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I've had polyarthritis for 2 years... Still in pain and basically had enough

Posted , 4 users are following.

claire50820
claire50820

Hi there, I live in france, and wanted to ask you guys if the treatment for polyarthritis is different in england. I have taken plaquenil, I'Meth and now I'm taking 17.5mg by injection of Methotrexate.  I have stopped taking the steroids.....  they were great but I don't agree with long term use of them and I also put on 25kgs.  I also take an Opium/caffeine/codeine mix for the pain but it's just getting worse.  It's affecting my work, I'm tired all the time, I'm crabby with my kids and I've really had enough.  I just don't know where else to turn and I feel quite depressed.  Is there anyone out there that could me any kind of advice to help me please?  Thanks Claire  :-) 

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • joy47826
    joy47826 claire50820

    Posted

    Hi in France, I don't deal with your form of arthritis but with OA and Fibro and use all alternatives for management....except for 4 ibuprofen daily and topicals for my joints....have you gone to Dr. Google to ask about:

    alternatives for polyarthritis

    I'm not in the UK, am in the US and we use a LOT of supplements over here...pycnogenol is a salvation in my life and it came to the U.S. from France in about 1994.   Do you know it?    

    • claire50820
      claire50820 joy47826

      Posted

      Thank you for that advice I will try that and I will look up pycnogenol too..  I've never heard of it. 
    • joy47826
      joy47826 claire50820

      Posted

      Look up grape seed extract too...I took the Pycnogenol for one total year and then found grape seed ex which is a powerful antioxidant too....it's the seeds from grapes, pycnogenol is from the maritime pine bark.    I've been taking one or the other or both for 19 yrs.
    • claire50820
      claire50820 joy47826

      Posted

      Holy cow....... pycnogenol is really expensive over here, considering it's from here lol....  will look up grap seed extract
    • joy47826
      joy47826 claire50820

      Posted

      Pycnogenol is more expensive than grape seed ex here too.  I took Pcy for 1 year, every day, cost me $40 a month and I got rid of my allergy and sinus issues, I was a slave to allergy drugs and an allergist and NO MORE..... that was 19 yrs ago.

      Grape Seed Ex is more affordable and I use it primarily but still buy a less expensive Pyc as I still like to have it on hand and take it some times....Pyc needs to be 100mg per day at least.... grape seed ex I take 200mg two times per day....

      Guess, it's easier to make the grape seed ex vs pycnogenol, don't know....but both are very effective....

      amazon uk sells them both...I buy from them sometimes in the US.

      Can't take them if one is on a drug blood thinner....

    • claire50820
      claire50820 joy47826

      Posted

      Thanks again for the info....... I'm still searching for a cheap pcy at 100mg but I'm sure I'll find one :-)
  • loxie
    loxie claire50820

    Posted

    Hi Claire.  Firstly I'm so sorry you have to endure such pain and discomfort, it's so tiring.  I always thought polyarthritis was a short term (varying between a standard six weeks and up to a max of one year in some cases) condition caused by a virus (alphavirus polyarthritis syndrome) or caused by another auto immune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.  Didn't realise it could continue so long as you've had it.  Polyarthritis from acute viral infection normally subsides within six weeks. Chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis can also cause polyarthritis. Polyarthritis is a generic terms to describe multi joint inflammation and not really a specific disease of its own.  I really recommend going back to your doctors and asking what the underlying condition is, so that targeted treatment can be given as pain killers alone dont seem to be helping you very much.  I have severe osteo arthritis and things that I find help with the inflammation include Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM (taken as a combined dose - either in capsule/tablet form or better in liquid form), fresh ginger - use as much of it as you can in your cooking.  Ginger contains very potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. These substances are believed to explain why so many people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis experience reductions in their pain levels and improvements in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly, lastly (and I haven't tried this yet as only just reading about it) eggshell membrane.  Here's an excerpt from an article about it: 

    Egg shell membrane contains:

    Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) -  small amounts of polysaccharides such as glucosamine, chondrotin and hyaluronic acid that are the structural components of the skeletal structure and connective tissues of the body.

    Collagen – a fibrous protein that supports cartilage and connective tissue strength and elasticity.

    Elastin – a protein that supports skin, cartilage and spinal health. It helps to give tissues elasticity and the ability to resume shape after stretching.

    Desmosine and isodesmosine – two virtually unknown amino acids that are responsible for helping with the elasticity of joint tissues.

    Growth Factor B – helps with cell regeneration and optimal immune function.

    I hope you find some much needed relief soon. xx

    • claire50820
      claire50820 loxie

      Posted

      Wow, thank you for your reply :-)  I am going back to the doctor next wednesday to say I'm sick of this.....  it's just working out how to explain in depth what I want to say as it'll be in french......  she is my 2nd doctor (wasn't happy with the first) and to be honest I feel she's rubbish too....  anyhoo, I just have to keep positive!  Although, I have to say, at the moment I have not much 'quality of life'...  I'm only 47 and feel 87!!  I am going to look into what you've suggested...  i love ginger so, that one's not hard to do and it's not expensive!  The egg shell info you've given is amazing and it totally makes sense......  I've kept chickens for years and always cleaned and crushed up the shells afterwards to give back to the chucks as I'd always been taught that it helps the new eggs to have a strong structure.  I was never told why, I just presumed it was the calcium content though and not what you've listed...  the gluc/chron I have already tried with not much effect unfortunately.....  somedays I think I've been diagnosed incorrectly, but they've done plenty of tests to prove apparently that it's P/A...  I'm sorry to hear about your O/A........  and well done for finding things that eliviate the pain, even if it's only a little bit......  keep on being positive :-) xx
    • loxie
      loxie claire50820

      Posted

      I understand what you're saying Claire, always difficult to get across to impatient doctors what is truly happening and especially difficult in a second language.  Just had another thought, as P/A is commonly a by-product of a virus would it be beneficial to ask about anti viral meds of some sort; you may get told it wouldnt be of use but heck any port in a storm.  Gluc/chon/msm doesnt work for everyone unfortunately and takes a long time in others to have any effect.  I'm persevering with it just in case.  I forgot to mention that tart cherries also have excellent anti inflamm properties.  Eating sour cherries is probably not palatable but you can buy Sour cherry fruit juice which is.  Make sure there's not too much added sugar, as high sugar products really aggravate pain.  If you have Lidl over there, they sell it.  Or you can buy the posh stuff online although it's a little expensive.

      Pain in itself is exhausting but any form of arthritis is known to cause chronic fatigue too.  Double blow eh.  I do hope you find some relief soon.  big hugs. xx

  • mayday35
    mayday35 claire50820

    Posted

    Claire do you write in French by any chance? It's just that I have a friend who is French and is having a good treatment in Switzerland not far from Divonne. She does not write or understand English.
    • claire50820
      claire50820 mayday35

      Posted

      Hello there :-)  I have lived and worked in france for 10 years.  I'm not perfect (lol) but I can write and make myself understood!  I would love to speak to your friend if she is willing :-)  you are very kind to think of me :-)

       

    • claire50820
      claire50820 mayday35

      Posted

      Thank you :-)  I will wait until you have replied back to this message so I don't cause any problems!  If she would prefer to email mine is:   thank you again :-)

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service . Posting phone numbers and email addresses in forums like this opens users up to spam and possibly nuisance phone calls.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

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