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Anyone suffer from rheumatoid arthritis?

Nocturnal

Nocturnal

Lifer
My father was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It sucks to see him in constant pain. He has gotten a steroid shot. And is on two drugs. Last night his hand swelled up pretty bad. He went in today and got another shot. These were not back to back shots, they were a few months in between. I know those shots aren't good for you in the long run as in he cannot keep getting them infinitely.

How do you guys cope? If your parent or friend/relative has RA, how do you cope? It's hard. I wish we could go back to the days when he was RA free and he'd go with us to the mall and do whatever.
 
I have it, diagnosed at 18 after . I'm now 23.

18 & 19 was my lowest point. I could barely walk, couldn't completely make a fist or completely straighten my fingers, etc. I'm on metholtrexate and hydroxychloriquine (plaquenil) and have been for about 5 years now. It takes a long time for those to build up, kick in and really make a difference, but it really can get better. I walk without pain or a limp, I can use my hands (I can still feel the RA, but it doesn't stop me from doing anything), and the RA isn't progressing very fast.

The cortisone shots made a big difference in my hands and my knee. I had to do them twice in a year, but after that everything seemed to come together and it's been four years since my last set.

What drugs is your dad on? They've got lots of good treatments nowadays and sometimes it just takes a few tries to find the right combo for the right person.
 
yeap. was diagnosed with it and Fabromylsa (whatever its spelled).

i have a bunch of vicoden and take a few other drugs i can't remember off hand. right now the pain doctor and RA doc have me trying physical therapy. gotta say it is not working heh.
 
Originally posted by: waggy
yeap. was diagnosed with it and Fabromylsa (whatever its spelled).

i have a bunch of vicoden and take a few other drugs i can't remember off hand. right now the pain doctor and RA doc have me trying physical therapy. gotta say it is not working heh.
Click to expand...

Yikes, fibro is nasty stuff.
 
Originally posted by: HotChic
I have it, diagnosed at 18 after . I'm now 23.

18 & 19 was my lowest point. I could barely walk, couldn't completely make a fist or completely straighten my fingers, etc. I'm on metholtrexate and hydroxychloriquine (plaquenil) and have been for about 5 years now. It takes a long time for those to build up, kick in and really make a difference, but it really can get better. I walk without pain or a limp, I can use my hands (I can still feel the RA, but it doesn't stop me from doing anything), and the RA isn't progressing very fast.

The cortisone shots made a big difference in my hands and my knee. I had to do them twice in a year, but after that everything seemed to come together and it's been four years since my last set.

What drugs is your dad on? They've got lots of good treatments nowadays and sometimes it just takes a few tries to find the right combo for the right person.
Click to expand...

i had a cortisone shot in my shoulder. it didn't really help much at all.
Since i started going to a RA doctor he has me going for PT due to the fabro. boy does that suck. it really makes the joints flare up And since i really do not like takeing the pain meds its a pain in the ass.
 
Not that I know of, but I have pains in my chest that are apparently not cardiac, but feel horrible and get worse when I move a certain way.
 
my friend has it bad...she has a website dedicated to this..I will ask her what it is and let you know
 
Originally posted by: SolMiester
I thought old Mary Jane was supposed to be good for arthritis?
Click to expand...

yeah it is.

but it is against the law. Those of use with chronic pain need to watch it anyway. to many poeple are quick to label us druggies because of the pain meds.

If i got caught with MJ i would have a hard time getting anymore opioids from my doctor.
 
Originally posted by: HotChic
I have it, diagnosed at 18 after . I'm now 23.

18 & 19 was my lowest point. I could barely walk, couldn't completely make a fist or completely straighten my fingers, etc. I'm on metholtrexate and hydroxychloriquine (plaquenil) and have been for about 5 years now. It takes a long time for those to build up, kick in and really make a difference, but it really can get better. I walk without pain or a limp, I can use my hands (I can still feel the RA, but it doesn't stop me from doing anything), and the RA isn't progressing very fast.

The cortisone shots made a big difference in my hands and my knee. I had to do them twice in a year, but after that everything seemed to come together and it's been four years since my last set.

What drugs is your dad on? They've got lots of good treatments nowadays and sometimes it just takes a few tries to find the right combo for the right person.
Click to expand...

He's on methyoltrexate. He was just prescribed hydroxychloriquine today as well. He is afraid of most medications. He often has me look it up and report back as to whether or not it is safe for consumption. I mean he believes his doctor but sometimes he's hard headed.

