bring it down over time.  Background is as follows:

1. Loss of strength and thought I was over training or had RSI in my wrists.

2. I put up with it for a couple of months which lead to general soreness, thought I was over training, working too hard (heavy corporate role) or overdoing it.

3. 3 months down the line, sore toes and feet, sometime sore fingers, small amount of fluid in the left knee, getting difficult at the gym, can still do weights but more cardio, sore in morning, as overnight I was heating up and getting stiff

4. Blood text revealed CRP of 34 then four weeks later 66.  I hit a green juice diet and no booze for 6 weeks and the CRP came down to 63 (4% not flash I know).  ESR is 40 but are getting a negative for Rheumatoid factor.  I have no rash at all.

5. Taking Celebrex NSAIDS's which relieve most pain or though I know it’s a band aid solution

 

I need some opinions on what others have experienced to set me straight and help make a decision either way.

 

a)      The rheumatoid specialist is saying we should hit it hard now with Methodrexate, salazopyrin & plaquenil.  I can then prevent joint damage, get the CRP back to a normal level and then work out a management strategy from there which is hopefully a lot less medicine

b)      Go on the Dr McDougall diet (I am currently on day 3) and hit the raw foods with light exercise to get rid of the leaky gut and try and repair the body naturally and without hard core drugs

I would prefer option two as we have a 20 week year old daughter and want to try for one more + are a little nervous about the drugs making me feel sick and effecting other organs and my fertility.

 

Is option b) really that bad and will I return to my better life and not have the worry?

 

Any comments will help guys as I am sure you some of you would have crossed this road.

 

Cheers.

is one which affects both male and female and there are warnings to discontinue it for a certain length of time before conception.  Doesn't  apply to me as because of an op I was unable to bear kids anyway - but I am sure that others here will be able to offer some assistance and share their experiences. 

Glad you found this board. There are lots of great people that post here that I'm sure will add some thoughts to help you. Here is a link to an RA website that is amazing! http://rawarrior.com/
Kelly is so helpful and has so many great informative articles and advice. Definitely check it out! I'm sorry you have to face this unsettling diagnosis. I am still in the midst of getting a firm dx. I have positive RF but the CCP is negative, so that seems to be enough for my rheumy to think it isn’t RA. I also have the sore fingers, hands, ankles, feet, stiffness, pain and loss of motion. As of yet, I am not being treated since I was neg CCP, which scares me a lot, since I may have RA and it isnt being treated. Maybe I don’t have it, but if I don’t, then I don’t know what else it is! It isn’t lupus, Hep C, PA, Sjogrens, etc. It's good that you have a doctor that is ready and willing to start treating you right away. Early and aggressive treatment, as you know, is the best way to protect those joints. I'm sorry I cant be much help in regards to the medications or fertility questions. My kids are just now leaving the nest- no more for me! And like I said- Im not on any meds other than NSAIDS anyway.
Hang in, and keep us posted on how you are doing!
I say do both.  Hit it hard and follow the natural course as well - it will help your body cleanse toxins from the meds and keep you healthier during the battle.  As was posted, joint damage is irreversible.  I'm guessing you want to stay active.  If you find that the natural course is working then you can work with your doctor to reduce drugs to the lowest doses that will keep you pain free.

The drugs are scary but these diseases are scarier.   I have read that Enbrel is very good for PA, has your physician discussed it with you yet?  To the best of my knowledge Enbrel (and the other biologics) have no impact on your fertility.  There are women who have posted here that RA goes into remission during pregnancy; evidently they got pregnant while on these drugs - I hope that helps.

I'm sorry for your diagnosis - hope you will stick around and share your experiences with the MacDougall diet, etc.  Best wishes to you.
Hit it hard. I was also very physically active when I started having issues. After a long roller coaster ride with this disease and different drugs I am now on Enbrel and do pretty well. I lift and do cardio regularly but have suffered some damage through the years. If I could do it all over, I would hit it hard right up front. I might have avoided some of the damage. As I got older this damage has become more apparent.

I was on a MTX/plaquenil mix for years. When it stopped working I switched to Enbrel. What a difference! The MTX/plaquenil caused so much fatigue that, in some ways, it was worse than the pain. It's tough to motivate under that amount of fatigue.

