rheumatoid arthritis
 

About this time last year, I started having regular bouts of severe joint pain and loss of range of motion (at the time, limited to my shoulder). Then, I thought I had messed up a rotator cuff or maybe pinched a nerve. It turned out I had rheumatoid arthritis, which is incurable, progressive, and if today's treatment options weren't so advanced, would have me in a wheelchair in short order.

The good news is, I am controlling it with pharmaceuticals (Daypro and Plaquenil), but it's still progressing, albeit at a slower rate than without drugs. I had it completely under control during the summer, but I'm moving like an old man with the onset of cold weather - my mom has to open jars for me. Sheesh.

My question is, does anyone have any firsthand experience with RA and knows of effective alternative remedies? The drugs aren't THAT expensive yet, but they will become so as I need stronger and stronger variants of them (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immune system inhibitors, I think they are, but I'm not sure.)

Someone tell me acupuncture and green tea will fix me. I'm a freelance writer, working guitar player, and part-time poker dealer. Not having bendy fingers is becoming prohibitive.....

Dr. Mirkin thinks that arthritis is caused by bacteria and can be cured with antibiotics.

Good luck.

I really messed up a finger mtn biking and after 6 mos or so of dropping advil it just wasn't improving. I asked my Doc if Glaucosamine/Chondroitan(sp?) would be helpful, He told me to stay away from Chon because of my shellfish issues but thought glaucosamine would be harmless. I was reluctant because the commercials really make the product sound bogus but I tried it and had almost immediate results. I don't even remember which finger it was.

Pot? That's alternative (sorry, just had to throw that in there). :D

Glucosamine and chondr(however) were what I started taking initially. Now that I look back on it, it's been 2 years since I was diagnosed. Time's fun when you're having flies. Anyway, doc said that mostly helped osteoarthritis, which is a different animal.

Pot worked for the pain but not the joint damage, and I had to quit smoking it because I'm occasionally required to take a drug test for a job (along with the freelance work, I'm trying to get hired as a part-time editor at a publisher I used to work for. Interview Monday, in fact.) It's definitely a pain-control option for the future when I get my employment stuff worked out.

I'm liking the antibiotic idea. But there are bound to be downsides to taking something like that for a long period of time. I mean, 4 years? eek.

Here's a search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...toid+arthritis

And here is something more specific from The Arthritis Foundation:
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/...RA/default.asp

Good luck. :thumbsup:

sorry, where's my manners.....haven't been looking down here of late...thanks for the useful links and good wishes, ladysyc.

My two sisters and my brother have been diagnosed with RA. They are on all the drugs you mention and more, all the way up to remicade. The remicade appears to work quite well.

They also all take the gluco/chrod (not even going to attempt it) pills and swear they help a lot. My father and mother also take it just for normal arthritis and claim it helps a lot. I took some recently and think I am having a reaction to it (the shellfish thing but I don't eat shellfish so am not sure I am allergic to shellfish!)

I have a lot of joint pain as well but have so far shown negative on the RA tests (and yes, I know they can show false positives and false negatives). I figure I really do have it and it is only a matter of time till I have it to the same level as my siblings (who are older than me). And, for the most part, they say it is not genetic...tell that to 3 of 4 siblings so far and the fourth showing signs.

FD

eats lots of salmon and tuna or take fish oil capsules. Omega 3 fatty acids help a lot to reduce inflammation. It's a really good idea to get plenty of them in your diet even if you don't have arthritis...They're really good for your heart, immune system, skin...

http://www.holistic-online.com/Remed...s/arth_sex.htm

you're gonna love this...

Flax oil and Evening Primrose oil are good vegetarian/not fishy tasting omega 3's.

SFW? I wanna click on it. If it's what I think it's about, it's no WONDER I'm having trouble.

This is Osteo...Dad suffers-has had hip replacement - digs the Gluco/Chro... really works well for him. Also second the Flax oil, just toss it on salads. and lastly, gentle weight training. Weight bearing exercise. There's a book I like: "Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis" Dr. M Nelson from Tufts.

Yes, it's sfw - just text.

As I suspected.

I must seek treatment immediately............