[Sandy]

I agree, thats why I am careful re work, I am fine in our B&B as  I keep going all day just about (hummm, not going now am I?) just sitting for a few min then up and at um again......I t hought about a tens machine? 

[Plantoid]

If you have a tens amchine already try it  but ifyou dont try borrowing one first.

I have a rather expensive top of the range one from some 16 yrs ago with adjustable pulse . wave form and intensities.  I find I get no relief whatsoever with it when I've tried to ease the pains for the arthritis.

I suspect it is because it is not just a muscular pain but part of the whole body sensitivities.
 What has sometimes happened is that I actually burn myself with the use of the tens unit ,  not blistering  but a rather uncomfortable sunburn type thingbecause i turned the machine up too high or set the frequency wrong for that days treatment.

[nickif]

A friend of mine has inflammatory arthritis, she was diagnosed with it at age 32. She takes sulfasalazine, methotrexate and folic acid. She still has flare ups and it is horrible to stand by and watch knowing there is nothing I can do to help.

[moody_mare]

A friend of mine has inflammatory arthritis, she was diagnosed with it at age 32. She takes sulfasalazine, methotrexate and folic acid. She still has flare ups and it is horrible to stand by and watch knowing there is nothing I can do to help.

Oh no, your poor friend! and not what I want to hear :-(  I am about to go onto Methotrexate. I started the anti inflamatory diet today too, see how that goes.

Ironically I had just qualified as a personal trainer before all this started.  I also work part time in Retail, they are understanding, but I am not sure for how much longer.

Walked the dogs, ridden the horse, mucked out and milked the goats this morning. It is a good day :-)

It is so good to know there are others out there with this horrible illness, I had been feeling so alone.

[Sandy]

I think its one of those things people do not see so they do not understand it......we all just live with it, what don't kill you will not hurt you!! I know it does but pain killers are getting better!!

[dyedinthewool]

Hi All,

I have Rheumatoid arthritis  - reckon I got it when I had a load of injections so we could go to Kenya/Seychelles for our 25th that was back in 1989 - within 3 weeks of coming back I couldn't move. I reckon it was all to do with my immune system attacking my body while dealing with the Yellow fever jabs etc.

I had to give up my horses/gardening etc - did get very low and kept thinking 'why me'...!!

I tried all the diets -no dairy -no red meat - no citrus/tomatoes/strawberries, unfortunately none worked and I went back to eating everything in moderation; a good organic healthy diet - a bit of everything.

I tried gold injections, this only worked for a short time - had fluid on my knees drained three times a year with steroids injected (only allowed to have 3 times in a year - then had to wait until the next year before I could have them done again). tried masses of medicines including pulses, natural healing and alternative medicine. nothing seemed to work.

I had my toes broken and put back together with S/S pins as the bones had dropped and i couldn't walk properly (walked on my heels) which threw my knees and hips out ...

Then Eight years ago I went onto methotrexate injections (I do it myself subcutaneously, once a week)  OUTCOME...

I can now garden, I can walk (not a marathon) see to my sheep (though I don't turn them over - pick up their feet like a horse), infact I am more mobile now than I have been for years.

I do have to watch I don't over do it,  (but I do.... as we all do) never know I have until the next day when everything hurts...

As Sandy says if you don't have RA then you can't understand what pain and frustration the person is going through - but my philosophy is little and often - keep mobile - use it or lose it (not easy when you are in pain) and take your tablets.

Mine are Methotrexate injection ( I have reduced it down over the years from 25mg to 12.5mg and I'm still okay)
Co-dydramol pain killers,
Folic Acid (Helps the methotrexate work)
Naproxin Anti inflammatory


You are not on your own by the sound of it there's a lot of us on the TAS that have RA if you get low we are all here for you.