Talk to your doc about any possible fertility issues.Hello cekmsoner.. I would advise you to take a breath.  Although it's a shock & yes you have a few symptoms, you can take a little while to learn about the disease you have & what treatment options are available.  Before you go head on down the traditional pathway have a look at the Roadback website & the AP thread of yahoo.groups.  Ask as many questions as you can & read a book called 'The New Arthritis Breakthrough by Henry Scammel', before you make any clear decision about anything.  Be informed, be proactive & be in control of your own treatment path. Welcome to the board cekmsoner

 

I would also encourage you to learn all you can about RA.  It is definately not a one size fits all disease....What works for one person, may not work for another.

 

In my experience with this disease, damage can and does happen very quickly.  I had damage occur in less than six months.

 

I've been in remission for quite awhile now and have had no progression of my RA.

 

I use Rituxan, a traditional med.  I haven't had any problems or side effects with any of the RA meds I've used.  I also had no luck whatsoever with eliminating certain foods from my diet.

 

As a matter of fact, I was a runner and a pretty strick vegetarian when I was first diagnosed with RA.  I  also had a milk allergy since childhood....so, in my opinion, the whole diet thing is very subjective

 

I read an article the other day that relates very well to this discussion.  I think you might find it interesting.  It has some sound science to back up early and aggressive treatment of RA..

 

A Recommendation For Early And Aggressive Arthritis Treatment - Results From 11-Year Trial

 

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) should be used early and aggressively at the first sign of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results of an 11-year trial, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy, demonstrate that active treatment from the very beginning pays off, even in the long run.

Dr Vappu Rantalaiho, from Tampere University Hospital, Finland, worked with a team of researchers to study radiologic progression in 195 patients with RA. She said, "Early therapy with combinations of conventional DMARDs has been shown to retard the radiologic progression of RA for a period of up to 5 years, but until now the effects of initial aggressive DMARD therapy on radiologic prognosis after that were unknown. We've shown that even after 11 years, early and aggressive therapy achieves excellent results for most patients".

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/192855.php

 

 

 

 

 

[QUOTE=Kerrie]I would advise you to take a breath.  Although it's a shock & yes you have a few symptoms, you can take a little while to learn about the disease you have & what treatment options are available.  Before you go head on down the traditional pathway have a look at the Roadback website & the AP thread of yahoo.groups.  Ask as many questions as you can & read a book called 'The New Arthritis Breakthrough by Henry Scammel', before you make any clear decision about anything.  Be informed, be proactive & be in control of your own treatment path. BumpThere are many many people who have been treated with AP & reached remission or become asymptomatic.

 

If you use the traditional medications there is no doubt the disease is continuing to ravage your joints and organs but you won't know about it because these meds are designed to stop you from getting any symptoms; any truthful doctor will tell you that. 

 

No-one knows what causes arthritis so no-one actually knows how to treat it or what will or won't work.

 

Pay attention, how many people have taking the traditional medications & when it stopped working tried something else & something else & something else ,, why would they do that if the medication actually worked?

AP therapy has been around for 50 plus years. It has been available during the terrible era of deformities and crippling. If anyone is not old enough, then ask mom or dad or gramma or granpa what rheumatoid arthritis used to mean to anyone that was aflicted by rheumatoid arthritis. You just don't see the crippling of rheumatoid arthritis anymore and most people afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis can live, if not normal lifes, can live lifes free of cripplings and deformaties and total agony. And believe me or if not me, believe science and medical fact, the reasons for this new hopeful era isn't antibiotic therapy. If it were, it would have been 50 years ago. The new medicines are not perfect, but sure a mile ahead of where we were just a short time ago and they certainly are a step forward, and not a road back.

 

LEV

Not quite true, it never fails to amaze me how you slant everything towards your way of thinking, you are like a politician on a self serving path of misinformation.

 

Back then science discovered cortizone & sold it as the drug discovery of the century.  When that happened all the other research stopped & of course that included the research being done with AP Therapy.  Little did they know that they would have to retract sprouting about cortizone as a wonder drug because of all the problems that developed as a result of its use. 

