I am new here and i have yet to be actually diagnosed with RA tho i have the symptoms... swollen finger joints pain in my elbows shoulders toes knees back... the pain is there but is not severe yet as it is still getting into my system. my rheumatologist said today that he beleives its some form of arthrtis (wont say RA as i felt my first symptom july 11th and have normal ra factor and sed level in my blood tests)
but anyways.. i was working 2 jobs that have me on my feet 13 hours a day i am now only doing one and took medical leave from from my second job til i get this strait. My main question is do any of you continue to work your full time job with RA and do u have any kind of job that requires you to stand alot? i cant afford tro leave my job obviously or i wont get my health care or benefits and cant get treatment.. so if anyone has any sugestions that would be a good way to deal with this let me know

Hi!

I can really relate to your story. I'm 26 at the moment and supposedly on my way to a career and work life of some 40 years, and sometimes I can't help but wonder if it's really ever gonna happen.

Unlike you though, I now have an office job which means I don't have to stand up all day. I know that at least my knees/ankles couldn't take such strain. I used to work in a shop before I got RA and remember my legs being almost numb even back then. I have to give you credit for coping with a job where you have to be on your feet all day!! Currently I work on the computer several hours a day which has caused severe inflammation in my arms. This makes me feel like there's no job that wouldn't cause some kind of problems if you have RA. It's more a question of finding something least damaging.

Due to my arm/hand problems, I went to see a physical therapist who gave me ultrasound therapy and instructions on how to strengthen my arm muscles and thanks to her help I've managed to keep my job and haven't had to take a sick leave since then (6 months ago).

Unfortunately I've met some people with RA who've had to switch their jobs and have had to get another degree or at least more education for that purpose. It's tough facing an uncertain future. Maybe you too should start making a back-up plan just in case your health gets really bad. It's not worth it destroying your health for a job.

You could maybe try thinking of alternatives, maybe getting an office job or something else that wouldn't require you to stand up all day. However, I think you shouldn't give up hope with your current job right away. Excercise might help you too to strengthen the muscles in your legs to take off the pressure from your joints. Getting special "supports" for your shoes/more ergonomic shoes might also help. Trying to make the most of the situation should at least give you more time to plan for your future.

Living with RA is hard enough and sometimes trying to work is almost too much. You just have to take one day at a time and be easy on yourself on days when you're in a lot of pain. I hope you will find a solution that works for you!

Im in a similar situation as you. Im 27 and am about to be diagnosed (I go on the 8th). As for my work situation, I currently have a great paying job that I love, but even though Im able to sit most of the day, doing some of the tasks has become difficult. I am also engaged to be married in May of 2003 and supposed to move with my fiance 3 hours away which makes me apprehensive because Im scared to start a new job because of my condition. Learning to live with this is going to take some getting used to. I hope things get better for you.

Meg

I have just the opposite problem...I have a sedentary job ...special effects digital image compositor, graphic applications and 3D imaging specialist, software graphic imaging applications development and research...I've been working with computers (all platforms) and a zillions of applications for the past 15-20 years. I'm 43. Now, I can't sit (even to read/respond to the Healthboards) and type/work for more than 20 minutes at a time. I have to stay mobile or my hands, feet, ankles, etc swell. The edema is my toughest battle to control next to the pain. I am concerned about being able to find flexibilty back in a corporate setting to allow for this without having to be defined/labeled under a disablity until it absolutely is a issue to contend with. My other options are to strike out on my own to handle any future possibile degradation in capacity. Corporate is tough and I don't see much tolerance for medical treaments and symptoms flares in that setting (been there up until last year (had my youngest son March 1st 2001 and was diagnosed with RA 6 months later). The business unit I was with when I went out on maternity leave was dissolved when Kodak downsized so I was laid-off. Then the RA was outta control when I was trying to get back full throotle to the corporate world. I'm just getting "normal". No one would know I have RA unless they knew me before...so I'm stuck. Rochester is not the technical pool in cookie cutter positions for the hi-tech work I do...so now I have to be creative and make-up a blend jobs between groups and hope that I'm chosen to run the shows! Lotsa energy...hope I can keep it up. Confidence in maintaining is waning, but I'm betting I'll have to launch on my own to truly be able to work again in a full time capacity. Just hope I can figure out how to keep the swelling/edema under control so I can work for longer/normal periods. My feet have swelloen 1/2 a size just as I type this. Gotta go for a walk now!
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