Dear Friend,

The objective of any doctor is to improve quality of life and alleviate symptoms, not accuse us nor criticize our flaws. I am a 25 year old female who has RA since the age of thirteen and have been through quite a bit of experiences to have some knowledge on RA, medications, doctors, and life in general - I feel that RA and excercise is a very tricky, "double-edged sword" of a situation because of the following: too little can increase joint damage too much can increase joint damage.

I have never been to a pain clinic but I urge you to stay away based on your story because of the fact that most chiropractors, physical therapists, and even personal trainers are not familiar with RA and how to treat it. Any specialist you choose has to understand RA and that those afflicted with it have to be treated with the utmost TLC. All treatment has to be designed around your own limitations because I have RA and cannot squat, however, I can still run, therefore, I can get on a treadmill, but cannot do a push up. This is a personal example, but I chose it to illustrate my point.

I took Methotrxate as well, it was really effective in treating the RA but nausea with the medication is very common. Remember with an RA treatment sometimes it's a trial and error process. We might have to try many different things before finding the right combination of medicines that work for us.

Also, "fat and lazy" is not a diagnosis, RA is. Dr. Hurley should've requested your chart from your Rheumatologist or your Primary Care Doctor and familiarize himself with your case. If he would've been professional and ethical, he would've done so and seen that RA is not a mental complex but a very serious, painful condition that should be respected.

In conclusion, as an RA patient I struggle tremendously with self esteem and self image issues. I too, feel unattractive and useless, but you must pick yourself up from this terrible experience. Do not give so much power to this man to allow yourself to cry any more than what you have already. From this point on, you will value yourself as a wife, (possibly a mother?) and as a woman and you will seek other sources to diminish your pain while increasing your motivation and confidence.

I wish you luck Connie, and I know you will overcome this moment in your life. I know your strong becuase all of us with RA have to be. Stay beautiful.

Hi Connie,

I've had RA for 31 years, like Isabel, I have never been to a pain clinic, and if a doctor ever spoke to me as Dr. Hurley spoke to you, I'd consider filing a complaint.

RA is an autoimmune disorder, the pain is from inflammation, and generally, some type of medication is used to control the inflammation and pain.

I am currently taking enbrel and mtx to control the RA, but I've taken plaquenil in the past. It may take a while to start to work. I've been on mtx for about 20 years now. I started on pills, but now inject it, after having some stomach problems, nausea.

Exercising is difficult for some of us with RA, but it is beneficial to do something -- I joined an arthritis pool class. It was all women with arthritis, so I wasn't self-conscious about how I looked, and the water supports your body, so exercise is easier.

But you need to treat the pain and inflammation with some drug treatment program, sometimes it is a trial and error process, but once you find the right meds for you, you'll have less pain, be less depressed and be better able to pursue some type of exercise.

You might consider posting on the RA forum. Go to the top of this page and click on forums, then click on rheumatoid arthritis. The folks on this forum are very supportive and understanding, and perhaps can offer more advice in what you need to do.

So hang in there, take care, and maybe see you over on the RA board.

I have been on methatrexate for a year with no side effects unless you have a couple drinks. This can make you very sickto your stomach!!! Give it a try aand if you have a side effect talk to your doctor