I am doing some research for my dad and I have 2 questions to post:

1)  Dad has been on Embrel for 6 years and has just qualified for Medicare.  He now believes he will have to pay for Embrel out of his pocket (expensive) so he has decided to stop taking Embrel.  He hasn't had any swelling or rashes occur yet (symptoms he had when he began taking Embrel) but he said he wasn't feeling well overall.  Should we be concerned about his discountinued use of Embrel (other than the obvious swelling/rash, etc.)?

2)  Does anyone know for sure that Medicare won't cover Embrel and if yes does anyone know what the next step is?  I find it hard to believe that there is no way to have this necessary drug covered.  I suppose secondary insurance is next. . .???

Thank you in advance for any advice on these issues!

 

 

I had a total knee put in 03/31/09 after 3 ACL's over the years.  After 6 months, the pain is about as distracting as prior to the procedure. I really wasn't ready for that. Everytime I met with the Surgeon, I would express how happy I will be when the pain is gone. He never disclosed that there was a possibility the pain would remain. But at least it is stable and I don't fall down any longer. My right knee was scheduled for a total in November, but I have postponed it until I work this thing out. I am glad I found this forum. I thought it was just me...   Hope we all get better....

Buying the right shoes...running or walking ones?  Was hoping to buy online or would it be better to get fitted?  I am 35 years, and the arthritis is in my feet, knees, hips, hand mostly.  I am trying to find an easy way and unsure how much I push. I went walking and feet and knees really hurt today.  Swimming is not an easy access for me? ideas for shoes and exercise...and do I stop before I even start if the pain is already there?

 

For years I have known I  have arthritis.  However, it was not until I tore my miniscus that I was actually diagnosed.   Recently my dr did blood work to be able to tell if it was RA or not.  I came back neg. for Ra.  However, my pain is in the joints of both hands, my shoulders, my lower spine, both of my hipts,both knees, and my toes.   The worst being hips and knees.  Also, I have lots of pain in all of my lower muscles...even my butt muscles.  My calves and thgih muscles are always sore.  When I stand after sitting or laying for even a short time, it is difficult moving....and never really seems to loosen up ...always feelins sore and stiff.  Bending t oeven lower myself onto the lue is difficult.  The only thing the Dr., did..was give me celebrex and send me on my way. 

I am 45 and can barely go up or down a flight of stairs.  Is this normal?  Is this the way its just going to be forever?  I thought oesto was the lessor of the two arthritisis. 

Comments, opinions, advice?  anything will help. 

I was diagnosed with RA over 2 years ago and was taking Methotrexate and Humira very successfully. No side effects and my RA all but disappeared. A few months ago I went off Methotrexate, but was still taking Humira every two weeks. This month I missed a dose and have since been battling severe hives all over my body. I don't know if the two are related. I have not eaten anything out of the ordinary and do not have any new beauty products in my regimen. Could the hives actually be a "flare?"  

Hi there, everyone. I'm pretty new to the place and have been searching for a few days for an answer to my question and haven't been able to find anything, so hopefully you guys will be able to give me a hand.

 I have Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, have had had since I was 8 (I'm 20 now) and I was doing quite well. After going through several courses of treatment, right now the only thing I'm on is Nimesulide for handling the pain and the ocasional very small dose of Prednisone for when things get a bit too rough - luckily, it rarely ever happens anymore. (:

 However, lately my little JRA buddy has been acting up quite severely. I noticed a huge increase on the pain ever since I started taking birth controls pills (a very low-dose combined oral pill). My doctors had cleared me to use it and it isn't said to have any effect on RA, but I fear it might. 

Of course, we all know that stress and emotions all have a great impact on RA, so it's plausible that possible moodswings (a very common side-effect of the pill) could be responsible for some pain. And I should say that I've only been taking them for a month and most symptoms are said to clear up by the third month, but I honestly don't know if I can (or should!) handle 2 more months of this amount of pain again, after having been doing so well for so long.


So my question for you guys is
Have you ever used contraceptive pills and what was you experience with it? Did it have an effect on your RA or none whatsoever?

I find there is rarely anything about this on textbooks or elsewhere, so we should rely on each others experiences. This may be taboo for some, but it is something that should be addressed. It is as relevant to quality of life as anything else, after all.

Thank you for your help in advance! I look forward to any replies!

I was diagnosed with RA in March of this year. I am on Methotrexate and prednisone taper. I am down to 6 mg of prednisone from 20 mg on my third run of prednisone tapers. I noticed this teusday after lunch that I had clavical swelling. It does not hurt , but I thought my Dr should check it out. She had no idea what it was from and siad to keep an eye on it. the next day it was bigger so called the rheumatologist. She tells the nurse it is most likely swelling from the prednisone and to stay at 6 mg until I see her on the 14th of sept. She says there is no reason for the clavical to swell. Does anyone else have it? What is it from? and how do you get rid of it. It doesn't go down?

Hello all,  I have previously been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and another arthritis in my spine, shoulder and thumb.  I have received injections that have seemed to help alot.  I also was diagnosed with fibromyalgia many years ago.  I now have painful fatty tumors (some are so small I thought it was fibromyalgia pain) down my sides of my body, sides of my legs and a few in my arms and back.  I have recently found out about a disease called Adiposis Dolorosa or Dercum's disease.  This disease has many similarities to fibromyalgia with the body aches and sleeping problems, however, there is also some memory loss, and confusion that is associated with it. Along with the body aches, joint aches and weight gain that are similar to Arthritis.  Does anyone know of any research being done on Dercum's disease?  Many doctors I have spoken with have never heard of it.    I visited the Minnesota State Fair yesterday and visited the Arthritis Foundation booth,  The people at the Arthritis Foundation Booth had never heard of Dercum's disease, but did take down some info about this disease.  I am hoping that since this disease is so similar to other diseases that the Arthritis Foundation have information about ,that the Arthritis Foundation will pick up this disease also to provide people with information about.  Sort of help to get the word out about this disease that I believe alot of people have and have not been diagnosed with.    Any help on research about this disease would be helpful and appreciated.   Celeste.