Have you had any severe side effects from the hydro drug? I will call it hydro from now on since it has such a long name.

If so, what were they? My dad is 56 and for the most part other than the RA is in good health. I hope he can get better. He's been taking the methl for about one month now. He was taking six pills a week but the doctor just upped it to eight pills a week. He was given a shot in his hand today.

He does not want to be on Celebrex or any other type of drug that can cause heart related problems; although, I know that many drugs have many different side effects and no two peole will react the same.

I'm glad I can get some support here as I feel really low and often feel really sad at night. Just thinking of losing my father to this disease makes me depressed.

Hope to hear more from you. HotChic, if you don't mind, may I PM you?
 
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: HotChic
I have it, diagnosed at 18 after . I'm now 23.

18 & 19 was my lowest point. I could barely walk, couldn't completely make a fist or completely straighten my fingers, etc. I'm on metholtrexate and hydroxychloriquine (plaquenil) and have been for about 5 years now. It takes a long time for those to build up, kick in and really make a difference, but it really can get better. I walk without pain or a limp, I can use my hands (I can still feel the RA, but it doesn't stop me from doing anything), and the RA isn't progressing very fast.

The cortisone shots made a big difference in my hands and my knee. I had to do them twice in a year, but after that everything seemed to come together and it's been four years since my last set.

What drugs is your dad on? They've got lots of good treatments nowadays and sometimes it just takes a few tries to find the right combo for the right person.
Click to expand...

He's on methyoltrexate. He was just prescribed hydroxychloriquine today as well. He is afraid of most medications. He often has me look it up and report back as to whether or not it is safe for consumption. I mean he believes his doctor but sometimes he's hard headed.

Have you had any severe side effects from the hydro drug? I will call it hydro from now on since it has such a long name.

If so, what were they? My dad is 56 and for the most part other than the RA is in good health. I hope he can get better. He's been taking the methl for about one month now. He was taking six pills a week but the doctor just upped it to eight pills a week. He was given a shot in his hand today.

He does not want to be on Celebrex or any other type of drug that can cause heart related problems; although, I know that many drugs have many different side effects and no two peole will react the same.

I'm glad I can get some support here as I feel really low and often feel really sad at night. Just thinking of losing my father to this disease makes me depressed.

Hope to hear more from you. HotChic, if you don't mind, may I PM you?
Click to expand...

PM me as you wish!

Hydroxychloriquine is called plaquenil. 🙂 And no, I've had no side effects from it. The most serious side effect is a very very rare problem with your vision, and if you're on it they usually have you go to an ophthalmologist every 6 to 12 months. Other than that, there really aren't many side effects.

Metholtrexate (mtx) has a few more problems associated with it. Nausea is typical, sun sensitivity is possible, increased risk of skin cancer and liver problems. I really haven't had any of those problems, but the first two are not at all uncommon.

Look up the different types of RA drugs. WebMD has some good basic info. There are DMARDs (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs such as mtx and plaquenil), NSAIDs (the harsher drugs with more side effects), steriods, and biologics (Enbrel is the big one here, a breakthrough drug that's helped a lot of people but the catch is that it's injectable). DMARDs and biologics are really where you want to be when you are beginning treatment. The others have more risks and side effects.

[edit] Oh, and you mentioned losing your father to this disease - RA isn't fatal. If you meant metaphorically, in that he can't do all the same things he used to, I understand that. It isn't life-threatening though.
 
RA's systemic effects can be fatal or very debilitating. Rheumatoid vasulitis, scleritis, lung granulomas... it can affect pretty much every organ system.
 
My grandma has it (still plays tennis)
My mom has it (has since she was 18)
I think I have it (in my hands).

My mom and grandma have never complained.

Meh.
 
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: SolMiester
I thought old Mary Jane was supposed to be good for arthritis?
Click to expand...

yeah it is.

but it is against the law. Those of use with chronic pain need to watch it anyway. to many poeple are quick to label us druggies because of the pain meds.

If i got caught with MJ i would have a hard time getting anymore opioids from my doctor.
Click to expand...

Oh, i thought it was legal for medical practices in some states?!, If not, why isnt this partitioned/lobbied to your ....errr congress?
 
Thanks to biotechnology, there are very effective therapeutic treatments out now.

On top of my head:

1. Enbrel - made by Amgen and Wyeth
2. Orencia - made by Bristol Myers Squibb
3. Humira - made by Abbott Labs

I've seen people bedridden and then a few months of treatment they are doing jumpin jacks.
 
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