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Plz describe your flares

Posted , 9 users are following.

BrainScribbles
BrainScribbles

My RA was recently diagnosed as severe, with no obvious evidence of damage.  While I am usually fairly tolerant of pain, I am finding the constant pain and weakness over the past several months to be debilitating and depressing.  Steroids are not an option for me, and my hands are now useless.  Sulfasal and mex may be helping, though too soon for comparisons.  I am curious to know how much pain other patients experience over the course of this disease.  Should I hope for drastic improvements?  Assuming meds provide relief, will flares be lengthy, debilitating and painful?  Do all your joints flare simultaneously?  Happy stories, anyone?  (I urgently, and perhaps naiively, desire to regain my life.) 

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  • raralady
    raralady BrainScribbles

    Posted

    My advice is try what worked for me. Go on a strict anti-inflammatory diet. Start now. Don't believe those who say diet doesn't affect RA, just try it for yourself. Go to a natural health practitioner if you can afford it, if not buy a book or just stop eating grains, legumes, dairy and nightshade vegetables. Eat loads of green veggies and eggs and avoid sugar and processed foods. Take pro-biotics (not sugary dairy stuff but proper supplements) as well as eating sauerkraut. My pain was intense and awful and now it is hardly noticeable, just a bit sore or stiff but nothing to bother me much. I found it easy to give up foods as I would have tried absolutely anything to get my life back. I've been on the diet for a year and I'm quite used to it and prepared to keep it going until I'm sure I don't need to. 

    Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

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