Hello everyone,
I was diagnosed with RA 6 years ago when my youngest daughter was about 6 months old. I could not believe such a horrible disease had cursed me. I fought it tooth and nail! After taking Aleve as needed I found a doctor who used natural remedies. I have taken turmeric, ginger root, tart cherry, flax seed oil, omega 3, boswellia extract, and naproxen, but here lately, nothing seems to stop the pain and inflammation. More of my joints are now being attacked. My ankles are even swollen most days. I made an appointment with my rheumatologist. I will see him next week. I plan to ask for something stronger than naproxen. Any suggestions?
I am really feeling the reality of this crippling disease. My middle finger looks like a hook in the morning. It is painful to move and feels like lock-jaw of the finger for at least an hour after I wake.
Is this your first visit with the rheumatologist or have you been seeing him all along in addition to the natural rememdies that you have been trying?
Here's the problem that seems to be inherent in the natural remedies you have been trying. Each of those (I believe) relief inflammation. I know that the cherry, flax see oil, omega 3 do. But none of the ones you listed do anything for stopping or reversing RA.
Normally, the doctor would try prednisone to get the inflammation down. Then, he might add methotrexate. If that works, then he would taper down on the prednisone. If MTX doesn't do the job (and it takes months to work), he might try something like Plaquenil next. If that doesn't do the job, then he would add one of the biologics like Enbrel, Humaria or Remicade.
It concerns me that you might not have been receiving adequate treatment up to this point. When you go to the Rheumy, you need to have films done to see what damage has already occurred. If your Rheumy has not been doing any of this, other than at your own request, then you need a new one.
All the natural remedies that you are trying are good, but they are not enough to stop this disease. They are the kinds of things you add in addition to some very serious medications.
I hope you will push for much more aggressive treatment.
Thanks Deana! I appreciate your suggestions. I will push for something stronger and x-rays.
I second what Deanna says. No one can really predict the course of your RA - not your rheumy, not you, not anyone. But...for most people, joints start eroding fairly quickly after diagnosis if you don't start something to stop it. The pain and the erosion are two very different things. You've been stopping the pain. You need to get to work as quickly as possible to stop the physical damage to your joints. It's not reversible. It is cumulative.