 

I stand by what I said, any truthful doctor will tell you/agree that the medications they normally give to patients who have these diseases are designed to prevent the patient from having any symptoms, they are not designed to stop the disease.  They haven't yet designed a drug to combat these diseases because first they have to find out what causes them.

 

As I said, be proactive, do your own research, don't listen to people on the web as though they are some kind of medical expert in all this (& yes that includes me) come to your own conclusions. 

 

You can't refute science, mycoplasma bacteria exists & can be treated by antibiotics just like any other bacteria. 

 

 

 

  

Kerrie2010-07-06 19:48:26Kerrie,

 

You can refute science. You are doing it right now. You are making claims that science doesn't recognize. You post as if you know me. I know your style is familiar, the name is just new, huh? And trust me, any "real" member of this great forum will never try to lead any ra sufferer down a wrong path. After all, we all have rheumatoid arthritis. We all live with rheumatoid arthritis and the dangers and worries associated with this very serious disease. There is no time for guessing as ra can destroy a joint in less than 6 months. We actually have "real" rheumatoid arthritis. Know what I mean jelly bean?

 

LEV

levlarry2010-07-06 20:13:37Quite true that you can't refute science...

 

A Recommendation For Early And Aggressive Arthritis Treatment - Results From 11-Year Trial

 

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) should be used early and aggressively at the first sign of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results of an 11-year trial, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy, demonstrate that active treatment from the very beginning pays off, even in the long run.

Dr Vappu Rantalaiho, from Tampere University Hospital, Finland, worked with a team of researchers to study radiologic progression in 195 patients with RA. She said, "Early therapy with combinations of conventional DMARDs has been shown to retard the radiologic progression of RA for a period of up to 5 years, but until now the effects of initial aggressive DMARD therapy on radiologic prognosis after that were unknown. We've shown that even after 11 years, early and aggressive therapy achieves excellent results for most patients".

 

 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/192855.php

 

 

[QUOTE=Kerrie]Not quite true, it never fails to amaze me how you slant everything towards your way of thinking, you are like a politician on a self serving path of misinformation.

 

Back then science discovered cortizone & sold it as the drug discovery of the century.  When that happened all the other research stopped & of course that included the research being done with AP Therapy.  Little did they know that they would have to retract sprouting about cortizone as a wonder drug because of all the problems that developed as a result of its use. 

 

I stand by what I said, any truthful doctor will tell you/agree that the medications they normally give to patients who have these diseases are designed to prevent the patient from having any symptoms, they are not designed to stop the disease.  They haven't yet designed a drug to combat these diseases because first they have to find out what causes them.

 

As I said, be proactive, do your own research, don't listen to people on the web as though they are some kind of medical expert in all this (& yes that includes me) come to your own conclusions. 

 

You can't refute science, mycoplasma bacteria exists & can be treated by antibiotics just like any other bacteria. 

  

  

[/QUOTE]

 

 

YES! Do your own research..

listen to those of us who are teetering into remission with NO disease activity at the present time!  thanks to enbrel and  mtx in my case  ..

and it all happened in 2 years.. with improvement almost immediate though not complete.

 

the medications for RA are designed to STOP PROGRESSION!!  not to stop symptoms.... though that is a wonderful benefit of halting the disease's progression.

 

do you know our friend who is now wheel chair bound after years of AP therapy ??   too damaged even for replacement? 

Why are you attacking me ??  I haven't done anything you haven't done yourself, you are telling someone how wonderful the traditional drugs such as methotrexate & enbrel are to name a just two, I am telling the same person AP therapy is another treatment option. 

 

Funny how you say your medications are designed to stop progression when in fact the literature about the drugs don't support that statement  ie 'Enbrel' is listed as a drug that is not a cure for any autoimmune disorder and will only treat the symptoms of your condition, 'Methotrexate' is listed as an immunsuppresive, which means that it works by reducing the activity of the immune system.  

 

Why can't I advise someone to look at yet another treatment option when you are doing exactly that yourselves. 

 

Babs, in answer to your question I have no idea who you are talking about. 

Kerrie2010-07-07 18:16:11Goodmorning Marilyn.Quite true that you can't refute science.  So I thought I'd share a litte more....

