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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art4life19 08/19/2017

Hi I was recently diagnosed with RA and I have been in a world of pain and having severe mobility problems. I am using a walker now one of the newer walkers called a rollator that has wheels , hand brakes and a nice little seat for you to sit down on where ever you are. I take it every where shopping, to the docotors, and use it around the house well because I have to but I have found some innovative ways to use it to like in the kitchen to sit down and cook, do dishes.I find the seat is just the right height for me to reach the counter sink and stove top and I am 5 ft 4 . Considering i can't stand for too long because of the pain in my legs and the swelling in my feet finding new ways to do things sitting down is a plus. Ordering things online and being able to do some shopping online and have things delivered is a god send. I have other medical problems other than RA so I don't work anymore or drive anymore. My insurance provides transportation to my doctor's appointments for me . I have my 1st appointment with the rheumotologist on the 1st of september. They will start me on my RA treatment and pain management regiment. Right now I am doing my best to cut sugar and lower carbs in my diet because I know that sugar equals inflammation and that just makes RA worse. I am taking some supplements and vitamins to help with pain and inflammation right now and some prescription Motrin for pain until I see a Rheumotologist . Any advice or things that I could do or use to help?

rackerby 08/20/2017

Read up on the latest in treatments (there are some newer ones) on this board and elsewhere. RA is a disease that is very individualistic in response to treatment options and it pays to be informed.

Don't expect instant results (except for prednisone if that is prescribed for you to reduce the worst symptoms initially). Prednisone is a "bridge" steroid drug that has a lot of adverse side effects if used for a long time and does nothing to arrest the progress of the disease. But it does reduce the worst episodes of pain and swelling from RA temporarily while you try to find a combination of drugs that actually help get RA under control.

Virtually all of the DMARD's, conventional as well as the newer biologics, seem to take months to take effect for you to learn if they are working for you. But when they do, these "disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs" actually significantly limit disease progression and symptoms even though they are not a cure. Finding the right drugs for most of us can be a time-consuming, painful process of trial and error for you and your Rheumatologist.

art4life19 08/20/2017

thank you for your comment rackerby.

wes 08/20/2017

The things that I have found most helpful besides the meds are the tools for the kitchen that don't require so much of your hands. I have a can opener that I set on a can and it opens it all by itself. and a jar opener that easily clamps on and has a handle to give you more leverage. I just keep looking for little things to make my life more comfortable waiting for this flair to pass.

Good luck to you.

Wes

art4life19 08/21/2017

Thank you Wes for your comment and I agree with you I look for ways to make life easier and more comfortable. Good advice about the tools for the kitchen. I have an electric can opener that makes opening cans easy but i have the non electric one for storms and in case I lose power. when I have jars that are hard to open I run the cap under hot water it makes the top expand from the heat and open easily. But a jar opener is a good idea. I had to invest in a special toilet seat with rails to go over the toilet so that I can get up off the toilet easily. the one in my home is too low to the ground and it makes my legs hurt and makes me stuck on the toilet which is embarassing and the seat elevator I have goes right over the old seat with hand rails to make getting up easy and it is portable when it is not in use and if i have company that needs to use the regular toilet it is light weight and easy for me to put in the shower for storage until they are gone. I didn't want to attach it to the toilet seat and not be able to get rid of a handicapped looking toilet seat when regular people need to use my bathroom. I am not ashamed to use an assisted toilet seat because i need to but I don't want to make the people that come to my home feel handicapped if they don't need to use it. you know what I mean. Do you use the motorized cart when you go shopping? I think it is helpful and use it when i go to big stores like super walmart.

art4life19 09/08/2017

I went to the doctor and she ordered x rays and more blood work and started me on prednisone. I am taking that and prescription motrin 800 mg for pain right now. I can't start treatment for my arthristis until my doctor knows more she says I have a lot of inflammation and pain and there is alot going on .

WarriorGal 09/08/2017

Hi Art. Welcome. Prednisone is a stop gap measure. I encourage you to educate yourself on biologics so you can have a good discussion with your doctor at your next visit. You want to get treatment that will stop the progression of the disease.

art4life19 09/09/2017

yes thankyou warriorgal my doctor hasn't started my treatment yet but she will the prednisone is just to treat the inflammmation and where i am right now until she has more to go on from my test results and knows what to prescribe but i am doing my part and cutting sugar out of my diet

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