rheumatoid arthritis

[mrnoodle]

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.....