I am worried about having RA. Dont have diagnosis yet

[wisegirl]

Originally Posted by BioAdoptMom3

I am probably not going to be a lot of help because I too am unsure of whether or not I have osteo or RA yet as well, but some of your symptoms sound like it could be. Do you have on both sides of your body in the affected joints, like both hands, both feet, etc.? That is supposed to be a sign that it is RA. I have it in both feet, both big toe joints, both elbows and in my neck and lower back. I have found chiropractic treatment to be helpful and surpisingly more recently, working out has made a TREMENDOUS difference in the way I feel. You might want to try one or both of those options out until you wait on the Medicare. You might also try taking Motrin or Aleve regularly to see if that helps with the pain and stiffness. Keep an eye on it. If it gets continually worse, call your regular doctor and take it from there. I am not sure how fast the progress of RA is, but my family doctor, who is waiting on my lab results thinks mine is RA and I have waited for about three years to seek help for it, so I don't think the joint damage is so fast that your body will be severely affected in a little over a year.

Nancy

Yes. The pain is in all the joints in both my hands and feet. My right elbow has been hurting for almost 2 months now constantly. The stiffness is getting worse in the mornings and lasts all day long. It feels worse when I get up after sitting or laying down throughout the day.

[wisegirl]

Originally Posted by JohnM22

Hi, wisegirl:



Probably not, but it very much depends upon exactly where the fracture is.

The course of your disease cannot so easily be predicted, but if you are under 40 years old, you might consider a different disease, especially a reactive arthritis. Some psoriasis and it could even be a PsA; look at your toes to see whether they are sausage-like and whether you have striated or yellowed nails. This is an outside suggestion, but something to look at.

The spittle test for severe candidiasis (this can cause LGS and then a host of ReArthritides): Into a clear glass of distilled water at room temperature, first thing (before brushing) in the morning spit onto the surface of the water and keep in a dark but room temperature to warm place. Check every two hours and if there are 'threads' or 'stringers' that form down from the spittle within eight hours, you could have a severe case of candidiasis. There is a very strict diet for this.

There are dietary suggestions on the Mercola site and it is only a word to the wise to start following them ("getting started" section, I think it is called).

Check with your family: Any blood relatives with AS, cUC, RA, ReA, CD, PsA, uDiff, 'fibromyalgia,' DDD (these are ankylosing spondylitis, chronic Ulcerative Colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn's Disease, undifferentiated Spondyloarthropy, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Degenerative Disk Disease) etc increases the potential that you have the same thing (well, except for FM which is often a toss-off misdiagnosis).

Good luck to You,
John

Thanks John. I have wondered if I do have RA, if I may have Psoriasis arthritis too because I have have patches of irritated skin on my scalp. I have noticed in the last couple of months three separate areas. I do feel pain in my joints on both sides of my body so from what I have read about RA sounds like that's what is going on with me. My grandfather had a horrible case of RA where his hands were really badly crippled. I am so worried! I will try your spittle test. Does the water have to be distilled?

[mindyp]

Hi there. I am a 32 year old female with seronegative RA. You need to see a rheumatologist as soon as possible. The new drugs out there can slow and/or impede joint destruction...so you don't have to become crippled like your grandfather.

I presently take methotrexate orally (was on injections, but I kept blistering where I got the shot...was allergic to the buffer...no they do not hurt), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), tramadol (Ultram), prednisone (as needed for flare), and am working with my insurance company to go on Humira.

A rheumatologist is best able to diagnose and treat your condion whether it be RA, psoriatic arthritis, etc. You want to prevent joint destruction before it happens.

Good luck.

[christina_142]

Originally Posted by wisegirl

Thanks for the reply. How long does your mother have to take the injections for and do they hurt? Are there any side effects. Does she take pain medicine. Right now the only thing I can do until I get insurance is to take the prescription pain medicine that my Pain Mgmt doctor prescribes ( Oxycodone and Morphine).

she has to take it for the rest of her life, she used to take it in just pill form but has since had to go to injection because of how bad it was getting. she also takes prednisone for her flares and pain meds like (vic) if it is really bad, she tries really hard not to take those because the methotrexate can damage the liver so she tries really hard to not take anything else into her body. she doesn't drink anymore either because of that. she takes her injection on wednesday night and thursday she is usually pretty sick, not always though. thankfully she doesn't work on thursdays.