 

 

Sustained Remission and Reduced Radiographic Progression with Combination Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

Conclusion. A remarkable proportion of patients with early RA treated with combinations of DMARD were in remission at 2 years, and remission was more often sustained compared to patients treated with a single DMARD. Sustained remission protects against radiographic joint damage. (First Release Dec 15 2006; J Rheumatol 2007;34:316–21)

 

 

http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/07/02/316.html

 

 

 

Long-term use of adalimumab ( Humira) in the treatment of rheumatic diseases

 

Charalampos Papagoras, Paraskevi V Voulgari, Alexandros A Drosos

Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

Abstract: Adalimumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), has been evaluated in various randomized placebo-controlled trials in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. In the short time frame of these trials adalimumab has been shown to be effective in reducing disease activity, slowing radiographic disease progression and improving patients’ quality of life, while at the same time demonstrating an acceptable safety profile. Furthermore, release of adalimumab on the market, prospective observational studies, as well as open-label extensions of the original double-blind trials have provided experience and data about the long-term efficacy and safety of the drug. Initial effectiveness, in terms of reducing disease activity, is sustained, while in most cases patients treated with adalimumab experienced a slower radiographic progression and consequently less disability and improved health-related quality-of-life outcomes. Moreover, long-standing treatment of thousands of patients with adalimumab outside the controlled context of clinical trials was not related to new safety signals, with the most common adverse events being respiratory infections. The most common serious adverse events seem to be tuberculosis reactivation, while a putative association with malignant lymphoma development is not yet proven. Besides, both of these adverse reactions pertain to the whole TNFα blocker group. In conclusion, adalimumab is a safe and effective option for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

http://dovepress.com/long-term-use-of-adalimumab-in-the-treatment-of-rheumatic-diseases-peer-reviewed-article

 

 

ACR: Aggressive Initial Therapy Can Send Rheumatoid Arthritis Into Remission

 

 Early aggressive treatment with a combination of drugs can drive rheumatoid arthritis into drug-free remission in some patients, Dutch researchers said here. 

"Hit them early and hit them hard," advised Cornelia Allaart, M.D., of Leiden University Medical Center.

Given the right combination of drugs in initial therapy, about one in eight patients appears to be able to stop the medications entirely within three years, Dr. Allaart reported at the American College of Rheumatology meeting.

The finding comes from the long-running BeSt study, whose name comes from the Dutch words for treatment strategies. In the study, 508 patients were randomized to one of four treatment paradigms -- sequential monotherapy with standard drugs, monotherapy escalating to combination treatment in the event of failure, initial combination therapy using prednisone and another medication, or initial combination therapy with Remicade (infliximab) and methotrexate.

The initial combination therapies proved superior in terms of improvement in functional ability and slowed progression of joint damage, Dr. Allaart said. But it was patients in the fourth arm who were able to stop therapy with no penalty.

After two years of the study, Dr. Allaart said, 67/120 patients (56%) were able to stop the Remicade and begin tapering methotrexate to "maintenance levels" of 10 mg/week. After another year, she said, 15% of the patients had also stopped methotrexate.

"They are now without any drug and also without any clinical signs or symptoms," Dr. Allaart said. "

 

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACR/4519 

Lynn492010-07-07 19:21:26Wow --- look at the big guns coming out now !!!

 

What are you 3 frightened of ??   Why are you so concerned about me talking about AP therapy when I am not in the least bit bothered by you all taking traditional meds.   Isn't this a little lop-sided?  Are your responses not just a tad over the top?

 

I haven't seen it written anywhere that this is a 'traditional medications only site' !!

 

(To everyone else I apologise for the name change Yahoo wouldn't let me back into AI it kept telling me I hadn't activated my membership, so I set up a new one) 

 

So what is this now, like your fourth or fifth username? So how is the weather in Australia? How is the palindromic rheumatism, Marilyn. [QUOTE=Kerrie.NI]Wow --- look at the big guns coming out now !!!

 

What are you 3 frightened of ??   Why are you so concerned about me talking about AP therapy when I am not in the least bit bothered by you all taking traditional meds.   Isn't this a little lop-sided?  Are your responses not just a tad over the top?

