Frances, that just sucks! Pardon my language.

I found compression combined with ice seems to help my ankles the most. I start wrapping an ace bandage from the toes working my way up. Then wrap a gel Ice pack in it. Holding it in place.

My friend, who is in sports medicine and manages an Orthopaedic office, recommended this when I sprained my ankle in fall of 2010. It helps reduce swelling, which in and of itself contributes to pain.

I also have subjected my ankles to ice water baths when it got unbearable.

Thanks, I'll try wrapping an ice pack with the ace bandage. Anything that keeps the ice to the ankle should help some.

I also use compression and ice. I have had less ankle problems since some new ankle braces were made. They articulate up and down but not at all side to side and don't allow my ankles to give way. I suspect that stopping all motion other than restricted up and down has kept my ankles from grinding, setting at odd angles due to swelling and makes my alignment stay correct. These have provided more releif than any others I have used. After one week I was able to notice less pain and swelling and after two weeks especially the ankle/heel pain was mostly gone. Good luck getting on your new meds. My GP does the best job of keeping abreast of all the things the others are doing. I am a believer that the GP, Family Dr is the key to getting coordinated care. He has required all other offices provide him with copies of all tests and visit notes. A good one (GP) makes all the difference for me anyway otherwise there would be no coordination.

RAguy61,
You
Make a good point! I read a report somewhere that the GP is suppose to be the coordinator of our care.
Unfortunately, for many of us, we don't utilize them as such. In fact, I know,personally, I avoid seeing any more doctors than I absolutely need to! For financial and other reasons.

Last year I added a podiatrist to my providers. He has been a huge help. I had injections in both ankles and eventually, after an MRI, I had arthroscopic ankle surgery and removing a bone spur in my big toe on the right side. The left ankle responded after 2 injections. It was well worth it.

Hi Skmatz, So glad you got some ankle relief with injections. What were the injections? An x-ray of my ankle shows severe "valgus deformity" and bone on bone connections caused by RA. I've been wrapping it, which helps a little, but haven't gotten so far as to see an ankle specialist about possible treatments. Did your surgery help? I'm about to have a hip replacement, so that's taken priority at the moment.

Frances, So sorry you are going through this. You are a tough lady to have been enduring this pain for this long.

Ankle-I would say compression, ice and elevation.
Are you still taking prednisone?

What RA meds are you thinking about trying next?

This humid NC weather does not help either. Hear we are in for a tropical depression for this weekend. That should be "joint-aching". I love when we have the drier weather. I have the ac turned down real low to keep the humidity out of the house.

Hopefully, once you hear from Duke tests, you will be on the path to an RA medication that can help you and you will not have to endure the allergic reaction of any new medications.

Take care and stay cool.

Wendy, still on 20 mgs prednisone daily...you would think that would help with the ankle and foot swelling but it is not. I am using compression and have been sitting with my legs and feet elevated.

Cannot wait to get off of prednixone. Between what it has done to my blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight, I am sick of it. You would not believe the amount of insulin I am having to inject to counteract against the prednisone. Everytime I see my endo, she changes my insulin formula to adjust for the prednisone. She knows the prednisone is the culprit.

I'm not that tough, Wendy. It is prayer and the Good Lord that keeps me going.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. You're all great.

..Frances

Frances, below I sent you links to some interesting reading about possible theories/treatments for RA. A lot of us may be past this point, but it is an interesting theory and one that was never discussed with me by my rheumatologist.

I am currently trying an antibiotic therapy (spiro-a natural antibiotic) along with supplements to rebuild my immune system. I am down to 5mg prednisone. I still have aches especially in my neck and shoulders. The spiro or supplements has really helped my fatigue/depression. I feel like and want to do things again. My mind can think.

So I have been on this anti-biotic for three weeks, the supplements (many for inflammation) for only 2 weeks. i am going to give it about two months to see how I do. At that time I go see my rheumatologist again. The antibiotic and supplements were given to me by an integrative doctor in W-S.

