Rheumatoid Arthritis

[Kiwibuz]

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.

[teachergirl64]

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.

[gripkooter]

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

[ToBeFreeToRoam]

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

[teachergirl64]

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.