 

I haven't seen it written anywhere that this is a 'traditional medications only site' !!

 

(To everyone else I apologise for the name change Yahoo wouldn't let me back into AI it kept telling me I hadn't activated my membership, so I set up a new one) 

 

[/QUOTE]

No big guns, just facts...

I'm sorry if you find that offensive.

 

But, when you don't have any facts, I guess you just have to stick with anecdotal evidence....

& clearly you have your own agenda Lynn.

Give it a rest & let people decide what they want to do for themselves.  Those who want to go down the traditional medication track will do & I will support that choice, those who want to try AP will try AP & I will support their choice.  What I don't support is people like you trying to prevent people making their own choices by frightening them in the process when they are ill & in need & you should all be supporting whatever they choose to do whether you would do it or not !!

 

I'm done!

 

[QUOTE=Kerrie.NI]

& clearly you have your own agenda Lynn.

Give it a rest & let people decide what they want to do for themselves.  Those who want to go down the traditional medication track will do & I will support that choice, those who want to try AP will try AP & I will support their choice.  What I don't support is people like you trying to prevent people making their own choices by frightening them in the process when they are ill & in need & you should all be supporting whatever they choose to do whether you would do it or not !!

 

I'm done!

 

[/QUOTE]

Yep, I have an agenda...It is to get the facts out so people can make up their own minds concerning treatment.

 

I've always been supportive of people's choices and I believe people know that here.  What I'm not supportive of is posters making unsubstantiated statements that aren't backed up by facts

 

 

Here's my opinion, yet again

 

  I'm happy when anyone has success with their RA meds, no matter what they may be.  I think people here are smart enough to make their own decisions on what meds to use based on facts, research and consulting with their RD's.

 

Here's my issue with some posters.  I use Rituxan.  It has been a wonderful med for me.  I've been able to drop both MTX,  prednisone and I'm now in remission.

 

When I got such great results from Rituxan, I didn't come here and tell people that the only way they would get better would be by depleting CD20+ B-cells........I didn't say the rest of the meds were toxic and wouldn't work.  I didn't say that there was a conspiracy by doctors and big pharm to keep people from knowing about or using Rituxan.

 

I didn't call other people's doctors morons, tell people to f-off or tell them they couldn't post on threads  concerning Rituxan.  I didn't accuse people of lying about who they were, or how well they were doing or say that their meds caused brain damage......

 

I don't recommend that anyone use any med without speaking to their doctors and doing research concerning the med.  I certainly don't expect them to use my posts or anyone else's anecdotal experiences as a basis to use a med.    

 

RA is different in everyone.  It's not a one size fits all disease.  There is a huge difference in believing something and actually knowing something.   In my opinion, posters need to keep that in mind when reading about the various meds used to treat RA.

[QUOTE=Kerrie]Why are you attacking me ??  I haven't done anything you haven't done yourself, you are telling someone how wonderful the traditional drugs such as methotrexate & enbrel are to name a just two, I am telling the same person AP therapy is another treatment option. 

 

Funny how you say your medications are designed to stop progression when in fact the literature about the drugs don't support that statement  ie 'Enbrel' is listed as a drug that is not a cure for any autoimmune disorder and will only treat the symptoms of your condition, 'Methotrexate' is listed as an immunsuppresive, which means that it works by reducing the activity of the immune system.  

 

Why can't I advise someone to look at yet another treatment option when you are doing exactly that yourselves. 

 

Babs, in answer to your question I have no idea who you are talking about. 

[/QUOTE]

 

I am not attacking you.  I am giving clear and concise data on the information at hand... as well as my personal experience..

and of course it is a treatment... all medical interactions TREAT the underlying issue.

 

I am giving my personal experience.. I've been here for almost 3 years and have battled severe RA to be on the cusp of remission.  It has done it's damage in the forty years I've had the disease .... but there is very little to no disease activity based on ultrasound scans and x-rays I have received.

 

for 40 years minocycline /tetracycline have treated RA...

 

if it was such an effective medication, it would be the GOLD STANDARD.. which it is not.

 

The only thing I am afraid of.. is that someone who has this horrific disease should listen to you and end up like your friend, J.L. at roadback..  and if you are a member there..you certainly know who I am speaking of.

