Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hello Bill.

Sorry to hear about your RA. Also, you are young! My mum was 83 when diagnosed and will be 85 this August. It's a rotten thing this RA and as you will be learning, so many forms and different meds, and each persons experience send very different. We found those first couple of years has been a time of learning, just like you, getting the best meds regime to give you maximum benefit (be guided by your doctors and wonderful rheumatology nurses etc), and learning how best to adapt to life with RA. My mum is on MXT and prednisolone plus pain killers all of which help though have their own side effects too. All are closely monitored. Not easy I know and hard if you are used to being very independent. My mum has had to learn to accept help, from me and others too so lots to get used to. I wish you well. Paula and Mum.

Hi Bill, welcome to the forum. Everyone on this forum will have different views and advice, as we all react differently to different meds. I am on Benepali injections once weekly. They have helped a lot. This was after trying Methotrexate, Sulphazalazine and Hydroxachloride. All of which I couldn't tolerate the side effects. Having said that, a lot do tolerate them and find they do help. All Dmards are supposed to help and slow down the progress of RA. But each person is different. I hope you can find the treatment you need, it all take time to go through the process. I'm sure you will get some great advice from here, it certainly has helped me and you realise there are a lot of people out there with the illness. Plus feeling the same mentally and physically. 🙂

Hi thanks for your quick replies. Yes so used to doing everything myself. it's hard not to be doing that now. We are both UK Ex Pats. Where we live there is no NHS and lots of private hospitals and all Doctors are private but the pharmacies are very good so will take note of some of the meds and talk to them. So here we go round one of the battle.  

Bill. 

I had gout for many years and RA for about 2 years and then was informed of PEMF (Pulsating Electro-Magnetis Field Theraphy). I also had kidney problems that prevented using most pain medication. I was shown the  SwissBionic Magnetic equipment by my chiroprator and he suggested it might help my problem,. He offered to let me use it for a month for a small fee. I had to travel about 10 miles to his office to use it. I did so 5 days a week for a month. At the end of the 2nd week i developed a severe burning when i had a bile movement. I discussed this with the therapist and he said it was the inflammation leaving my body and that if i continued treatment for a couple more weeks it should end. After 1 more week the burning ceased and the pain i had been experiencing ended and i felt really good. However this was not a cure and i was informed I would have to continue to use the equipment to remain pain free which meant purchasing the equiptment for my home.  It is fairly expensive but i bought it and started a home use daily. The pain deminished over time but it also works to remove toxins from your joints and i had fequent healing crisis pain off and on for about 2 years. After 2 years of use i finally stopped having the healing crisis problems and for the last 7 months. i have had no major pain problems. I was in really good health when the RA hit at age 75. I had been going to the YMCA and doing Silver Sneaker classes and lifting weights,. The RA stopped that and i was having problems just walking and getting around. In March 2017 after 2 years and 7  months on the equipment and now at age 80, i have returned to the YMCA Silver Sneaker Classes and lifting weights. My inflammation test showed no inflammation in my Feb.2017  blood test. I have not had gout pain in over 2 years. I get a slight RA pain from time to time but using the PEMF spot pad, i can remove the pain quickly. As i said the PEMF is not a cure but a lifetime theraphy that  will keep my RA under control. I have also had other benifits from use of the PEMF. My kidney function has returned to near normal, my prostate has went from enlarged to normal size and consistency. My bladder control has improved to noirmal. My general health has improved to the point that i have only made a doctors visit once in each of the last 2  years for my annual physical. My immune system seems to be working at a peak rate. You can check the proces out on the internet by looking for PEMF information.  I am using the Swissbionic equipment. There are others but i reccomend one with a full body mat and other pads. There is a medical reason for the magnetic theraphy that covers the improvment of the blood cells that need recharged to do ther job. Magnetic energy is the charger for the blood cells that make then perform more effectively. Searchng will give you a lot of information on the process.   .  

Everyone is different, what works for some wont necessarily work for others.   Your Rheumatologist is the best port of call there, he will prescribe meds according to you symptoms and which subset or RA you have.   Remember, your Doc has treated hundreds if not thousands of RA sufferes so based on his experience will prescribe meds he/she feels are appropriate for your case.   You may trial dozens of different meds before you find one that works.   You could be lucky and hit on the one that works for you first up or you may find yourself trialing dozens. Worst case scenario, your brand of RA may be untreatable.   It's all a matter of luck from your side, and a matter of an educated guess from the Doc's side.

You should also trial different diets: no dairy, no meat, no wheat products, no processed food and so on.   You can also try some anti inflamatory foods like cold water fish, upping your fibre intake, extra virgin olive oil and so on.   There are also a plethora of alternatives you can try:   MSM, curcumin, fish oil and so on, remember to advise your Doc first though.   They may not help at all but, you never know until you try.   You can also try some RA tools:   wrist braces, forearm and elbow wraps, arthritis culery, hot and cold packs.   Good luck, you're going to need it!