I am 42 female, diagnosed with RA four months ago.  The last three wks my voice becomes hoarse or is gone completely.  My Rehumy said it can happen.  Has anyone had this problem?

Hi, I am 37 living in Alaska and was just diagnosed last week with what is likely the early stages of RA.  The rheumatologist called it inflammatory arthritis at this point, since I have no swelling of joints or fever.  My sed rate is at 65 and all other tests including the RF come up negative.  I should be in perfect health, other than not feeling so perfect the past 8 months.  I've had chronic pain that started in my left hip and over the course of a few months showed up in my neck area, shoulders, and knees.  The pain is only present when I move.  The burning sensation I experience when I stand up runs down from my hips to my knees.  Before the pain started in my knees they felt swollen (but are not visually swollen or warm).  I now have this happening in my index and middle fingers where they "feel" swollen and I have minor discomfort.  I was wondering if this is parallel to what people with RA have experienced in their early stages.  My regular MD said I have a chronic inflammatory muscle disease (pretty much take your pick since there are so many) and said I may want to get a second opinion with a rheumy.  15 mg prednisone per day worked a mircle for month than the MD pulled me off of it and put me on Celebrex which did nothing better than a motrin.  That's when she referred me to the rheumy.  He put me on .6 ml MTX per week (last week was my first injection).  My mom has RA and I know it can be linked, but I just feel like this is more muscular related.  If the pain gets worse and this isn't even full blown RA, all I have to say is WOW!!!  I have a 3 and 6 year old to raise and can't imagine more pain to deal with.  Also does cold weather play a factor in pain?  I do live in AK and winter was the worst of the pain.  Sorry this is a novel but I would apprectiate any input.  Cheers!    

I am 28 and was diagnosed at 21 with MCTD which for me means: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome & Reynauds Phenomenon.  I am currently off methotrexate and only taking weekly Enbrel injections which have been a lifesaver!  I need to find a new RA doc in San Diego and was hoping someone out there could help me.  I have Blue Cross HMO - Mercy Physicians Medical Group insurance.  Anyone know of a great doctor within that group?  I am looking for someone who realizes the difference in treating a 28 year old vs. an older patient.  I don't have time to "nap" and "relax" all the time.  I work full time and want to do the things others my age enjoy.  I am looking for a doctor that cares about my well-being more than his/her paycheck.

HELP!!!

Thank you,

Sheree

 

I am a new subscriber to this site, and have just begun my journey in understanding this disease.  My mother has lived with Arthritis for some time now. She is 56 years old. I am not sure which type she has. Honestly, I had always believed it just an inconvenience of getting older. But, recently her eyes have begun to bother her, becoming inflamed. She thought it simply allergies, but was told by her doctor that it was, actually, a result of the Arthritis. I am concerned for my mother's welfare and am hoping to gain some valuable information about living with this disease. Certainly, my mother and I should have a conversation first. But, does anyone have experience with aggravated and inflamed eyes? Please help.  

Two months ago I was put on coumadin and was taken off all arthritis medications. I have sever gouty arthritis and severe ostearhtritis in both knees. VA and private doctors are refusing to put me back on any anti-inflammatory medications because of bleed risks. I cannot believe there are not many folks out there in my same predicament that can't imagine going the rest of there lives with the pain and swelling associated with either types of arthritis. Would appreciate any insight and direction. Thanks

Both my Mother and myself have RA and I've been an annual donator to the Arthritis Foundation for many years.    My Mother is in need of a stair lift for her home, and I'm looking to find financial assistance in obtaining one.   Is there anywhere we can turn to?

I have had JRA since I was 9 and just found out that I have a Jones fracture. The specialist said that to repair it he needs to do surgery with a bone graph and a screw, but that the health of my anle is very poor so he would want to fuss both ankle joints in my left foor to straighten my foot in order to ensure the fracture can also heal. Has anyone had any experience with this and do they have any advice?

i have been diagnosced with arthritical arthrightes in my back an experiance much pain, is there a cure for arthrightis, can it get worse?

My mom is 57 year old and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis about 10-12 years ago. She is pretty much bone to bone now. She feels pain everytime she walks. She also limps and the doctor said her one leg has become shorter than the other one and said the only solution will be Total Knee Replacement. But the doctor also said she doesn't need to have TKR right-away, but if she does then she will be able to walk better. My mother says she is fine on pain medications (injections) and she feels she does not want to have her knee replaced until she really has to have it replaced. She rather wants to bare the pain than having to get knee replaced and run into other possible problems.

