NEWBIE HERE | Arthritis Information

HELLO EVERYONE:

I am new here. I am retired, living in Penna. with my wonderful husband. We are retired AF.

I was diagnosed with RA a few years ago. My SED rate was 37 at that time. It is now down to 8. I still hurt everyday, and with the cold weather here in PA, it is getting worse. I try to keep warm and so far, no med has helped me to be without pain. I was on Mobic, tried Celebrex, you all know the routine, try this and try that, but nothing has helped. So now, I am only on Aleves, when needed. I like Skelaxin. That seems to help the most.

I have not gone to a Rheumy yet, my PCP is treating me. He is good, does the bloodwork, x-rays, etc. but I think I have more of Fibromyalgia than RA. My muscles hurt a lot, along with the joint pains. It is all over. When I asked him about this a few months ago, he would not make a diagnosis of Fibro, just wanted to give me more meds. I guess I will have to make an appt. with a Rheumy soon after the holidays are over.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and hope we can become friends soon.

Welcome aboard, please make yourself at home. There are lots of wonderful people on this board full of knowledge who will guide you thru this. My only thought is to see a specialist soon to get the correct dx and start some treatment.

Lori

Welcome to the board!! You will find a lot of support here and a lot of caring people.

I hope that you can get the answers you are looking for with a rheumy.

What is Skelaxin? I have never heard of that.

Welcome! So glad to have you here!

If I may offer my opinion....and you might come to see this through-out many threads....I would highly recomend you seeing a specalist. There is no going back once damage has been done. If no meds have offered you relief yet...perhaps it is not really under control. I just want to save your joints! Give it some thought. :) And do stick around! We love new people!!!

OMG that is crazy! My name is Sara and I grew up in PA (family
still lives there). I got married a year ago, and my husband is in
the Air Force and we are stationed at Robins AFB in Georgia! I
have JRA and fibro. Where do you live? I lived in Carlisle.Hey Sara, not to stray too far from topic but..I didn't know you were in Robins! I have some very dear friends that were born and raised there. They lived there for 13 years and loved it. You're not too far from me ya know. I'm just across state lines in FL!yep, I live in good ole Warner Vegas (that's what they call it
here). Hubby and I will probably make it down to FL sometime
in the spring. We take little trips here and there on long
weekends. Last January we went to Amelia Island, FL. We
haven't been to the panhandle, yet. Hi Sara...welcome!

You will find alot of support here loving people. I dont always post things but sometimes just reading what others have posted makes me feel like someone cares and above all understands.

Hi Sara,

I'm a newbie too, of sorts. I used to come to this board alot when I was first dx'd. Then life just got so out of control (major depression). BTW, it seems depression is common when we first realize what we actually have. So please be aware. It is not fun.

I'm an RN, and my experience is that fibro frequently tags along with RA. Hope you have a great time here with these wonderful people. auntiannie