Hi,
I'm 54 and was recently diagnosed with RA. Symptoms started appearing last fall with club feet in the morning, then pain in my hips, thighs, and calves that finally settled in my knees. My doctor did blood tests that indicated RA. She sent me to a rheumatologist that did x-rays, more blood tests, and then she took fluid from my left knee. While all this was going on I developed bursitis in my shoulders from overuse as I wasn't able to use my knees when sitting down or standing up. My family doctor told me to take Aleve and I have been taking 2 pills AM and PM. I have also read a lot about nutritional healing and am taking a number of vitamins and minerals that are suppose to help with arthritis. I've also started doing tai chai for arthritis to help limber up in the morning.
Yesterday I was back at the specialist's office. She gave me three cortisone shots - one in each knee and one in my right shoulder. Today I am feeling better than I have in months!! She told me to keep taking the 2 Aleve AM and PM. She also gave me a prescription for Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine 200 mg) and told me to start taking that too.
I have never been one to want to take a lot of drugs. My question to you who have already been down this road is should I start taking the Plaquenil right away or is there a chance the cortisone shots might do the trick in relieving the RA without further treatments?
If you are already taking Plaquenil, what side effects have you experienced?
Thanks for any help. I am not very computer savvy, but my husband thought this might be a good way for me to learn more about this new companion that has joined my life and in turn the lives of all my family. God bless and have a good day..........................
Mary Rose,
The cortisone only reduces inflamation but does nothing to cure RA.
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/paindrugs/a/cortisone.htm
If you were to take a poll on this wonderful forum you probably wouldn't find one person that is very into taking drugs but most are very thankful for the drugs available that not only relieve much of the pain but dramatically slows the damage to the joints. Most of us have searched everywhere for that miracle cure, vitimins, herbs, snake oils, and etc.s, and we all have resigned ourselves to the new drugs while waiting for the miracle cure.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/DS0002 0
Your husband sounds quite smart. This is a good place to start and stay with. Truckloads of info and help.
LEV
Hi Rosie and welcome
I believe RA is 'attacked' early and aggressively these days to stop the progression of the disease rather that just treat the symptoms with pain relief and anti inflammatries (sp?). Most go down this road, some go for alternatives. Personally, I have gone for the former and have been on methatrexate (mtx) for 18 months. Many here are on plaquenil so you will get loads of input. I just didn't want you to feel ignored
Pip
Welcome to AI.I can hear the denial in your post. I'm 53 and have had arthritis most of my life. I've had RA for 30 years. I'm still in denial too.
Please do not repeat my mistakes. Plaquenil is the mildest DMARD. It has been around a long time and the doctors understand it really well. It is very well tolerated - almost no one gets into trouble with it.
With RA it is important to treat the pain (Aleve), but it is critical to stop the progression of the disease with DMARDs like Plaquenil.
Hi Rosie and welcome. I have been taking Plaquenil since last October and other than a little stomach upset for the first week have had no other side effects from it. This is a great place for information and support. Good luck to you. Thanks everyone for giving me some input. It was just what I was looking for. I will start taking the Plaquenil.HI have been on Plaquenil for four months with absolutely no side effects at all. Me too, plaquinel gave me no side affects to speak of although make sure your eyes are checked every six months. My doctor encouraged me to add MTHX straightaway, small dosage, but I delayed for 2 months but then added the MTHX and it works pretty well, I still get pain but nothing like the pain in the early days. The quicker you are on these meds the better. I too hated taking drugs but it looks as if we have no alternative at this time. I have no side affects with MTHX either. This is a GREAT site, all your questions and fears will be answered and you feel so much better. Much better than visiting the doctors although I have a really nice Rheumatologist, I changed the original one cos she was so unfriendly and scary. Bye. Good luck. Hi there!!