Greetings to all, I am new to this Health Site. I have had RA For 8 years now, and it has become very severe. I take Prednisone, if I come off this drug I cant walk and my body seizes up. Recently had some blood tests and my SED rate is about 105. Is there anyone here who has RA in their Organs. I suspect this is causing the blood problems. My Dr says my blood is inflamed, but he has ruled out anything sinister. Any ideas would be most welcome.

Are you under the care of a rheumatologist? If you are not, you need to see one ASAP. There are so many drugs out there that can slow joint damage down, I'm surprised you aren't taking one. Prednisone is the best anti-inflammatory but has lots of bad side effects. Most doctors I have seen prefer to save it for short-term use and let the DMARDs work on the disease itself.

RA can affect your bone marrow. My blood work came back more and more abnormal for a time and I thought it was the methotrexate causing it. I was told that when RA is severe and out of control, it can affect your marrow. If you can get the disease under control, your bloodwork should improve.

Hello,
I am new also. This is my 1st post and I would like to talk to other people that have this disease.

Hi All,

I have RA also. My rheumy dr. now has me on Methotrexate and is weaning me off Prednisone to see if it will still work well. I gained 20 lbs. on Prednisone.

I also take Skelaxin (muscle relaxer) and tramadol/ultram. But, she want to start slowly lowering my doses of those 2. I do not think I am ready for that.

My sed rate is not very high. My Rheumatologist can just tell by the blood tests and by looking and moving my arms, hands, fingers and wrists. And because I hurt so bad. The only other med we have discussed, so far is Plaquenil. Have not taken that yet. I have to have my blood taken every 2 - 3 months. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, I take Relafen also.

I hope that yall find a good rheumy dr. if you do not already have one. And just to warn you (not the one that has had it for 8 yrs.), that a lot of the RA meds, just take a long time to start working.

Come back and talk some more. Let me know if you have ever gone without a pain meds or anti inflamitories. I am really not supposed to be taking th Relafen, because of my stomach.

Hope yall feel better.

Wannabe

Yes, I have been without an anti-inflammatory for almost a year. I had a 7 month love affair with Mobic-left me pain-free for 18 hours a day. Eventually, it caused a wicked rash that resembled shingles and sent my blood pressure into the stroke range. I never did find another one to replace it that even came close to working that well. I do have Darvocet to use during the day and Vicodin for night. I don't like to take narcotics so it has to be bad before I will take either of them. My primary doc took one look at the list of meds I take and promptly added another one to them: AcipHex. It's a stomach pill and it works great.

Hi Teachergirl,

Thanks for the info. My rheumy dr. does not believe in hard drugs. Tramadol/ultram is about as strong as she will give me. At least, so far - been going to her for about 3 years.

I have been doing great on my stomach with just my Nexium and eating well and a few Pepcid Complete, every now and then. Then just the last few weeks, I have started to have a few twinges of gastric problems. I hope it is not my Relafen or any other arthritis drug!!!

Now that you mentioned the rash from possibly your 1st drug, it makes me think... I am fighting several rashes just about all over my body. They do not hurt, just itch and itch. And I scratch and make sores. And then there is a kind with little bumps all over????? How did you get rid of your rashes. Just stop the med???? I am trying an over night - all over body - med. for tonight. Then, I do not know what to do. My Rheumy appt. is not for another month!

Kiwibuz - I hope that you are taking other arthritis drugs to go with your Prednisone!!! It sounds like you need some more tests and perhaps a specialist. I can always get up in the am, it just hurts more mornings than other ones! I hope you get a goodly amount of help and meds.

take care.

Wannabe

Wannabe, I would claw until I would nearly bleed. My doctor had me get an OTC cortisone cream to put on it. Caladryl Clear also helped. Once the Mobic was out of my system for a couple of days, the rash started going away. You know, I also took Benedryl at night to keep from scratching in my sleep. Take pictures of any and all rashes to show your rheum.

hello to everyone and especially GRIPKOOTER. I too am new and want to share info on this as it is new for me. I am frustrated at the pain I am feeling and nervous about meds because I have been trying to lose weight and I have heard that many meds will cause weight gain.

One of the things I am curious about is are there foods that will help this disease? And of those of you who have had this for a long time what has your experience with meds and which ones have the side effects to have weight gain.

GRIPKOOTER if you want to talk and share I would be happy to I actually would love that ..let me know .

Hi There,

Thanks for the information. I do tend to go on big scratching jags!!! They do look sort of infected, too. I am using a 1% cream also. But, can on seem to apply it once a day!!!

Thanks for the help.

Thanks Wannabe