I am also worried about developing Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I read that about 50-70 % people develop DVT after TKR. She also has hypertension and cholesterol. For all these reasons, I am thinking we may want to wait for 2-3 more years for TKR. Can someone please advise? Are there chances that her knee or bones will be more damaged and it will be difficult to have a successful TKR if we wait?

I would greatly appreciate any input.

Thanks,

Krina

 

I am 65 and live alone in a house with a stairway.  My washer and dryer are upstairs as well as my craft room.  However, I rarely make the trip upstairs as I have had 4 hip replacements, femur replacement, recently had a benign tumor removed from my spine. At present dealing with trying to heal my achilles tendonitis with a cast boot.

I have Medicare and Bankers insurance and live only on my Social Security.    It would so improve my quality of life if I could have a stairway lift put on my stairs.  Some people say Medicare will pay and some not.  Is there anyone who could help get this.  Even a restored used one would me fine.  I just don't know who to contact.

Can anyone out there offer some words of advice?

I had a tkr 12 weeks ago. For six weeks I was great. I have wonderful mobility with the knee. At six weeks it started going downhill. When I stand up from a sitting or lying position, the pain is so excruciating. It is a 20 on a scale from one to ten. It goes down to a three or four after about eight or ten steps. The pain is worse every day. They have ruled out my back, which I think he wanted to blame it on and the xrays look fine. I see the surgeon again this week and I think he will recommend a bone scan. I have a cementless prothesis in which the bone is supposed to grow over the knee....I dont' know what the deal is. The pain is across the bottom of the knee and worsens day by day. I have gone back to crutches. The pity of it all is, before surgery I could walk pain free. It was only when I twisted or turned in bed that it was bad. Told it was bone on bone, and after trying a scope in December, I decided it was only going to get worse and that in this good shape, my recovery would be quick......and it was....just great up until six weeks. I am now a virtual cripple. Please help me if you can. My doctor says he will find the cause and it cannot hide. I am desperate.

can anyone tell me what a person is suppose to do when your doctor takes you off the medicine thats has bieng working for you then says they cant help you any more sends you to another doctor who say he cant do nothing for you tears your folder up and says you have to pay for another copy from your old doctor sends you out the door no medicine no  help of any kind  now my sister is in so much pain and we dont no what to do what happen to the oath doctors are suppose to take to help people so please help if you can in any way there got to be some doctor out there that will see her  she has only tried a few medicines and they worked but now they say she can have them and they wont even try anything eles  can doctors do that  she has medical card so its not like thier not getting paid thank you

Help!! has anyone out there found good medication, to stop the pain without feeling Drowsed up all day. I have found that all the medication I have been on Has made me feel like a zombie, so do not enjoy the pain free knee. Thought about trying pain block, but have no idea on the side affects.

Would appreciate any feed back. after 3 years of pain Will try anything!!!

Thankyou

Elaine

 

June 1, 2009 Can anyone help? My husband was diagnosed with RA 2 1/2 yrs. ago...now diagnosed with Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia. He is in great pain...jaw, shoulders, wrists, hands/fingers, knees, ankles and feet. His left knee and ankle are so swollen. He had an RA cyst removed from his elbow 2 1/2 yrs. ago and it has grown back. He is currently taking methrotrexate, high doses of ibuprophen, prednisone, folic acid and went through a clinical trial for the RA which reduced the B cells in his body. His bloodwork shows that the RA is doing well but we cannot understand why he is doing so poorly. Any and all help is appreciated.

I'd like to see this arthritis site be more active.  I don't know if this question is appropriate but can you just tell me about yourself and how you are feeling today?  Can someone invite me to be their friend so I can see how this computer function works?

I'm frustrated with my problem and being able to use the computer properly because this is my first time in trying to join a discussion group.  I think I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica but my doctor says that I'm too young and that the predisone would instantly take care of the symptoms.  I'm going to be 52 this month.  Anyone out there in their 50's with Polymyalgia Rheumatica?  Are there any researchers who would be interested in contacting me?  My doctor says that I have a virus that will go away in 6-9 months.