New Member

[Guest guest]

I have just joined your group and am looking forward to the help and

expert advice you all have been giving. I just had my first visit

with my Rheum. Dr. She is having me go thru several more tests but

she is pretty sure that I have RA. I have been suffering on and off

for the past year and a half. This most recent flare up has lasted

almost 2 weeks. The first week, my primary Dr would not give me

anything for the pain. I have days that I can not get out of bed

without crying from the pain. Is this normal? How long due flare

ups last?

I hate having this control my life right now. But it seems the more

that I let this get to me, the more pain and discomfort I have. Every

morning, I try to get up to go to work but the pain seems to have a

mind of its own. I have also had kidney stones in the past and that

pain I could deal with compared to what I am currently feeling. The

kidney pain was localized compared to the all over pain that I am

currently having. My hands, elbows, knees, feet and hips just plain

old hurt. Currently, they have me on just anti-inflam. drugs but

they aren't working to well. I have been advised to just give them

some time.

Thanks for listening. I look forward to talking to all of you in the

future.

Beth

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group. I don't comment much but I enjoy reading most of the posts and some of the people in this group are pretty knowledgeable. Susieb_hovey1 <ehovey4@...> wrote: I have just joined your group and am looking forward to the help and expert advice you all have been giving. I just had my first visit with my Rheum. Dr. She is having me go thru several more tests but she is pretty sure that I have RA. I have been suffering on and off for the past year and a half. This most recent flare up has lasted almost 2 weeks. The first week, my primary Dr would not give me anything for the pain. I have days that I can not get

out of bed without crying from the pain. Is this normal? How long due flare ups last? I hate having this control my life right now. But it seems the more that I let this get to me, the more pain and discomfort I have. Every morning, I try to get up to go to work but the pain seems to have a mind of its own. I have also had kidney stones in the past and that pain I could deal with compared to what I am currently feeling. The kidney pain was localized compared to the all over pain that I am currently having. My hands, elbows, knees, feet and hips just plain old hurt. Currently, they have me on just anti-inflam. drugs but they aren't working to well. I have been advised to just give them some time.Thanks for listening. I look forward to talking to all of you in the future.Beth

Autos. Looking for a sweet ride? Get pricing, reviews, more on new and used cars.

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth and welcome to the group. I've only been here for a little while and I am very glad I joined, it has been very helpful. What your going through sounds very normal for RA. Before I was diagnosed I was taking 8 advil twice a day and I still wasnt getting any relief. When I started seeing my Rhumatologist he started me on Predisone and gold injection. That helped tremendously!!! Since then I gave birth to a baby girl and after I went into bad flare ups where I couldnt dress myself or even get up from the toilet without grabbing the sink for help. LOL its funny now but it wasnt then. Now I still get the gold injections but we have added Remicade with methotrexate. I am now doing pretty good. I still have flares every now and then but its so much better then before. I hope you find something that works for you. There are alot of options out there. You need any advice this is the palce to ask. Keep us updated!!!! and Good Luck!! Your friend in Michigan b_hovey1 <ehovey4@...> wrote: I have just joined your group and am looking forward to the help and expert advice you all have been giving. I just had my first visit with my Rheum. Dr. She is having me go thru several more tests but she is pretty sure that I have RA. I have been suffering on and off for the past year and a half. This most recent flare up has lasted almost 2 weeks. The first week, my primary Dr would not give me anything for the pain. I have days that I can not get out of bed without crying

from the pain. Is this normal? How long due flare ups last? I hate having this control my life right now. But it seems the more that I let this get to me, the more pain and discomfort I have. Every morning, I try to get up to go to work but the pain seems to have a mind of its own. I have also had kidney stones in the past and that pain I could deal with compared to what I am currently feeling. The kidney pain was localized compared to the all over pain that I am currently having. My hands, elbows, knees, feet and hips just plain old hurt. Currently, they have me on just anti-inflam. drugs but they aren't working to well. I have been advised to just give them some time.Thanks for listening. I look forward to talking to all of you in the future.Beth

Autos. Looking for a sweet ride? Get pricing, reviews, more on new and used cars.

[Guest guest]

also, it helps to be a squeaky wheel = keep calling the doctor's office and complain of the pain and helpless situation; you are going to have to advocate for yourself. your doctor has no way of knowing things are that desperate; you must speak up. gentle hugs! Marcia hvantuyl@... wrote: You need to be seeing a rheumatologist if you have anything that might be RA because few other doctors really know how to treat or diagnose it. In the meantime or as an early treatment doctors often use Prednisone that is a corticosteroid. This does not do much to slow the joint damage that usually comes from untreated or undertreated RA but it usually does wonders for the symptoms. Also it usually works fast while most RA medicines take several weeks to several months to become effective.

Long-term use of Prednisone is not good but many of us use it till we have been on RA medications long enough for them to be effective. I hope you get some better treatment soon. God bless.---- b_hovey1 <ehovey4@...> wrote:

Bring words and photos together (easily) with PhotoMail - it's free and works with .