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  • Image of Caren28

    About Me

    I'm 28 and live in Seattle WA, with my wonderful partner and two cats. I have a master's degree in public health and work at a low-income children's clinic. I was just diagnosed with RA and also have nerve damage due to severe spinal stenosis.

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    • Support Groups

      • Close Rheumatoid Arthritis

        I'm 28 and live in Seattle, WA. I was just diagnosed with RA after about 2 months of pain and swelling in my hands, wrists, hips and knees. Also have long history of back pain and nerve damage to feet due to severe spinal stenosis. I work full-time and am hoping to keep that up as long as possible (both for the money and to save my sanity!). I have a wonderful supportive family and group of friends.

        Treatments

        Prednisone Somewhat Helpful
        Have been on 20mg/day for the past week. Brought swelling down but still hurting. Doc decreasing dose to 5mg/day.
      • Close Chronic Pain

        I'm 28 and live in Seattle. I had cauda equina syndrome 6 years ago (too much pressure on the nerves at the base of my spine caused damage to the nerves that go to my bladder and legs). Surgery fixed the bladder issue (hooray) but left me with low back pain and no feeling in my feet except for burning, shooting electrical pain. Recently I've developed signs of rheumatopid arthritis, (dull, achy pain and swelling in my hands, wrists, elbows, knees and hips).

        Treatments

        Heat Working / Worked
        Hydrocodone Working / Worked
        helps with arthritis and back pain but not nerve pain.
        Marijuana Working / Worked
        Helps calm me down when pain is very intense, helps with sleep.
        Methadone Not Working
        Made me so sick! Constant nausea and crazy swings in mood and energy levels.
        Morphine Not Working
        I was on daily oral morphine for over a year. When I tapered off it, I realized it really hadn't been helping- opioids are not very effective for neuropathic pain.
        Naproxen Not Working
        Neurontin Working / Worked
        Works wonders for me. I take 1200mg 3x/day.
        Pamelor Working / Worked
        works as an addition to Neurontin helps decrease breakthrough nerve pain
      • Open Arthritis

        I'm 28 and live in Seattle with my wonderful partner. I have imflammatory arthritis in my hips, knees, elbows, wrists and many finger joints. Just started treatment a few months ago.

        Treatments

        Anti-Inflammatory Diet Not Working
        I couldn't really keep up with this, but I am trying to limit nightshade plants and wheat.
        Ibuprofen Somewhat Helpful
        works ok, but my stomach can't tolerate it.
        Naproxen Not Working
        Surgery, Knee Replacement Somewhat Helpful
        I had spinal surgery to relieve stenosis that was compressing the nerve that control bowel/bladder function. Did work, but left scar tissue that has caused a lot of pain.
        Swimming Working / Worked
        Helps a lot! Even on a really bad day, everything feels better in the pool. Sometimes I just walk laps instead of swimming them.
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