46 and down for THR - so confused!!

I have had JRA since I was 11, 54 long years of arthritis.

I have learned that not all narcotics behave in my body...but, I have learned what works for me. I want to take the least amount of anything and have the best result.

Have you tried something other than Naproxin ..many different NSAIDs are available ..because we are all the same yet different. Ask your rheumatologist.

Paracetamol is acetaminophen is Tylenol...is a non narcotic pain reliever and antiinflammatory...which can be quite effective taken every 6 hours, dosed no closer, at a higher dose, like 500 mg. Also discuss this with your rheumatologist.

And narcotics...should be reserved for emergency flares. I prefer Morphine Sulfate Extended Release because it is effective for 12 hours and oxycodone 5 mg typically split in half

Work with your rheumatologist...a good rheumatologist should be able to manage your arthritis well with minimal use of narcotics.

You have not shared what type of arthritis you have, so I will use Rheumatoid as an example. Next to Lupus, it used to be savage.

Rheumatoid is a dynamic disease that morphs....this is why a medication that helps today may not help tomorrow.

By observing a person's reaction to a drug, we can learn a lot about the rheumatoid in that person's body...Both Enbrel and Humira are TNF, tumor necrosis factor. Individuals whose rheumatoid responds well to either Enbrel or Humira are said to have TNF driven rheumatoid. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20. For those who respond favorably to Rituximab, we say their rheumatoid is CD20 driven.

Sometimes rheumatoid arthritis can be successfully treated with an NSAID...non steriodal anti inflammatory drug...such as Orudis, Feldene, Naprosin, Naproxin, Motrin, Indomethacin, Butazolidin to name just a few.

Steriods...not to be confused with anabolic steroids...prednisone, budesonide, methylprednisolone are three of many. Many decades of study have taught us to use steroids judiciously because steroids cause unwanted side effects such as bone density loss. Today, steroids are prescribed using a burst approach...high dose fast start, immediate graduated decrease, off.

DMARDs & Biologics... disease modifying anti rheumatic drug...

This class of medications modify, literally change the way rheumatoid behaves... Methotrexate (now the gold standard), hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, Orencia, Remicade are all typically oral.

Rituximab is delivered by infusion.

Enbrel in the mid nineties was the first DMARD. I still remember watching the television news that night with tears running down my face. Those of you who face rheumatoid today should never face the full fury of this disease. Nevertheless, matching a sufferer with the best medication to defeat their rheumatoid continues to take time. As the class of medication used increases, so too do the possible adverse side effects. Be patient and work with your rheumatologist, only a board certified rheumatologist, to fine tune a treatment effective against your rheumatoid.

54 years of severe juvenile rheumatoid has left my body permanently damaged and deformed because medicine did not have the wealth of knowledge it has today.

I am grateful for all of the analgesics, NSAIDs, and steroids that made it possible for DMARDs & biologics to modify even my severe juvenile rheumatoid. Today my JRA is relatively quiet. And once my rheumatoid quieted down, I forgot about the really tough times it raged.

Oh, I had my first joint surgery in 1971, at the age of 20. My first joint replacements were about 1985, at 34 I have had many revisions...I once asked a very famous surgeon, when won't you be able to replace them. He smiled and said, when you have no more skin.

Remember, medical knowledge is griwing exponentially each day. When I was born, you died with the same parts you were born with. Not any more.

What can not be done today will be done tomorrow.

,

Locate a university with a medical school with a clinic..famous...travel to be seen. This is your body, do not settle for second best.

And your children have been watching you suffer, admiring how mom manages to do everything....not until I stood at the side of my dad's bed did I learn that it is so much easier to be in the bed than it is to stand at the side of the bed wanting to do anything to make my dad feel better. Perhaps your children feel as I did...

Hi kirsty, 

warm welcome to this wonderful hippies forum where we share our personal stories and experiences- we come together here in all ages and stages of Hippieland ...

It is so overwhelming, isn't it ... We know ... 

One thing is for sure, life the way it is for you right now is not working anymore ..

Pain medication stop working but if you don't take them the pain is almost unbearable ...

Please go to the website created by one of our forum members, Graham, aka Rocketman :  

 get the ball rolling, darling --- How long is the wait? 

and of course, come back here anytime you have a concern or question -

big warm hug

renee

​My advise is that if you need any help you have it at home already!!!  

​Speak to a benefit advisor at the local Citizen Advise Bureau who can point you in the right direction.   But you will definatelyqualify for the PIP and you may get other benefits.

​I had lost my job due to husband illness and my approaching operation (Nice of them to be so supportive).... and found that there is help out there until you are ready to return to work.  

​You will be amazed how soon you can manage to do things.... but anything heavy and sorry Kids that will be your remit in supporting your mum.

Kirsty further to my message you can look on line and complete a short questionairre as to what  benefits you would be entitled to during this period..   www.gov.uk

Hi Kirsty. I'm quite near you (Chory) and had my left hip replaced 4 weeks ago today. I used the Choose and Book system and got an appointment to have the op within a few weeks. Mine was done at Spire Hospital but paid for by the NHS.

My recovery has been very fast. Prior to it I went to the gym a lot and did what I could even though there was some pain - the exercise bike was ok after the first few minutes and I did upper body stuff that didn't involve the hip. Four weeks on I'm walking without any aids, no painkillers, only restricted to drive because I haven't seen my consultant yet (but could drive if I needed to). Going up and down stairs normally etc. My husband was around for the first week at home but then went back to work. I managed fine. The first few days were a bit grim but I had a really positive attitude and expected to recover quickly! (I accept that could have backfired!)

I honestly can't recommend this operation enough and delaying it makes no sense when you're in bone-on-bone pain. It isn't going to get better without the op.

Just a thought, could you do your client sessions by Skype for a bit? Your young people might be ok with that and it would conserve your energy. My main issue now is tiredness - it does take a lot out of you.

Good luck with it all.