RE: Re: symptomatolgy...

[Guest guest]

,

Hello! :-) I have minor swelling and no redness...but, plenty of pain! I

take Metho and Enbrel which seems to help some but not as much as I would like.

(Va.)

[Guest guest]

, I'm sorry to hear that you have been suffering and I am sure that NONE of

the pain is in your head. One reason for medication is to reduce pain and

inflammation, but another is to stem the progression of the disease - hence you

shouldn't have to wait until your arthritis is " bad enough " before being put on

a proper medication protocol. Perhaps you would be happier with a more

aggressive rheumatologist who is prepared to work with you to fight both your

current symptoms as well as the disease's progression.

Hope you get relief soon,

Kathy F.

My Rheumy was hesitant to start me on meds other than anti-

inflammatories. He said my arthritis wasn't really bad enough at

this point. But in the 4-5 months since I've been diagnosed, I've

had a significant increase in pain, but no other objective

symptoms. (...So I wonder if some of it is in my head!) I have

trouble lifting things with my (L) arm due to pain, sometimes it

just gives out on me. I had a bad sinus infection which put me on

prednisone. Wow! I felt great for a week or so there. But now

that I'm off it, I feel much worse in the joints.

So I guess I'm back to my rheumy for a follow up visit.

Thanks for listening,

B.

[Guest guest]

Dear , Just a few words of wisdom on doctors. If your doctor doesn’t

understand your pain level or seems to write your pain off, then find

another doctor. One thing I did that I really regret was waste time with a

rheumatologist who didn’t’ understand my pain. I kept thinking he would

figure things out and help me, but he never did. I did notice that with

time, his visits got shorter and shorter and I realized how depressed he was

getting just to see me. It seems sort of funny now, but at the time I was

so overwhelmed just dealing with the pain.

Just the fact that the predinsone for your sinus infection helped your

arthritis pain, shows you the pain isn’t in your head. Your pain is real;

it is just unfortunate you have to keep looking for a doctor who believes

you or who is smart enough to understand you. If it gets really bad you

might consider pain management. I found that was my lifesaver. Not all

pain management doctors are great either, but if you find a good one it can

save your life. I know I wouldn’t’ be here without them. Also the longer

the pain goes on the harder it is to stop it. Chronic pain can become a

problem all by itself. It wears you down, depresses you and can stop your

life cold. You don’t deserve to deal with it when there is help out there

for you. The sooner you stop it; you have a better chance of it not

becoming chronic.

Well sorry I went on and on, I just hate to hear of people in pain. Take

care and good luck. Fran from Florida.