I have wasted so many months on different RA biologics trying to get them to work or overcome their side effects. I have decided that two months is not too much time to give to this idea. If this does not work, I do not know what my next step is. The side effects of RA biologics are killing me and giving me a crappy life.


http://www.tldp.com/issue/178/Rheumatoid%20Arthritis%20Drug.html

http://rainforest-database.com/plants/myco.htm

http://www.roadback.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/studies.display/display_id/107.html

I blame prednisone for everything. I thought this summer I would have my weight down and feeling good. That is not the case. Went to mall to buy fat pants, so frustrating.

But, lol, all those teen girls at the mall looked fatter than me and their jeans were so much tighter. How do they get into those things?

Wendy

I discovered that ALL my ankle and foot pain is caused by Neuropathy! Which was caused by methotrexate!!!!! So, NO more MTX! I will be on neurtontin for some time to get past and heal from the neuropathy! I will be on my Humira however. DC'ed the prednisone as well.

Frances, I would be interested to see what you think of the above listed websites I listed before. Just going to take a chance. If does not go well, I will go back to biologics I guess. I would even hope all the supplements I am now taking (especially the ones for inflammation) kick in enough so I could take a lesser dmard.

Now I'm not really sure what that is. It would be great if all those supplements would help fight off RA pain some. I have such a hard time with side effects.

I hope you are doing well and the Raleigh area humidity isn't causing you much more pain. The summer humidity is always the worse for me. I want even go to the beach until fall now. Just stay inside in the air conditioning. I don't remember it being this humid when I was a kid here!

Take Care. Hope you get on a med soon that can help you.

Wendy,

After reading those links, I'm not sure about the antibiotic therapy. Here is an interesting discussion from RA Warrior (be sure to click on the comments and read what her readers have to say). The link is:
http://rawarrior.com/antibiotics-as-rheumatoid-arthritis-therapy/

Kelly is one of our leading advocates for rheumatoid research, etc., in the country today. She is well informed and well-connected. She seems skeptical, but she has comments from several that say they have had good results from the antibiotics.

It is not something I could try since I am allergic to so many different antibiotics. I'm at the point where the drug side effects are doing more damage to me than the RA. However, if I did not have these dang reactions I probably would try it. I don't consider it any worse than trying a biologic only to discover either you are allergic to it or it is not working at all.

Yes, I do want to get on something for the RA (hoping I can try Orencia infusions). By the way, I've cut my prednisone down to 15 mgs daily. Had to, the slightest little bump tears my skin because the prednisone has thinned it so. I'm still waiting to hear from my test results. I guess I'll be calling Duke again tomorrow. Maybe if I annoy them enough, they will try some follow-up to see what happened to the results of the tests they ordered. Lol

Good luck my friend on your antibiotics and supplements. You can only try and I pray for good results for you.

Hugs, Frances

Frances, Thank you for the articles. I had read them before. The integrative doctor I am seeing now has me trying a type of anti-bacterial medication called Spiro. it is not known as anti-biotic. More of a natural antibiotic. He has heard of patients that had lupus that improved with this. I also am taking a huge amount of supplements/natural anti-inflammatories. That he says will help with inflammation as well as strengthen my immune system.

I know this sounds like a lot of quackery. But I had to give it a try since the side effects of all these RA meds are really destroying my body. I am always so tired, so sick on them and don't get me started on my sinus problems with them.

I told myself I would give it two months to see how I feel. After that time, if I don't see any improvement or if I'm a lot worse,I will go to another biologic, probably Orencia.

But I think eventhough I may have to go to biologic, I will try to stay on these anti-inflammatories if they seem to be helping. Taking turmeric, boswellia and bromelain. Also taking probiotic for stomach since taking natural anti-biotic. I do feel better physically,emotionally and mentally but still have some RA pain especially in shoulders/neck now that I am taking care of with prednisone (mostly just 5mg unless traveling,etc.). Also using anti-inflammatories (they haven't really kicked in yet), ibuprofen sometimes, heating pads (plural) and tens unit.

Well, have to try it. If it doesn't work, then I will know that I need to proceed with the RA meds.

What do you think of the new RA pill? I hear only four people died trying it out. One of those persons was on Humira. Sometimes feel like guinea pig. How about you?

Good luck. Staying inside out of this humid NC weather.