treatment question for R.A.
 

This is a question for anyone with R. A. (rheumatoid arthritis) wondering what treatments folks are doing and the success rate. Also, side effects???
You hear the ads on t.v. and the disease almost sounds better than the side effects of the treatment meds, Also interested in how long you've had R.A.--how long too, did you have it before diagnosis?

Get off all products that contain wheat. Do everything gluten free. Even though your not a celeriac and allergic to wheat, it inflames joints and makes the RA much worse then it has to be. Try it for just 10 days and you will see such an improvement you will stick with it forever.

Sandy's had R.A. for many, many years. She has been seeing a specialist regularly since the arthritis started causing her problems (this dates back into the 1970s). He tried various meds, etc., one after the other, with only marginal success. "Well, let's try this one now" became the norm, trying to find something that would give her some relief. Then along came Remicade.......it's been a lifesaver for her. See http://www.remicade.com/ . I believe it was originally developed as a treatment for Crohn's Disease and colitis but a side benefit was found to be how it helped R.A. sufferers. Sandy has the I.V. treatments every 8 weeks in an outpatient treatment center (in OH). She's been receiving the treatments for around 7 years and has suffered no ill effects. It works for her!! Her joint swelling/enlargement is practically gone and she's able to live a virtually pain-free existence now.

On the down side...................the cost is horrific - the charge is something in the neighborhood of $3,200 to $3,400....per treatment! :shocked: Boy Howdy! After negotiated insurance rates come into play, it still costs us $300-400 each time after deductibles are met. Not inexpensive. Small price to pay, though, for her much improved quality of life.

Bill :)

I too am on Remicade for RA. I have to receive IV treatment every 6 weeks, but have not had any problems on it. Yes the possible side effects are pretty scary, but the inability to move is worse and that's where I was 2 years ago. I could not even hold a coffee mug without both hands and forget getting up out of a chair if I didn't have something to push up on or pull up on as I did so. I also take Methatrexate weekly and Folic Acid daily. I wish I didn't need all these meds but it is nice to be pain free other than a little stiffness first thing in the morning.
Suzanne

Still am going through all the "ruling out" tests...as rheumatologist says R.A. is inconclusive! The other stuff sounds yukky too..so time will tell I guess. Thank you for your responses....I may be back with more ???????'s

AS for the final diagnosis....did you have to go through a whole bunch of tests to rule out other stuff first for the R.A. diagnosis??

I had x-rays of pretty much every joint in my body that hurt. Maily hips, knees, ankles, hands and wrists. Also lots of blood work where they ruled out things like Lupus and Lymes Disease. I'm sure there were other things that they ruled out. There is a blood test they did to find out, I think it was, my "T" score which is a blood factor found in RA people. My score was very high thus they ruled "in" RA. I was first diagnosed when I was 36. At that time I was put on Plaquinal (sp?) and large doses of Advil. After several years of this it went into remission and I was off of all meds for about 15 years. Then about 4 years ago I had a really bad flare up and was re-diagnosed and put on my current meds. For the most part I am fine, but flare ups come and go and then I go in a "Blast Pack" of prednisone for 5 days and things calm down. I've only had to do that twice in the last 4 years. Those flare ups seem to be stress triggered. And my life to rather stressful at the moment. I hope once I get to TV next month things will de-stress.

Suzanne

Diet plays a part as well in treating RA
 

You may want to look into anti-inflammatory diets. Some foods are extremely Pro-inflammatory. I know it sounds so simple to be of any value but there is so much more to it that cant be explained in this small post.

I do however know of some people who have experienced substantial relief from RA pain/symptoms by changing there diets.

Google the subject, read up on it and decide for yourself. I may make a world of difference for some.

Dave

This was also going to be on my list of questions!! Though "one" hears so many things that seemed to work for one..but not for others. So the saga continues.....

Rheumatoid Arthritis
 

I've seen discussions on RA and questions about docs, but haven't seen anyone mention a good place to have Remicade infusions near The Villages (or within an hour drive). I've had a house in The Villages since 2009, but plan to spend the winter the end of 2012. I will need to have an infusion while there. If anyone knows of a good doc or facility, please let me know. Appreciate it! I started searching by checking with a large practice in Tampa recommended by someone on TOTV but they do not do their infusions in-house. Not used to that practice, as my doc has a room set up here in Cincinnati/NKY area and does them right in the office.
Thanks!!!
Kathy

Hi Kathy,
This is not an easy place to get infusions. I too was on Remicade before coming to TV last fall and my doctor up north did them in her office. It took me 4 months and lots of phone work to find a Rhuemetologist down here. By then I was in pretty tough shape, but my Internist put me on Plaqinil as a stop gap measure. Finally I was able to get into see Dr Stark in Taveres. About a 30 to 45 minute drive from TV. I really liked him and he does do infusions in his office. I was lucky though that the Plaqunil ended up working for me so I didn't go back to the infusions. Just take two little pills a day. I am very happy about this as it is much less expensive and has many less possible side affects. Most importantly for me it doesn't involve needles!

Good luck. There are not as many Rheumatologists in the area as you might think there would be.

Suzanne

Like the original poster I too was diagnosed with R.A. last year Couldn't get in with the only rhuematologist in T.V. So went to one in Ocala---my opinion of him is less than stellar! So in February I got in with another (a different practice in Ocala) and she seems pretty good so far. She had me have lab tests to compare to the original ones plus did x-rays. My R.A. is an aggressive form but is stable right now. I'm on methotrexate and she wants to put me on plaquenal in the near future. I also have fibromyalgia so am on a couple of meds for that as well. From what I'm gathering in my reading---we're ALL individual in how this disease affects us. I know water exercise is excellant as it's easy on our joints etc. It would be great if there was a support group for this as I'm sure there are alot of folks who suffer with R.A. and other auto-immune conditions that are it it's "family".

Lupus here with a mix of RA, Sjogrens aned IBS. Someone told me that there is a Scleraderma support group here. Would love to have a Rheum here in TV..I, too, go to Ocala....

Yes, if you concentrate on just changing one or two items in your diet, it may work for one person but not another. However, if you follow a comprehensive anti-inflammatory diet, I believe it will work for nearly everyone. But you need to be dedicated to it.

Try this book: "The Inflammation Free Diet Plan" by Monica Reinagel

It may also help to pay attention to your pH balance. You can search this on the internet or find a book on this subject too.