As a life-long arthritis sufferer, I've run the gammit of traditional and non-traditional medical treatments, from NSAIDS, biologics, physical and occupational therapies,accupuncture, massage, water exercise programs and total knee replacements, to name only a few.  All of these treatments cost an astronomical sum of money, which was often difficult to pay for, even when I was capable of maintaining full-time employment.. However, I now face a very challenging and uncertain time in which I am both unemployed and running out of my COBRA benefits. That being said, I have applied for state programs, but have found that they do not pay for most of my necessary medical treatments - medical care which I need to function in daily living activities.  Is anyone aware of private or public grants or governmental entitlement programs which would defray if not pay for medical benefits beyond those of Medicaid?  I would greatly appreciate any useful feedback.

Gratefully yours, 

I am wondering if anyone feels the same as I do? $0I had swelling in 1 finger last oct.  Saw a hand surgeon who injected it and it felt great for a few months.  Gradually the swelling reappeared in 1 joint, and also in 1 joint in my other hand.  I was referred to an arthritis doc.$0 $0Went to see him, multiple blood draws and xrays.  ALL of my blood work was and is totally normal..my xrays are totally normal.$0 $0$0 $0 $0I have pain (NO REDNESS or warmth only MILD SWELLING) in my right shoulder, middle finger, left elbow and pointer finger and both wrists.  My diagnosis is psoritatic arthritis.  I have no psoriasis on my skin or finger nails.  I had dry elbows and psoriasis on my scalp the size of a quarter for a few years when I was a teenager, went away and never came back.$0 $0$0 $0 $0I have been on prednisone and sulfasalazine since Feb.  He added methotrexate and took me off prednisone.  I am miserable, cant sleep throbbing pain, and to be honest a little depressed....I fell worse instead of better everyday!!! Does anyone else feel like this?$0

Hello, first time writer here.  I was diagnosed with RA over 10yrs ago, I have been in remission for about 2yrs. Over the last 3months or so I have had severe pain in my lower back and hips, I have never had RA in that location before.  I had xrays and bloodwork done, the xrays showed nothing serious and most of the bloodwork was fine, Rheumatoid factor was normal, CBC normal, erythrocytes sedimentation test normal, the ANA test however was extremely high.  My doctor just assumes its the RA moving into my back, however from what I have read, RA doesn't usually strike your lower back.  I've been put back on Celebrex and Tylenol 3 until I can get in to see the rheumatologist.  Is it odd to have no rheumatoid factor but a very high ANA result?  Thank you, and feel free to email me any info you may have at leah72@telus.net

     It all started about 35 years ago in ARAMCO Saudi Arabia when I was playing tennis. Suddenly I got a click in my right knee with a shock throughout my body. I fell down, held tight with my both hands my right knee while my whole body was sweating in the severe cold of Dec. winter.  Immediately I saw an ortho. specialist who injected a cortison short in my right knee. It gave me relief and swelling disappeared after couple of months. I continued taking Iboprufeen 500mg twice a day. One day, all of a sudden I got an idea as if someone has put this in my mind miraculously.  I had spent my childhood in a village of India where no physician or doctors were available in the vicinity. People used to use natural way and medicines. I remembered I used to have frequent sprains and  once a fracture in either of my feet while playing football. I was about 15 that time. My dad used to take help from a fisherman who used to fix my sprains and fracture and my mom used to put a paste made from 3-4 ingredients of natural herbs, crushed, powered and made in paste, spread on the affected part. After a week or so the sprains and the pain had gone away. Fracture used to take 2-3 weeks. After a month's of doctor's and medicine treatment in the above incident,  I started using the yellow-root powder every day, first intake in the morning. Since that day now it is about 35 years and I have been passing my normal routine life even after having different parts of my body afflicted by arthritis pain. In the past thirtyfive years I had neither gone thru. any surgery nor taking any anti-pain medicines from pharmacy. My 75 years old bones of my body are decaying and some time I have pain in my back, some time sciatica paid in my leg, some time unbearable aching in my righthand fingers and now-a-days having neck pain due to "Cervical Spondylosis". When my neck pain could not subside even after four procedures, each having multiple shots, I restarted my natural medicine intake for the last 10 days. I am surprised to see that my neck pain and hand fingers tattering are 50% gone.

      The purpose of this personal story is to spread the words of this natural treatment for all types of arthritis, for all age groups. Let the victims of arthritis consult me at my email address with the Foundation. This service is FREE for deserving cases. ISRAR HASAN, Jul. 13, 2009.

 

    I am a 54 year old female who has been diagnosed for the past 10-12 years with severe osteoarthritis. I do see a rheumatologist. I am on several prescription medications for pain and sleep. There is a family history of this disease. For the past month I have had severe pain in my thigh and femur areas that wakes me up at night. It is a deep in the bone pain. I asked my doctor if this severe pain is common with osteoarthritis. He said yes. I do not remember my mother or grandmother being in this a severe pain.

My question is - does anyone out there with this disease have pain this bad. If so, how are you coping?

I am scheduled for a full body bone scan tomorrow.

Please help !