minnimee

Hello everyone!

My husband was diagnosed with JRA (not sure exactly which type) when he was around a year old and is now 37 years old. The last rheumatoid dr. we went to did a blood test and said the RA has 'burnt out' and he now has osteo-arthritis.

He has dealt with ongoing pain for years and after speaking with his general family doc, finally was referred to a pain management specialist a few years back. It seems to me though, that going to the specialist hasn't been as much help as we had hoped. He has put my husband on norco, oxycontin, amitriptyline, and baclofen (I apologize for the mis-spellings, I don't have the Rx's with me right now).

Now aside from dealing with pain every day, he also deals with many sleepless nights, swelling feet, and mood swings which to live with (for me) are at times almost unbearable.

I am wondering if we really need to start at the beginning again and seek out a new rheumatologist that will run the testing to find out what is going arthritis-wise before turning straight to meds. What I am seeking from this board is anyone that might have had the same type of issues themselves or with a family member that might be willing to share what steps they have taken to get back on track.

I don't know that my husband would ever be 100% pain free and at this point that isn't the goal in my mind. I would hope for a significant improvement from where we are and also to have my husband get back to being his old self.

Thank you for your time and (hopefully) insights!

Min

Ps - we have been together for around 17 years, so it's not a new relationship to where I'm trying to change him, just trying to help him!!