Hi,
My mother has osteoarthritis on her knees and spine, as well as rheumatoid arthritis in her hands and kneck. Recently she has been suffering a lot of pain due to the extreme cold weather we have been experiencing as well as the fact that her medicines are not helping her. My question is:Is there anything that I can do to make her pain go away?
Are there some exercise or anything that can help her cope with the pain?
I will appreciate any kind of advice. Thank you.

Ana

Osteoarthritis...yes that's very painful. I remember last year I was screaming out for help, but couldn't find any good advices to help ease my osteoarthtis symptoms in my knee and hips.

Getting in and out of the car and onto the bed was excruiatingly painful. I tried everything from gluocosamine to accupunture..but they didn't help. Physio just aggrivate the pain.

Apart from osteoarthtis, I also have Ankylosing spondylitis - another form of arthritis. Thankful for that illness - not that I am pleased to have this illness - I was eligible for an immune suppressant drug called remicade.

Remicade is use to help treat chrons, AS and rheumatoid patients. I've done a lot of research in the net and the results and outcome from other patients were positive that I decided to give this drug a try.

within 6 doses of this drug, the muscle spasms have gone away, and I was able to walk back again...and I feel like I am back to normal again...apart from the damages that has been done from my illness.

Because your mother has rheumatoid arthritis speak to your rheumatologist about this drug...not ordinary doctor because most ordinary doctors wouldn't have heard or know much about immune suppressants. With all drugs there are risks involve... so your mother need to weigh out the pros and cons.

Other thing I tried include putting a heat pad around my discomfort area...taking protein drinks to build muscles and help with recovery as well as going swimming everyday..... Try going to spa as it helps to massage the body.

Thank you so much jimmyhonda for your advice. I will talk to my mom's arthritis doctor about remicade.
I really appreciate all of the advice.