Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

I hadn't heard about age being a factor in side effects.

The best I can tell you is to check out SarahKeturah's website:

http://gentlehugs.wordpress.com/

Sarah is treating herself successively with alternative supplements, and is the most knowledgeable person on the subject at DS.

Sarah's DS hi=ome is: http://www.dailystrength.org/peopl...

Good luck.

I too have tried the Herbal route and as Sarah might tell you it's not for everyone. It depends how far your RA is, the main thing is to halt the deformaty process that goes along with RA and the Drugs that are out there are supposed to help us.When you see elderly people that have the deformed fingers etc.. it's because they have had RA a long time before the new Drugs came along. I have a friend who is 76 and does have a little bit of the deformity in her hands. She has been on Mtx for 25 years and just started Remicade. She can move and walk and has had no major side effects to speak of. She just got back from Israel and walked where Jesus walked, she said she was in pain but it was all worth it. It just depends on how you look at it I guess. I was scare to death when I started on Mtx, but I feel better every day and am now on Enbrel and a taper of Pred.
good luck bigi

Hi kt2u!

Most people are more fearful of deformities than they are of the side effects from DMARDs. However, I am not one of those people. I've taken the conventional medications and eventually chose the alternative path because I was more afraid of damaging my ovaries, getting cancer, and I was tired of dealing with side effects such as losing my hair and feeling exhausted. I also wanted to enjoy a glass of wine without the worry of elevating enzymes. Some people find it comforting to think we're all in the same boat and should be on the same drugs. But honestly, I think everyone's body is different and no one can really say, nor can a doctor predict what RA will look like to you in your future.

Bigiblue is right that it's not for everyone. It takes a person who is willing to really tune into their own body and take more than a few supplements a day every single day. And it takes continual learning. I think in terms of health, you should always focus on learning more.

I do believe my body is continuing to get better and in my opinion you can treat RA aggressively with alternative medications. Before I ever chose any path, I read a lot and asked a lot of questions including ones here on DS. I wanted to know who was feeling good and what feeling good to them looked like. I also asked lots of questions about flexibility and deformities. In the end, I was not convinced that DMARDs or Biologics were really the kind of success I was looking for.

I could have been wheel chair bound because I was so bad off however I am successfully 90% recovered in that I feel like I'm 90% back to normal. Although I am still damaging joints because I can see visible swelling in my fingers, I never reached remission on conventional meds either. My RA was advanced and at four months into the onset of RA, I already showed bone deterioration on hand x-rays according to two different rheumatologists.

For some people, being on DMARDs and/or Biologics helps them feel assured that they will not experience deformities. Of course if you ask enough people, and read enough articles, you'll find that even if you take those medications you can still end up with bone deterioration and deformities. A lot of it comes down to how well and how fast your body responds to the drug or drugs given to you by your doctor. If you try the alternative path, it's the same deal. Everyone is different and some people have much more responsive bodies than others, or they found the right medication for their chemistry. As long as you have swelling, the damage is being done. Sometimes finding the right "cocktail" in this case can take years, in which time the majority of the damage has already happened. I have read that most of the damage happens within the first two years. Getting your inflammation under control, by whatever means possible is truly the goal. By keeping good track of your blood tests and x-rays, you can be your own advocate for what's going on with your body.

What do you consider success?
I can jog short distances, work out on the elliptical or treadmill, lift up to 15lb weights and work full time as an artist without problems. The other day I lifted a Sparklet's water jug, the big ones, by myself, now that they have the handle and no-spill lid. It wasn't easy, but I did do it. That's an amazing accomplishment since back when my RA was at its worst, I couldn't even lift a small pillow. I do have days where my inflammation is worse in my hands but before natural medications, my RA was all over my body including jaw, eyes, neck, ribs, knees, feet, shoulders, elbows, and even my collar bone visibly stuck out. My hands still could use improvement, but no doctor could have ever guaranteed the way I feel today.

Knowing that a woman's body can often naturally go into remission when a woman is pregnant is proof to me that suppressing the immune system might not be our only or best option to reach remission.

Hope that answers a few questions!
best of luck,
Sarah