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...
Hello All,
I am new DS and want to start by thanking everone for all of the insight, I've been reading for a few weeks now.
I was diagnosed in April 2011 with OA and RA. I am RF negative, but anti CCP positive.
It started with wrist, elbow, shoulder and knee pain. I had been working on a Condo that we stripped to the bones in January and finally finished redoing in the beginning of March. I had been sore while working on everything, but chalked it up to "I'm not as young as I used to be". Well, the pain didn't go away. I went to see my PCP for another issue and mentioned that I was still taking Naproxen because everything just hurt.
He did bloodwork, gave me a steroid shot and sent me on my way. I got a call regarding my bloodwork about a week later. When I went in, he gave me a predisone dose pack and made an appointment with a Rheumatologist for me.
That is where this fun begins. The Rheumy is the one who diagnosed me. He talked to me, did a knee xray, and told me to come back when I had my first real flare. My PCP told me to take my Naproxen and Tramadol on bad days. The Rheumy said to just continue that.
Since April I have had one 3 week stretch when I didn't need pain meds, but that has been it.
I get through the work day, but come home exhausted. The fatigue is horrible. By Saturday, I am done for. The hand and wrist pain has returned recently. I can't grip things, holding a paperback open to read is a chore.
I finally had enough and made a second appointment. I just got home and could spit nails.
He looked at my hands and wrists, told me that I don't have swelling that he can see, so it can't be that bad. He asked if my neck cracked and grinded, when I told him yes, he said then I must have great hearing, if I can hear that. I told him that the fatigue was bad and that by Saturday, I was on the couch for the whole day. He told me that even God needed a day of rest.
I told him that I do not want to go through everyday taking pain medication to get through the day, he told me that I probably never wanted to have Arthritis either. He told me I looked healthy.
By then I was just done...
I did make an appointment with another Rheumatologist, I can get in the beginning of November.
This one prescribed Sulfasalazine. Has anyone had any experience that they can share in regards to this medication?
Sorry for the length. I am just so frustrated.
Kim
I am new DS and want to start by thanking everone for all of the insight, I've been reading for a few weeks now.
I was diagnosed in April 2011 with OA and RA. I am RF negative, but anti CCP positive.
It started with wrist, elbow, shoulder and knee pain. I had been working on a Condo that we stripped to the bones in January and finally finished redoing in the beginning of March. I had been sore while working on everything, but chalked it up to "I'm not as young as I used to be". Well, the pain didn't go away. I went to see my PCP for another issue and mentioned that I was still taking Naproxen because everything just hurt.
He did bloodwork, gave me a steroid shot and sent me on my way. I got a call regarding my bloodwork about a week later. When I went in, he gave me a predisone dose pack and made an appointment with a Rheumatologist for me.
That is where this fun begins. The Rheumy is the one who diagnosed me. He talked to me, did a knee xray, and told me to come back when I had my first real flare. My PCP told me to take my Naproxen and Tramadol on bad days. The Rheumy said to just continue that.
Since April I have had one 3 week stretch when I didn't need pain meds, but that has been it.
I get through the work day, but come home exhausted. The fatigue is horrible. By Saturday, I am done for. The hand and wrist pain has returned recently. I can't grip things, holding a paperback open to read is a chore.
I finally had enough and made a second appointment. I just got home and could spit nails.
He looked at my hands and wrists, told me that I don't have swelling that he can see, so it can't be that bad. He asked if my neck cracked and grinded, when I told him yes, he said then I must have great hearing, if I can hear that. I told him that the fatigue was bad and that by Saturday, I was on the couch for the whole day. He told me that even God needed a day of rest.
I told him that I do not want to go through everyday taking pain medication to get through the day, he told me that I probably never wanted to have Arthritis either. He told me I looked healthy.
By then I was just done...
I did make an appointment with another Rheumatologist, I can get in the beginning of November.
This one prescribed Sulfasalazine. Has anyone had any experience that they can share in regards to this medication?
Sorry for the length. I am just so frustrated.
Kim
So sorry about your old rheumy, but it's great that you're going to see a new one. I don't have any advice about sulfasalazine.But my father in law takes it and it seems to work well for him. And I totally understand about not wanting to take nsaids or other pain meds every day...that's my goal too...to be pain-killer free.
RA is such a frustrating disease, because it can be present differently in each person. I'm sorry that you are here, but you've come to a great place. There's nowhere else in real life where I can vent, ask questions, etc where people understand like these people do.
Maybe it's S-L-O-W-L-Y making a difference.
IDK, the last 10 days have been crazy. I notice when I get sick (something else for my immune system to focus on), I am not as sore.
Since I've been on SSZ, I haven't had as many colds, but I also started it at the end of the semester and haven't really been around the public a lot until the last three weeks. My flares haven't been as violent, but I don't feel well.
I've already found out that I need to eat more when I take them...yuck.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Kim
I am glad you are starting your meds. I hope they will give you some much needed relief. That Rhemy is not one you need for sure.
Glad you got a new one. I don't know about the sulfasalazine other than I have heard others say it works well for them and I have a friend on it. My neck grinds and creaks alot and I can hear it quite well.
Also- early and aggressive treatment is generally the case for RA to prevent joint damage, which often happens in the first year or two. How did you find your secondDr? I looked at a lot of "best Dr" lists- I am waiting to get in to a new Dr. also. I hope the Sulfasalazine helps and your new Dr. is much better!!
Colleen