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...
Sorry for the repetitive question. I'm sure this has been asked before, but could not find a posting that was the same.
I was diagnosed with RA about 1 1/2 months ago. The diagnoses was based on swelling in hand and abnormal CCP and RF... Sed rate was normal. My pains have been tolerable. Some days I do not even need NSAIDS, anyways when I do take them they don't help all that much. My Rheum said "begenning stages RA", however I can remember having strange joint pain that I could not explain as early as 5 years ago. So I'm thinking this has been progressing for a long time. Feet have been hurting off and on for 3 1/2 years, hands about the same. The severity has gotten somewhat worse, but the biggest change in the last several months is the fatigue.
It's been such a slow progresion for me, and I have started on MTX. Take second dose tomorrow.
I know this is a hard question to answer, but based on your own experiences, is it possible I can maintain and not get worse? I hear most cases progess and get worse, and mine has gotten slightly worse, but are some of you at mild RA and have been for a long time?
I just want to prepare myself, and I guess I should regardless. Honestly I obsess over it all of the time, wondering if tomorrow will be the day I wake up and can't move.
Thank you. You have all been supportive already, and I appreciate this site so much!
I was diagnosed with RA about 1 1/2 months ago. The diagnoses was based on swelling in hand and abnormal CCP and RF... Sed rate was normal. My pains have been tolerable. Some days I do not even need NSAIDS, anyways when I do take them they don't help all that much. My Rheum said "begenning stages RA", however I can remember having strange joint pain that I could not explain as early as 5 years ago. So I'm thinking this has been progressing for a long time. Feet have been hurting off and on for 3 1/2 years, hands about the same. The severity has gotten somewhat worse, but the biggest change in the last several months is the fatigue.
It's been such a slow progresion for me, and I have started on MTX. Take second dose tomorrow.
I know this is a hard question to answer, but based on your own experiences, is it possible I can maintain and not get worse? I hear most cases progess and get worse, and mine has gotten slightly worse, but are some of you at mild RA and have been for a long time?
I just want to prepare myself, and I guess I should regardless. Honestly I obsess over it all of the time, wondering if tomorrow will be the day I wake up and can't move.
Thank you. You have all been supportive already, and I appreciate this site so much!
thank you RASAlly ...we weer posting at the same time ..love youe post ..if i could sift teh words from my mind to my fingers i would love to be able to type the things you say ...thank you .
Drug options have exploded over the last 10 - 15 years, and there are new treatments in the research stage, too. Your disease seems to be slow moving at this time. With a little luck and some good medical care, hope things will stay this way is not misplaced. As you said, no one knows. Someone gets to be the lucky one, though. May as well be one of us!
Just wanted to add a thought. I think you're unlikely to find many people on this board who have long term mild RA, but that's not because they don't exist. It's just because people who are here are those who need the support, and are more likely to be on the moderate to severe end of the disease. Those with mild issues are just not as likely to need this kind of support. But they are out there in the real world!
Caren
I hope that I will not need you all very often, and my body will stay somewhat calm. I'm glad you are here if I do! I appreciate all of your input and advice.
Here's to pain free days if not now, in the near future!
I presented in 2007 with the most severe case of RA my RD has ever seen. He knocked it back with MTX & Mega doses of prednisone daily. Maybe it was because it was recognzed so early and treated with aggressive drugs but I weaned off the prednisone in 1 1/2 years and was than taken off MTX for elevated liver enzymes which returned to normal. While off the MTX my RA remained mild and I have been off all meds since Dec. 2010. I may be a ticking time bomb and I still see my RD every 3 months but I enjoy this "remission" and hope I never have a major flare again.
Good luck finding your sweet spot!
I think on the days where I am sooo exhausted, my mind just goes to a place of "oh no, what am I going to wake up to tomorrow?" I'm really trying hard to get over it and not let the stress get to me.
Silentnoon, from what you describe, I would say I'm in a similar spot. Exhausted most days, and in pain somewhere, but not to the point where I cannot do things, just have to take it a little easier. I am soooo greatful for the health I have!! Just learning my limitations, without limiting myself too much!!
And I am already starting to appreciate more things too, the little things, like being able to run after my children, if only for a short while:)