[QUOTE=rab023]This really isn't a chat room designed for debates.  Everyone has their own opinions.  There really is no sense in arguing about it.  Lets move on.  I think everyone gets it![/QUOTE]

 

actually.. this forum has had these debates since inception.

 

 

 

kerrie:

 

where is your documentation of the wonders of your AP therapy?  I would like to see the scientific research and results..

 

 

Rab,

 

No, every one doesn't get it. The early stage of rheumatoid arthritis is the most critical period. Many times, if treated aggressively right from the start, the RA may well be managed without the big guns. For someone to post untruths about a alternative, is extremely dangerous to mostly the newbee. People when first diagnosed with RA, are looking for that miracle cure, I was.  There are lots of them out there. The only problem is that they don't work. They don't work. None the less, some newbees will try what is advertised as "the safe" alternative road back to good as advertised mostly by those that don't have our disease and certainly cannot back up their claims with science or medical facts and have statistics. The early stages of our disease is the time when and if allowed to run amuck without drug intervention, irrepairable damage can result. During the time that these "miracle cure" salespeople are convincing the RA sufferer that the great and increased joint pain and inflammation that they have after starting the "miracle cure" is just "proof" that the "miracle cure" is working. By the time the "newbee" gets to the point of going to traditional to relieve the pain, many have already damaged the joints irrepairably. That Rab, is not debateable. The newbees are the most succeptable to "snake oil" sales. These "salespeople" use the same old lines and untruth, "There is a conspiracy against their "miracle" cure". Think about that. It would have to be a world wide conspiracy by all the medical and scientific peoples in the whole wide world and that not one of these hundreds of thousands of people will "blow the whistle." And Rab, please, I'm not being mean or attacking you, just trying to explain that it's the newly diagnosed that must be protected from untruths. That is our responsability.

 

LEV

levlarry2010-07-08 10:16:55I wonder which course the original poster decided to take?  I hope he is OK. This has been an interesting debate. I appreciate Lev, Babs and those who have the best interests of us newbies at heart. Lev- I loved your last post. We are foremost trying to be sure we even have RA, before taking serious treatments that should not be taken lightly. But it's good that those who DO have a firm dx have the education about these drugs to make the choices that are best for them.
I'm still in the process of getting that firm dx, while all the time I read these posts and blogs about how critical it is to get early and aggressive treatment. My Orthopedic Dr gave me the dx based on symptoms and positive RF and ANA. She told me to see an RD to make sure of the dx and start the treatments. I have minimal swelling, and my CCP was negative. My RD receptionist called to inform me of the labs results (which I had already gotton on my own) and said the Dr looked the labs over and said "no sign of RA". Based totally on CCP results, IMHO. It's like he didn't hear a word I said about the pain, stiffness, weakness, (all bilateral- hands, wrists, fingers, feet, ankles and now much to my displeasure- elbows) scleritis, pleurisy (3 yrs ago)fatigue, needing splints at times to immobilize a joint because I cannot tolerate it being moved AT ALL. So no sign of RA? Really? I hope to God he is right, or I am right now having irreversible damage done to my joints. I would like a chance to be able to consider at least trying some of the medications. Seems to me if they work, then wouldn't that help with the RA dx? But on the other hand, I don't want to risk my health taking these heavy duty meds if they aren't needed.
Sorry to rant and go so long. It's just so frustrating!

Michelemy history may show you how elusive a DX can be... while it is supremely important.

I would see my PCP and he would examine my joints... tell me they look bad.. get a blood test.. only to have negative results.. ALWAYS!!  send me on my not merry way with a RX to take it easy and take some NSAID for the discomfort.

Even though I was DX'd as a child w/ JRA!!  It took a major flare upon a major flare and a visit to an RD who drew the fluid from my flaring joint to examine for a clean diagnosis as an adult 

while my symptoms were minimal.. it's obvious now, with the recent xrays I received, that destruction had continued through that time.. i am now having my knee replaced..

There are those of us who are sero-negative but based on criteria published in many places... it is obvious we are RA suffers:

http://arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/l/blrheumarthquiz.htm

If your answers indicate that you are suffering.. do not give up the fight.. continue to see doctor after doctor after doctor, if necessary...

