Patient Comments: Rheumatoid Arthritis - ExperiencePlease describe your experience with rheumatoid arthritis.
Comment from: Njbestmove, 55-64 Female (Patient)
Published: October 19
I was diagnosed with RA in my late twenties. After a lot of pain, I found a lifesaving doctor in NYC who put me on water based gold shots, along with aspirin therapy. I went into total remission for about 25 years. It was a miracle. Then, after losing my Mom, I regressed and my arthritis flared up pretty badly. I stayed on high doses of aspirin -- up to 18 pills -- some days and that helped for a while. Then I felt a slight stomach upset and realized that I had to get off aspirin. I've been on Cortisone (Medrol) for a little over 2 years now. I was fortunate to have great relief -- initially on 1/4 to 1/2 a 4 mg pill daily. I'm now up to 1 pill and I can tell it's not working as effectively as it did. I tried Enbrel for a few months, Arava and recently cuprimine. While they have helped others, they only made me worse when I tried them 2 years ago and cuprimine mist recently. My doctor now wants to put me back on gold shots at age 61. Does anyone have experience with stopping gold for 25 years then starting up again? My doctor feels this could provide up to 75% relief. By the way, yoga, juicing green vegetables, a mainly vegetarian diet, and most recently cod liver oil, have been a big help! Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Mominpain, 25-34 Female (Patient)
Published: October 13
After having my now 3 year old daughter, I started having horrible pain. Doctor after doctor made me feel like I was losing my mind. About 8mo ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but it just didn't seem right. I finally saw a new dr that spent 1 1/2 hours with me going over everything, did a lot of blood work, and 2 month ago was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Both shock and relief to finally know it wasn't all in my head! I just started methotrexate, my goal is to run and play with my 5 and 3 year old! I miss it so much I cry myself to sleep. I'm supposed to be enjoying these years with my young children and it's very hard to put on a happy face when you're cringing in pain playing with your kids! Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Leslie, 35-44 Female (Caregiver)
Published: September 13
I am a Nurse Practitioner who frequently sees patients with autoimmune type diseases, and although too little is known about the causes of many of these diseases, some patients respond to diet, such as the Macrobiotic diet, which helps reduce the body's immune response. In the case of RA, it is an overactive and abnormal immune response. I'm not saying it's a cure all and it's for everyone, but if it works for you, it sure would be worth the try! Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Cynthia, 45-54 Female (Patient)
Published: August 03
I was diagnosed over 20 years ago with fibromyalgia because my RA was negative, but doctors frequently rechecked my blood work due to ongoing pain. My current PCP has been suspicious for a few years that I had sarong RA, and after my divorce last year, I had a serious flare, hands severely swollen and painful, pretty much useless, that's when I finally got the diagnosis. Plaquenil seemed a miracle drug, until I got hit again with a bad flare, now I just started Methotrexate. Very frustrating, I have had pain and fatigue my whole life, but now I feel like I can't even function without my hands. It's the loss of control that I hate. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: RitaR, 45-54 Female (Patient)
Published: April 15
I have had RA for about 10 years. I've been able to manage it will with methotrexate. If there is anyone in doubt about whether to take it – I've found it to be amazing. It took time for me to get used to it – months, even – but was worth it in the end. Along with methotrexate, I have had various medications to control pain and inflammation. Unfortunately, nothing works for me, or if it does, the side effects are unbearable. I just returned from Spain, where I traveled alone and was in excruciating pain. What hurt is that nobody offered to help when they could see I had trouble walking. Where are the kindhearted people? This world would be in a much nicer state if we had more genuine people like one kind girl who helped me. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Diet
Question: What diet or other lifestyle changes have been effective in relieving your RA?
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Diagnosis
Question: What led to your rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Early Symptoms
Question: What were your symptoms at the onset of your rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Prognosis
Question: What's the prognosis for your rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Treatments
Question: What treatments have been effective for your rheumatoid arthritis?
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My journey with all of this has started fairly suddenly-swollen hands and joint pain. Now I am taking 30 mg of Prednisone and day and I am up to Hydrocodone for pain four times a day. I will not see a Rheumatologist for 2 more months but the steroids are awful and I feel bad all the time it seems. I feel as if I have no control anymore and I am very scared. I have no one to pick up and take care of me if I cannot work and my job is physically demanding and stressful, which I cannot seem to handle as well anymore.