rheumatoid arthritis

[highonlife]

The doc's thinks that I might have it. The bloodwork and x-rays showed nothing but I have pain and swollen joints.. so do any of you have some tips regarding this? Experience?

[Frostfire]

Wow, I know exactly how you feel. I had joint problems when I was running Track & Field at my University and the doctors told me I had RA, even though the x-rays and blood work didn't show anything (well, that's not totally true, my "Anti-nuclear antibodies" were WAY off the charts which is bad and "indicate" RA).

My dad has RA really, really bad. He's already had to replace one hip and his hands are useless knarled knobs of swollen disjointed-ness . It's really hard to watch him age because RA just destroys all your joints (and your internal organs as you get old). It cuts 5 - 10 years off your life expectancy.

So, I'm wondering, if your tests were negative, why the diagnosis? Does it run in your family? How old are you?

Hope you don't have it, it can get really nasty . Keep us updated!

[highonlife]

Well they have not given me the diagnosis yet. They just say: we think it might be this even though your bloodwork and x-ray is fine.because you have this pain and so on.. my uncle have severe RA but othervise none is affected...how do/did you train when it is agressive,Crystal?

[Frostfire]

Don't trust the diagnosis until it is for sure! Those doctors, I don't trust them at all anymore after seeing specialist after specialist. They just shrug their shoulders and send you out the door with a perscription.

To get through those tough times, I hate to say it, but ibuprofin in massive amounts (*disclaimer, take only with perscription, which I had). That stuff is harsh on your stomach so needs to be taken with care. I'm tellin' you, when you go through your first 800 tablet bottle, you know somethin's not right. When I was at my worst I was taking a total of 1600 mg a day (800 in the morning, 800 at night).

Actually, since I stopped running so much and started martial arts and yoga, I haven't had much joint pain. Running is really jarring on your joints and if they are already inflamed, then it just makes it worse.

It's funny, but I stopped squatting years and years ago in high school because of knee pain, but now that I've started again, it has strengthened my knees and made them feel so much better. I think the weight training has really helped. Up to the age of 25 it can increase your bone density .

[highonlife]

Yeah yoga is good, been doing that for 8 years! I've just started ju jitsu but can't do all of the things because my hands and feet hurt like shit! I have noticed that I can't walk out of a spes. office without a mmm... yeah.. here you go,eat these pills...
But I am not able to do so before a diagnosis, hate the thought of polluting my bod if not needed... even when hurts like... any tips on managing it in the ju jitsu world without drugs? And do you run at all now? I would like to run a little bit, say like 20-30 mins a couple maybe 3 days/week? what do you think? I love running!!

[Frostfire]

I run about once a week right now, but might up it to twice a week in the summer. Any more than that and I hurt terribly. I also try to stick to trails or grassy areas. Pavement is murder on my joints. Also, keep your running shoes new so they absorb more of the shock and try to run "lightly", so your not stomping down all the time (if that makes sense ).

As for the Ju Jitsu, that's a tough one. When we do techniques in my martial art, my hands are always clumsy & slow, but we don't do tons of that stuff. I use the time when we do things that require nimble fingers to try to work on my finger-range of motion. In my experience, keeping range of motion in joints good and keeping pain/inflamation down is the key to living with RA. For the pain, I'd use Tiger Balm before class and maybe ice a little afterwards. The best thing in the world (according to my dad) is to get those bags or rice or wheat that you can microwave and just use them as a mit around your hands while you are watching TV or laying down to sleep. Really helps with the pain.

hate the thought of polluting my bod if not needed...

Wow, totally know what you mean. In my more naive days I was on Vioxx for a bit, and that stuff has now been pulled from the market . Its not even supposed to help RA, the stupid doctors just said "lets give this a try". I also was on a few "new" RA drugs that I don't recall the names of right now that scare me when I think about it now. New drugs have not been tested with time so who knows the long term effects of some of that garbage!

