I have a connective tissue disorder. I'm very stiff, especially in my hips. I take an anti-inflammatory prescribed by my doctor. It helps some, but not all of my pain. So far the best thing I've found is weight training. I lift weights a minimum of 3 days a week, paying attention to the areas where I have the most pain. If I miss a week, I can definitely feel the pain go up. It does not work over night, but I suggest joining a gym, and get on a regular program. Hopefully in a few months you will feel some relief.

My sister is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 16. Presently she is 33 years old and has a three year old son. Current laboratory tests show that her RA factor is 82.6, uric acid 5.1 and ASO 507. Now no joints are left for swelling. She has been suffering from right hand wrist stiffness and left hand elbow stiffness and other parts are going stiff with heavy pain, even she can't sleep due to heavy pain in shoulder muscle and joint pain. For removing pain she takes aciproxyvon (twice) and sazo 500 daily for the last 2 years and more under the advice of a local doctor.

My connective tissue disorder was diagnosed by my pharmacist after looking up side effects of the drug FLOMAX.

After years of joint problems my doctors told me to look up connective tissue problems. I went to a special doctor, who took measurements of how I could bend my arms, knees, neck, back, etc, and how I could pop them out easily. I'm only 16, but I've lived with this my whole life. I have no idea where I'm going next with this information.

I have been diagnosed with connective tissue disease. Initially took high levels of Prednisone then tapered down to 5mg daily for the past year. This is working for me. I still ache most every day, but not to the degree I used to. I stretch and go to a gym 2 to 3 times a week. Prednisone has numerous side effects, but I'd rather put up with them than the debilitating pain I used to be in. In other words, Prednisone gave me back my active lifestyle and I'm now 68.

I was first diagnosed with Marfans by a cardiologist but was later diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) by my rheumatologist. But after going to Mayo Clinic for treatment, they diagnosed me with Mixed Connective Tissue disease (MCTD) because they said I had bits of many different auto immune disorders. I tend to still say that I have EDS instead of MCTD though because I find docs can handle EDS better than MCTD. They still get nervous when treating me but not as bad when I said I had MCTD.

My connective tissue disease was discovered through an aortic dissection. Open heart surgery was performed and a sleeve was placed over the aorta to repair.

My connective tissue disease was diagnosed through a blood test. This was done before having a parcial knee replacement.