Didn't see it, but they obviously forgot to mention the parts that besides RA affecting more than the joints, leaving your bedridden, is that once your joints are damaged you get OA secondary to the RA.

So we get both. Not sure who they used to go up and down stairs for their study, but it sure wasn't me in the days, when my knees were swollen like rad, hot balloons, so I couldn't go up and down stairs at all.

Really ignorant, just glad I didn't see it.

I didn't see it, but I am gald I didn't! Don't blame you for being mad. Are we in the twlight zone?

That is really upsetting! Im in my 20s so absolutely none of my friends get and you should of seen the looks I got w my handicap placard that had to use after my knee surgeries. So frustrating!!! I hate the stories I e read too about people diagnosed in their 40s or wherever that just started the meds and now they're great. I have been fighting this disease for years and am on my 4th injection and no luck I hate it when people tell me its a good time to have RA!!!!!!!!!! When is it ever a good time to have severe chronic daily pain from a disease that nobody understands???? Not to mention nodules or deformity???

Tanyan, and Roseisrose: Please work together on a complaint and we will all sign it and send it in to the Dr's!
No really!
How unfortunate about how they misinform the public. We should get the name of that "Expert" and send her the complaint too. Obviously she has not seen anyone in our positions. I can barely control my RA and just the word stair makes my skin crawl. I can hardly climb my step into my house let alone multiple stairs. How inconsiderate.
My mother has osteo as well as RA. Her RA is controlled yes. She is in an extreme amount of pain on a daily basis with her osteo. I know there is pain with that, but they are two totally different diseases and should not be compaired. It's like saying that rust eating the car is worse than a craked engine block.
I have only really watched that show a handful of times and you can be sure I will never watch it again.
Thanks for the info.

KeniMichelle, I agree with you and would sign that petition 100%. I am so tired of people making this out to be nothing. They need to live 1 day in the shoes of someone in the middle of a flare and than tell me that it isn't so bad.

That really sucks. Once again the public still doesn't know diddly about RA.

It is sad that medical personnel give misinformation. It would be best to give no information at all. I don't know what show this is and have not seen it. The doctor should have dne her research before speaking on any topic or have taken care of patients with OA and RA. This is why I am awake now because I have severe shoulder pain and cannot go back to sleep.I have taken two Tramadol to no avail. I guess this doctor definitely does not have RA nor has seen a patient in a flare or ever heard of an RA patient not being able to get out of the bed for four days due to being in a bad flare with so much pain. I think whoever did see the should not only get mad, but get a pen and start writing some letters.

I'm looking that up!

http://thedoctorstv.com/main/info_finder

I wrote Dr. Travis:
I was brought to my attention that you discussed Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Osteoarthritis the other day, in my online support group for RA.

I searched for your report and was appalled.

While you did acknowledge that RA is "painful", you failed to mention, that eventually, the inflammation in those joints also leads to OA. That our bodies constantly feel flu-like and like we've been in the ring for 30 rounds, just in trying to perform daily tasks.

As a doctor, you well know that RA is treated with chemo-type meds and affects young and old, alike.

As an autoimmune patient, I feel that this is another blow to the stigma that RA is "just arthritis". That we are being kicked while we are already down. While we try to explain to others how we're feeling, Hollywood doctors, like yourself, completely counteract anything headway we have made.

If we are lucky, we find a doctor who knows their their salt and gets us on the right meds right away. However, most of us wait years for a true diagnosis, are brushed of with "Oh it is probably Fibromyalgia" comments because our bloodwork may not fit a set standard. During that time, more damage is done and we continue to feel horrible.
That is not to look down on, or discount a Fibromyalgia diagnosis; it too, is detrimental and horrific.

Please, as a public figure, we ask you to help us educate the public about this silent disease. A disease that leaves us reeling on this inside, yet look fine on the outside.

*shakes head*

Thank you Rosie. What can I do to help? What can we all do to help educate the public?

It breaks my heart day after day (especially when I am trying so hard to act like nothing is wrong with me) when my dear friends and family say to me "Oh look - you are getting better!" Really? Am I getting better? and compared to what?

My sister that told me to watch the Drs yesterday said afterwards, ..."That was really informative. I understand it all a lot better now." Really............Anyway, thank again Rosie

Rosie, you totally rock!

I'm one of the lucky ones who feels good most of the time. Except today, when I feel like I've been backed over and over by a truck. I had a very nice lady at a store yesterday who, after watching my struggle up the stairs to the restroom, showed me where the non-stairs one was. She probably thought I was *just* fat or something. What she doesn't realize is that I've lost about 60 lbs and that my mobility is light-years better than it was earlier this year. Unfortunately, stairs will never be ok, I think. Just too much damage to my knees.

As far as this numbskull doctor, would you like me to add some doctoral weight to the letter? I've got the credentials to do so.

(Loves pulling the "doc card" when necessary)
Ren

This stuff ticks me off to no end. What an a-hole, I'd love that "doctor" to live one day in my shoes and she'd be singing a different tune!
Sue

I'll sign that!! Thank you roseisrose!!