Worsening Arthritis Symptoms

[Guest guest]

Hi all.  It's been awhile since I've posted.  I've been mostly a lurker on

here.  I hate to complain much on here, especially since so many people on here

are suffering more then I am.  And I've been blaming myself for allowing my

situation to get as bad as it is.  I admit I haven't seen a rheumatologist

in over a year and haven't been taking any treatment either.  I've slacked off

on exercise, been eating too much, and have more or less been in denial that my

once " mild " symptoms of arthristis are steadily worsening.  Today I had to call

in sick because I could barely walk.  Although I basically have a desk job as a

software engineer, I still need to get around.  But I dread seeing a

rhumatologist, knowing he'll probably shake his head and lecture me about taking

my arthritis symptoms more seriously, and why the heck did I wait so long to get

treatment.  It's just that I dread taking medications that seem to have side

effects worse then the

disease.  And I worry about spending the rest of my life on pills that will

eventually erode my liver or kidneys.  But at the same time, I know I need to do

something.  These symptoms just keep getting worse.  I just need to swallow my

pride, stop beating myself up, and just make the appointment.

 

Thanks for letting me lament.  My heart and prayers are with all of you out

there.  So many of you have endured far more then I have and my heart is truly

humbled.  May God's grace and healing hand rest on everyone on this list.

 

[Guest guest]

Hi

Any arthritis pain that you have is important to you. Don't try to compare with

the rest of us. Each of us handles pain differently and what is minor pain for

one is major, major pain for another. I know that when I stopped comparing I

got a better handle on my own pain. Yes I am on narcotic pain killers, 60 mg of

OxyContin (Hillbilly Herion on the street) twice daily with up to 4 mg of of

Dilaudid (Hydromorphone) inbetween for breakthrough pain. This is a new

combination for me and it was perfected during my hospital stay last month. It

took a month as other medications got in the way. Believe me, don't let a

doctor push Prednisone on you for arthritis pain. It works but the side effects

are unbelievable. It was the side effects of 50 mg of Pred trying to kill off

Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia that put me at death's door three times.

Believe it or not I am still on it and will begin tapering off the Pred later

this month. Hopefully I will not go into a relapse with the pneumonia, which is

known to happen while tapering off.

Do not feel bad if you ask your doctor for stronger medications or some of the

newer ones for RA, AS, ReA, and family. Keep up the requests because the

severity of the pain can be held at bay longer as the symptoms worsen. Who

knows, someone may come up with a " CURE " during your lifetime.

Blessings and lower pain levels be yours

Fr/ Dave