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...
NOTE: I share this good news not to create jealousy but to give ya'll HOPE!!
Many here know I was in remission on Orencia for 6 years then "had to" (?) go off because for infections, starting with the flu in Feb. and winding jup with C. Diff).
Was off for 3-4 months and went into a FULL body - head to toe - EXTREME flare up. Didn't know if Orencia woudl ever work again.
In MAY, I started back on Orencia (via montly infusion) and also started on 15 mg/day.
TODAY...after 5 months back or Orencia i can tell you it is working up to full capcity once again and I am OFF PREDISONE!!
My only pains are all in my left arms - upper and lower. Feels muscular and I beleive it is all coming from my left elbow which feels swollen. So maybe an injetion there, or maybe another elbow sugery - ha done done on the right elbow.
ALSO, I am starting hand therapy tomorrow in the hopes of restoring some STRENGTH to my hands. The loss of function and loss of strength in my hands seems to be getting worse. I drop a lot of things and I have to use TWO HANDS to do more and more things - like holding a glass of water and turning faucets on and off - even turning my electric toothbrush on and off. I also did have a consult with a hand surgeon (again), but living alone makes that option really difficult to consider. I need arthoplasty (joint replacement) on ALL 8 MP joints and that means being in a split with rubberbands for 6-8 weeks (for EACH hand)! Having had mutliple hand surgeries in my lifetime, I KNOW how hard it is to ANYTHING with just one hand - even getting dressed to or going to the tilet!!
So...I am hoping for a simpler solution that won't so as much but won't "cost" me a smuch in terms or helplessness. If I had the surgery, I would need to hire and pay out-of-pocket for a home health aid.
But I did digress from the good news that I am OFF PREDNISONE!!
BUT... I also MUST get going wiht my catarct surgery which had to go on hold because of the Prednsione My vsision is getting noticably worse.
WISHING EVERYONE SUCCESS WITH TREATMENT!!! It IS possible! There IS hope!! Ya' just gotta get up and keep trying and trying and trying... But PLEASE adhere ot my mantra: Do not just seek to kill the pain! Get the eon a biologic that can stop the progression and the permanent defomrities I have! Being a cripple is not fun!!
Too often all we read about here are the complaints and the "drug failures."
I've lost weight in the past, always put it back on with prednisone. So that discourages me. As well, prednisone stimulates the appetite for me. So that is something I am going to have to bite the bullet on, if this med change is going to work.