Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Hello everyone, this is my first post here. I am a 24 years old guy from Istanbul/Turkey. I've just started to work as a research assistant here in a university. It's been a month since I got the job, but I spent most of this month in hospital to learn why I am having terrible pains and swelling in my both feet. At first, three weeks ago, it was only my right foot, and we thought that it is morton's neuroma disease. But then pain and swelling spread to both feet. After many test and appointment, today my doctor told me that I have a rhemataud arthritis. Now I take deltacortril to relieve pain and hold down my immune system, but my doctor said that I will use it for only 3 weeks, and then he will try to use something else since cortisones have many side effects on the long run.
I've had mild foot pains for months, maybe a year, but I've never thought that it was something serious. I always thought that it was something about walking too much or something. Probably it was always hidden somewhere, and then stress triggered it. That's what I think. Because, I had to take lots of important and irreversible decisions to get this job lately. Now I regret to take things so seriously. I will sign a contract soon about my job. I will work and get education in a big university of country and get education, and then after 6 years I will go to another public university for compulsory work. If I can't finish my education I have to pay lots of money. I was worried and hesitant about this.
But now I have a bigger problem. I have this illness which keep me from taking future decisions. I just don't trust myself while I hardly walk without cortisone. I just can't picture the future for me. I don't know which condition I will be in. That city I will go after 6 years of education, is terribly cold, my disease might flare up there. However, on the other hand there are much worse jobs for a person who have a rhematoid arthritis. I might be lucky to have a job in a university. And I don't think that I can handle the find another satisfied job while I am having this illness.
I am just having terrible days and I just wanted to share that with someone. A few months ago I was making plans with my girlfriend to move to Canada and find a job there, and some other plans. She went to work another city a year ago, and I was having a strong belief that we were going to get together again in good conditions. I was going to do anything to make this come true. But today, I can't explain my dissapointment, insecurity and despair. I just feel so needy and weak. I can't even follow my lessons. I can't think and focus anything but my foot. It is like in a fire.
I will try to have a health life and diminish this. I will need lots of advice from people who have experience. I will always give information about the process of my treatment, drugs and stuff.
Thanks a lot for reading.
I've had mild foot pains for months, maybe a year, but I've never thought that it was something serious. I always thought that it was something about walking too much or something. Probably it was always hidden somewhere, and then stress triggered it. That's what I think. Because, I had to take lots of important and irreversible decisions to get this job lately. Now I regret to take things so seriously. I will sign a contract soon about my job. I will work and get education in a big university of country and get education, and then after 6 years I will go to another public university for compulsory work. If I can't finish my education I have to pay lots of money. I was worried and hesitant about this.
But now I have a bigger problem. I have this illness which keep me from taking future decisions. I just don't trust myself while I hardly walk without cortisone. I just can't picture the future for me. I don't know which condition I will be in. That city I will go after 6 years of education, is terribly cold, my disease might flare up there. However, on the other hand there are much worse jobs for a person who have a rhematoid arthritis. I might be lucky to have a job in a university. And I don't think that I can handle the find another satisfied job while I am having this illness.
I am just having terrible days and I just wanted to share that with someone. A few months ago I was making plans with my girlfriend to move to Canada and find a job there, and some other plans. She went to work another city a year ago, and I was having a strong belief that we were going to get together again in good conditions. I was going to do anything to make this come true. But today, I can't explain my dissapointment, insecurity and despair. I just feel so needy and weak. I can't even follow my lessons. I can't think and focus anything but my foot. It is like in a fire.
I will try to have a health life and diminish this. I will need lots of advice from people who have experience. I will always give information about the process of my treatment, drugs and stuff.
Thanks a lot for reading.
You will NOT always be in the pain you are in now!
there are a LOT of 20 somethings on here and their voices will ring the truest to you in your life journey right now.
prednisone is helping you walk, but a rheumatologist way want to treat the disease with either DMARDS (disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs) or eventually if required biologics
i can see where a new diagnosis and trouble walking combined with money and contracts while you at the beginning of your education is a huge challenge and worry for you. I am glad you found our website. Is your family supportive?
can you get additional medical care beyond the cortisone?
keep posting
Depot
RA does not have to be the end of your dreams. Since my diagnosis, I have earned two bachelor's and a master's - all while not in remission, dealing with moderate RA mostly in feet, raising kids - and with the master's I was working 80 hours per week. It can be done - and after it's done you'll look back and realize how strong you learned to be.
One thing I learned with a decade of feet agony - is a good podiatrist and custom orthodics are life savers!
And face it as a challenge... A battle that you must stalemate if not win... It took me a decade to stumble upon my personal magic bullet - but I've been in diet induced remission for almost two years now. And to be honest - I wouldn't trade what the life experience has given me. I'm much more empathetic and understanding towards any stranger's disabilities now.
With a good rheumatologist and podiatrist - hopefully your journey to remission will not be as long as mine was. But always remember - there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Hang in there, and keep us posted on how you are doing.
Lynne
I am lucky that I have people and a family who cares for me. I have a brother who is a doctor, without him I was still trying to understand what's going on in my body. And it would be hard for me to get appointments in hospitals. I am lucky that I have a job and insurance which provide my hospital costs. From now on I will live like I used to live. I will focus on my job and the things that I enjoy. Life will go on one way or another.
Yesterday, many relatives were in my home since they heard about my disease. My grandmother told me that I was going to be okay, and I couldn't hold myself. I started to cry. I couldn't say, yes I am going to be okay. I cried a lot. And she cried. I swear this will be the last moment that I feel this way. Nothing wrong with crying and feeling sorry, but it is no help to make people sad around you. It is not the way to heal yourself. From now on I say, I will be okay. I know everything will not be be same, but that's life. It's like getting old. We can't waste our time by thinking why we are not young anymore. We should enjoy whatever age we are. It is same with this illness.I know it is hard to compete sometimes with people who have better conditions than you. But there are also people who run away from civil wars, and left their country. They are also in an unfair marathon. Everyone actually.
About my disease. I am not panicked anymore. I talked to my brother and he said that it is so early to write bad scenarios. My disease is not certain yet. The reumatologist wanted some MR to see my back. He says it can be Ankylosing Spondylitis. I will go to my next appointment in three weeks. Until that time I will continue to use cortisone. I am taking 7,5 mg now for a day. But I will decrease it to 5 mg a day in two weeks. He said I might have pain. I will exercise, eat healthy and stay positive. I hope everything goes well for me and for you.
I know it is a long post, but it felt good to write how I feel. Thanks a lot.
I am 26, was diagnosed less than a year ago. I have my good and bad days with this disease, as everyone else does. You will find a treatment that works for you and feel better than you do now. Just stay positive!!
I am able to work full time (40 hrs in 3 days), and although I am so fatigued and sore on my days off, it is worth it and makes me a much stronger person. I laugh in my head about co-workers that complain about a headache, or stay home for cold symptoms, because most days at work I deal with some element of joint pain and I know it is making me a stronger person.
This disease is a spiritual journey for SURE. Learn to enjoy the good days and take care of yourself on the bad days. You can become what you want in life, it'll just take more effort and determination.
How fortunate you have a brother who is a doctor. If he can help you find good medical care, you will be better off. As others have said, there are many drugs to help stall the disease. The sooner you are on them, the better. It sounds like your rheumatologist is being thorough- in a young man, ankylosing spondylitis should be considered.
Living where you do, I'm sure you are very aware of how awful the lives of others, just across the border, are. Troubling times.
I can see how strong you are all. I hope you never lose the energy and joy in your lifes.