Good luck, Michele

[QUOTE=rab023]I don't feel attacked and only feel that things were getting a little heated. I suffer from RA also and know how scary it can be when your first diagnosed.  Just thinking there may be another way to express our opinioins without ending up in an argument.  No offense to anyone or their opinions.[/QUOTE]

rab

one thing is consistent about those talking about AP protocol and the road back...

they always disappear when you ask them for documentation of their treatment working..

there is none.
BumpFor MicheleK70 and other RA Rookies,

 

The stories ogf the danger of the "heavy duty" RA drugs is highly exaggerated. Most people really don't have/get serious side effects from our drugs. We are closely monitored and the dosages are generally within a safe dosage.

 

LEV

 

LEV

and, me?  I'm still waiting for Kerrie to show documentation of her AP therapy working.

people should wonder if you have to drive over 200 miles and fly to an RD to get AP ... then maybe you're going with a sinking ship??


babs102010-07-12 20:18:49Michele,   "Arthur" is sneaky and devious and IMHO needs to be hit over the head asap all right " . . .    I was fortunate to find a PCP who straight away said he thought I had RA, and the tests came back positive - and I live in a city where it was easier to get hold of a good rheumy.  Oh, and yes, I hve had no bad allergic reactions to any of the meds - they do affect some people.  I've seen older folk come into the rheumy's waiting room and foudn later that they did not have the opportunity of the better meds we now have - and their bodies show it.

 

I hope you can get something that works for you and that you are comfortable with.

 

Lorraine

In the end it is the responsibility of the individual to make the decision as to what treatment path they take.

I'm on the traditional path as far as drugs go and up until now things have worked pretty well.
I was a little shocked to find that the RA is still working under the hood when I had a MRI on my right knee.

We have a friend that is pretty bent up due to RA and she comforted me that I should not have the same problems she has because of the new drugs that they have in this day and age.

As Lorrie has said, Arthur is sneaky, belt the thing on the head with the drugs and try other treatments once you have some form of control.
Babs, Lev and Lorrie- thank you for your input and advice. I think I'll make an appointment to see my Ortho (she is the one that originally gave me the RA dx) and ask to get some imaging done of the joints. She might also be able to prescribe one of the DMARDs if there is damage...? I loath dealing with the RD again, but will if I have to.. supposedly he is the best around, but maybe I should still try another. I'm feeling pretty good though, nothing like during the winter, but I still have the unshakable bilateral stiffness, pain and fatigue, so it seems Arthur (or his cousin?) is still hanging out. I realize how blessed I am to not be suffering like so many others do...Michele.. wishing you the best.

I did see an RD before I saw my current doc... he was highly recommended by a friend..

He told me I had a virus...  Even when I reiterated my childhood history and the points that all stated I have RA.....   sometimes the "best" aren't so great except in their own ego's.

Find a new RD.  Good luck!!


bump [QUOTE=Kerrie.NI]Wow --- look at the big guns coming out now !!!

 

What are you 3 frightened of ??   Why are you so concerned about me talking about AP therapy when I am not in the least bit bothered by you all taking traditional meds.   Isn't this a little lop-sided?  Are your responses not just a tad over the top?

 

I haven't seen it written anywhere that this is a 'traditional medications only site' !!

 

(To everyone else I apologise for the name change Yahoo wouldn't let me back into AI it kept telling me I hadn't activated my membership, so I set up a new one) 

 

[/QUOTE]

 

Kerrie....I dont know you, you dont know me but one thing I can tell you is that this wee gang will go on and on and on and on et al about AP and will never accept that some have had success with that regime. Now, I dont have proof from anyone that AP works, at the moment Plaq and Sulfasalazine work for me and dont for others. BUT.... you will never get Babs/Lynn/Lev to accept that others have apparently experienced great results from any therapy that is not ' conventional' in their opinion. They jump on ANYONE who mentions it, and run those who do, off the board. Go take a looooooong look at their histories, ( and mine too, Lev especially will tell you all ' about' me!! lolol) and learn.

 

I personally wish you the best of luck with any treatment you choose to go with.
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