[Sandy]

dyedinthewool, you have been through it, I find the worse thing is people not understanding,I shall look into the injections.......I know herbal stuff worked but it made me eat like a horse and want to do nothing but listen to Bob Marley 

[dyedinthewool]

Hi Sandy,

The worse thing is not being able to open cartons/bottles etc the ones where you have to squeeze and push down at the same time... and having to wait someone to do it for you...

The other thing is being told not to do something you really enjoy doing,  by someone who thinks they are helping by doing it for you but infact it makes you very frustrated and sometimes angry as you feel useless.

Moving a bale was one of those things, OH said 'leave it' I'll do it in a minute - being 'bluddy minded'  I carried on and got it done by rolling it across the yard instead of picking it up and carrying, but it worked and I DID the job. (hurt like hell the next day, not that I told OH...) Now he lets me do what I want and I only ask for help if it's something I really need help with...

You can have Methotrexate tablets which I started on but after a few years I had to move onto the jabs as the tablets where upseting my stomach and I needed to take more, my consultant at the Royal Bath Hospital for Rhumatics said the jabs would work better.  Takes a bit to do them doesn't really hurt it's the thought of jabbing yourself thats the offputting thought, I do it once a week - I feel now for the sheep when I have to inject them.

[Sandy]

Its best to do what you can, I remember comming o ut of Hospital after my hip op and getting so mad that I had to ask for things etc......I was not suppose to bend and guranteed I would drop every big thing I needed...I hate help too...it makes me frustrated and people get funny as well. I am not that bad I suppose..but like you say, its horrid not being able to do things and I get stuck, I bet you do too?  THere are a lot of gadgets that can help, I have never looked on the internet but they would certainly make life easier...its tipping up the mixing bowl or large pans I have a problem with. I also do some care work, not at the mo as we have pups, but I dare not do it all the time as some times I cannot get up myself when putting peoples shoes on....Wellies can be hard to put on,,,,you have to get your balance and aim quick into them!!!!!  At least we are stubborn and thats good, not letting it get to us!!!! 

[moody_mare]

dyedinthewool - wow, sounds like you have had a rough time.
it is things like the push down bottles and small fiddly locks on windows and doors that get me. I get so frustrared and that show as a fowl temper, poor OH.

I am seeing my consultant at cirencester on thur to discuss options. I feel so blessed to have such a good consultant. also good goats, dogs and horse. All have been fab while I fumble around and blubber!

[moody_mare]

you guys are inspiring. I am usually stubborn and pig headed, really been knocked for 6 by this. since reading your posts I have sucked it up and trying to be as normal as possible.

[jaykay]

Lakeland have quite good gadgets for opening jars etc.

My hands are quite strong (milking helps, I have a little hand pump), but like you Sandy, I struggle with big pans, my wrists aren't great.

Have been knitting and spinning, plus clearing stones from the goose pond in the beck. Hands, wrists and shoulders objecting quite a bit but they can shut up, painkillers and liquid anaesthetic needed I think 

[Sandy]

  Like that idea, drank everything here but the co op is a hop skip and jump away if only I could hop skip and jump!!!!! 

[doganjo]

Sometimes you just have to get on with life don't you?  I have osteoporosis, and arthritis, and perennial rhinitis so I do rattle a bit at times, and brufen and paracetamol helps the other medication, but I don't drink except the odd glass of wine socially.  It's hard getting up in the morning and difficult holding onto leads and keeping balance, so I get a bit crabby and maybe a tad authoritarian at times (grumpy old git as they say  )  But hey ho, things need doing so they get done, without complaint normally, so please excuse my feeling sorry for myself just this once, promise I won't do it again. .

[Simon O]

Methotrexate can be very effective and a lot of arthritis patients do benefit. But is is a longterm immunosuppressive treatment not a cure. You'll need to keep having regular blood tests as you will no doubt know.
Sometimes these conditions do 'burn themselves out' so don't give up hope of that.
There seem to be lots of people here with arthritic problems, I wonder if this is because having the condition makes you want to embrace a healthy lifestyle.
For sure one way or another you will get an improvement.
Simon