[michaelhobson]

I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. It is a type of rheumatoid that mostly affects the lower back and joints. I have been pretty fortunate over the last two years to really be able to train the way I want to. I don't have much pain right now and am hoping it stays that way. My last flare up lasted 10 years

The best thing I have found is ibuprofen in 800 miligram doses 2-3 times per day. I still use it occassionally if I feel pain in my hips. It is much easier to take the 800mg of ib at the start than to wait for the pain to get bad. Once it gets really bad there is usually no stopping it. It is scary because I don't know if that particular joint will hurt for a few hours, a few weeks or a few years!

I haven't tried any of the prescription drugs and distrust doctors in general, as most experiences have been like Crystals. It is really just luck to find a doctor who will give a correct diagnosis or even care if they give the correct diagnosis, and all of them will send you out with a prescription. I watched my dad go through that for 20 years. He took viox and other drugs, many not even approved yet. All had warnings about liver damage and I ended up watching my father die a painful death from liver cancer at 51. It could have happened anyway, but I'm sure the drugs didn't help.

I think regular lifting has been the best thing for me. It keeps my joints and lower back flexible. When I couldn't lift after my gal bladder surgery last year, my joints started to get stiff and achey again. It's also important to keep the spine flexible with Ankylosing Spondylitis. At it's most sever, the discs of the spine start to fuse together.

Good luck and I hope it's not rheumatoid arthritis.

[highonlife]

Yeah,Crystal, the doc's wanted me to stand on arcoxcia for a couple of months so they gave me 100 pills, and thats without a diagnosis!!! this RA world is a pretty crazy one!!! I am going to a healer too.. don't know if it helps but it certainly does no harm! It is so fantastic to meet some who doesn't just say: but WHY(!) don't eat pills? they are probably ok since approved...
I am utterly tired of explaining my choices! I am going to try those heated rice/wheat bags!

[ultra_whippet]

You want to make really sure that you're getting your Omega 3's every day, also extra anti-oxidants are supposed to help, as is Glucosamine - but the veggie tablets are hard to find and expensive

[Frostfire]

Oh yeah, totally recommend taking Glucosamine. I got mine from VeganEssentials.com . It really helps some people, others not so much but it is definatly worth a try.

[Mary]

Try boron as a supplement. I know it helps with arthritis and other such problems. You can buy it from health food shops.

[Rak]

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.som.jhmi.e ... lass_rheum

Rheumatoid Arthritis requires a scoring system for diagnosis. Sometimes the diagnosis takes time to make, as the changes on an X ray don't show up straight away (some research into MRI scans for early diagnosis is going on)

I believe there is some evidence of a raw food diet being beneficial for some people but I haven't looked into it.

[highonlife]

now i am in a bad shape!! hurts like can barely walk to the bathroom,think i should go to the docs but they just say,eat these little pills here.
and i do not want to eat pills with such sideeffects before they can tell me what it is!!
so for 3 days i have been in bed.. i do not now what to do.

[Frostfire]

That's terrible! Doctor might not be a bad idea. Is it worse in the morning? You should try to move around a little, especially in the afternoons (when the pain should be the least) to loosen up a little. Not good to stay stagnant, that will only make it worse. Take care of yourself .

[Lass]

Hi!

Have you tried any arthritis diets? The health movement in Sweden have been using a vegan salt-free diet for curing arthritis and other diseases. Fasting (is this the right term? I mean avoiding eating for some days and only drink vegetable and fruit juices) is also used for lessening symptoms of arthritis. Does miracles to swollen joints!

I myself have symptoms of arthritis, though I haven't got a diagnosis, I was told to get back to the doctor when it gets worse. But I started this diet a year ago, based on books of Alf Spångberg and Lilly Johansson, and started training again, and I got much better . I only know of books in swedish but there ought to be some literature in english? Anyway the basics are to avoid salt altogether, not to eat acid-producing foods - grains, rice, bread, soy foods... and also acid fruits like citrus fruits. The diet is based on raw vegetables, cooked potatoes (- drink the cooking water!), lentils and more. Should anyone be interested I can give more info!

All the best!