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...

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nomorera 09/20/2012

I had 3 good days last week and a hard day on Sunday, now 4 really good days this week with NO NSAIDS!!!
I am very excited to see this improvement. I actually went to the gym and worked out for 45 minutes with weights and the eliptical last night.

I have embarked on a year long quest to challenge "the beast" - as I call RA. I am not on any DMARDS or biologics or prednisone however I have tried 2 out of three with bad results.

I have taken dietary changes, supplements, prayer/guided meditaiton for pain, and a couple of off-label prescriptions that are supposed to help rebalance the immune system and heal the gut. I use swimming and light exercise to help with flexibility. I have done more research on this than on anything in my life. I have spent more money on supplements that haven't worked and more money on supplements that do. I don't consider any of it a waste of time or money.

I am stiff in the mornings but the inflammation is down and so is the pain. I can sleep through the night without having to take an NSAID just to get to sleep. I can walk down stairs normally most of the time and I can make both hands into fists.

I have lost some hand strength and dexterity but I am working with hand grips to try to increase my hand strength again.

I am not saying I won't seek conventional treatment if necessary, there have been days I have woken up in so much pain I would cry getting ready for work and was within minutes of calling the Rheumy and saying "uncle". I believe that my body can help heal itself with the right support. I create the conditions for healing to happen and let God and my body do the work.

Next week may be a different story but for today I am so grateful to have some relief. I just wanted to share with you all because you are all so supportive and we share the bad days together, we should share the good.

Thanks and God Bless.

bcatz 09/20/2012

That's great! I hope your good days continue to outnumber your bad ones.

How long does your morning stiffness last? I've managed to completely get rid of mine, but I do it with taking either advil or mobic(rx, but $4 generic) when I go to bed. I've also found that the one finger that bugs me the most doesn't have issues when I tape it to the finger next to it at night. (so it's straight)

I expect to revisit enbrel, which I found made me a 100% *normal* person. I'm sure I could exercise every day and do a marathon on it, but I'm waiting for my RA to tell me when. LOL

Best wishes!

deleted_user 09/21/2012

That's great for you. It's always nice to hear a story about someone who's doing well :)

nomorera 09/21/2012

Well the barometric pressure dropped and I had a hard morning. Took an NSAID this am. that's okay. Good days and bad. I am better now but still swelling in my hands. My right wrist hurt so bad I had trouble turning the key in the ignition. Talking to my boyfriend about installing a remote starter in my car.
Have a good day!

nomorera 09/21/2012

...oh bcats, my mornings stiffness can last all day. Sometimes worse in the afternoon than the morning. It just depends. Looking forward to getting where you are. Contemplating Arava if I don't see better results soon. It looks like it might be a good match for me.

ILoveHuskies 09/21/2012

I was just like you when I first go diagnosed. I thought a healthy diet would calm my joints down. Every year I had to get a cortisone shot in my knees because they would blow up with fluid in my kne and my calf. Then my hand and wrist got worse. My doctor kept telling my I can make you feel better. All the other medicines bothered my stomach. Then I tried Enbrel. It was like my RA went into remission. I only have a small ache now and then but no flares. Sometimes I go off the Enbrel to see if I can control it with diet, but it does not work well. I don't like to take medicine either but you can get sick just eating contaminated food.

bcatz 09/21/2012

nomorera,
This is my gut guess, but I think the enbrel drew me to remission and at 9months and counting, it's effects will eventually wane. Perhaps enbrel reset my RA?

It is amazing that I couldn't even tell I had RA while I was on enbrel.

Keep going strong!

nomorera 09/22/2012

Thanks Bcatz. I am encouraged by what your posts. I appreciate your input and will consider it more as I continue on. I'm doing well again today but there is some significant swelling in my hands which bothers me. Today even my boyfriend commented on it which he isn't prone to do.

deleted_user 09/22/2012

I am encouraged by your will to fight the beast! And I believe that research is never wasted, you may find something no one has before linked together! I currently am not taking any DMARDS, but my pain and my bloodwork are going up, so I will go back on MTX when it gets bad enough. I lived through 6 years of hell while they tried to decide what was wrong with me, so I am not brave enough to try natural remedies.
I thought I would throw in a word of warning though, don't wait too long if your pain and/or swelling are to bad. It could lead to permanant damage, and we all want to put that off as long as possible!
i admire your faith in God too. I feel, for me, that I can be a witness with my disease, since God doesn't seem to be healing me, at this time.I don't say this to negate your faith in being healed, God does do that! Good luck, hugs and prayers!

deleted_user 09/22/2012

Hello nomorera, I aplpaude you and your drive to find a better way to fight this dreaded beast. I wish you all the luck in the world, you have so much enthusiam, I hope it spreads to all. may God be with you.

nomorera 09/23/2012

There is a great book called Full Catastrophe Living (one of many I have read) on guided meditation for pain relief. I also ordered the CD by the same author. I also do some guided meditation on youtube. I don't think I would have this outlook if it hadn't been for a close friend of mine that was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer and given a 30% chance of making it 5 years out of remission. She is over 5 years cancer free and she did it by following all her doctors recommendations then incorporating alternative therapies and diet changes to her lifestyle. Including prayer, meditation, reiki, essential oils, supplements, chakra clearings, accupuncture and more. Of the 13 women in her support group she is the only one still alive. SHE gives me hope that there is another way. That being said, I am contemplating a trip back to the rheumy in a few weeks to have my bloodwork checked and see where my inflammatory markers are. I may make another decision at that time. I have given this a year and I do not want permanent damage. I am not going to be neglectful or naive or stubborn and not get the help I need ot control this disease, I just believe that maybe my body and I can work together in harmony to help tame the beast. My best to you all!

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