Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Louisville, KY United States
Swollen Joints In Hands Posted: 07-19-07 01:20am
Hi all. I'm new to the board and wanted to
introduce myself just briefly. I'm 29 y/o
Female, and I've been having a bit of a
problem with my hands for about a month
and a half. Basically, I've been waking up
in the morning with them feeling very sore
and stiff, and I can barely move them for
quite awhile. The pain and stiffness
lessens a bit throughout the day, but they
still bother me. I can hardly type (which
I'm doing this fairly slow to be accurate)
and do basic household stuff, like
cleaning. It's even interfered with my
most recent job and I had to quit because
the pain was getting so bad. Ibuprofen or
Tylenol (the Arthritis formula) does not
help a bit.
I did see a doctor about this and he
ordered a blood test that checks for
inflammation and I'm a little nervous
about the results. Does anyone have
anything to suggest so I can get and keep
a job? I don't want to have to go on
disability for this. I'd appreciate any
help anybody can give. Thanks for
listening
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stormy78
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Louisville, KY United States
Update Posted: 07-26-07 01:39am
I did hear about my blood test and the
doctor said the sedimentation rate was
slightly elevated, so he's ordered more
blood work, which I did on Tuesday.
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gwenda
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Lancashire
Posted: 07-29-07 05:57am
Hi there Stormy, we have a forum just for
people with RA. It is NRAS You will get
all the answers and support you need.
There is a suppor network, so you can ring
up and ask for help. Gwenda
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stormy78
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Louisville, KY United States
Posted: 08-09-07 02:00am
thanks gwenda I'll head over
there soon.
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Stobey
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Texas
Swelling In Hands Posted: 08-11-07 20:47pm
I have had severe Rheumatoid Arthritis for
about six years. I tried all the over the
counter drugs along with just a bout
anything I heard about. After about a year
a friend gave me some Arthrotec 75. It
worked great for awhile. About two years
ago my pain increased dramatically. My
doctor checked the rheumatoids in my
blood. The count should have been between
1 and 12. It was 364. He sent me to a
Rheumatologist. The first visit took about
an hour and he explained a lot about my
disease. He also gave me a prescription
for Methotrexate. If I keep taking it
regularly the arthritis stays hid. For me
it is great. You might want to check with
your doctor about it.
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Stobey
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Texas
Swelling In Hands Posted: 08-11-07 20:48pm
I have had severe Rheumatoid Arthritis for
about six years. I tried all the over the
counter drugs along with just a bout
anything I heard about. After about a year
a friend gave me some Arthrotec 75. It
worked great for awhile. About two years
ago my pain increased dramatically. My
doctor checked the rheumatoids in my
blood. The count should have been between
1 and 12. It was 364. He sent me to a
Rheumatologist. The first visit took about
an hour and he explained a lot about my
disease. He also gave me a prescription
for Methotrexate. If I keep taking it
regularly the arthritis stays hid. For me
it is great. You might want to check with
your doctor about it.
|
gwenda
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Lancashire
Posted: 08-12-07 06:02am
Hi Stobey, unfortunateley I have tried
methotrexate, and all the other rheumatoid
drugs and none of them have worked. I have
had 17 joint replacement surgeries, with
more to come. If you take methotrexate,
you should have regular blood tests as it
can affect your liver. Good luck with it.
Gwenda
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Stobey
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Texas
Swelling In the Hands Posted: 08-12-07 14:23pm
Hi Gwenda,
Glad to here your comments. I'm sorry that
Methotrexate didn't help your condition.
Methotrexate and Arthrotec both are said
to cause damage to liver and kidneys.
Aspirin and Acetaminophen also cause the
same things with the same number of cases
as does all other medications that we
take. I cannot see having a blood test for
one and not the others. I do have blood
tests when my doctor recommends them.
Other people using the same doctor and the
same meds have not had a blood test in
several years. I ask the doctor about this
two years ago. He only told me that he
would have to discuss it with them. That
hasn't happened yet. I still don't know
why the rules I have to live by according
to my doctor are different from other
people with the same problems. I also
don't know why a blood test should be
needed for Arthritis medicine and not for
Acetaminophen or aspirin. They all cause
the same problems at the same rate. Again
Thanks for your reply.
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gwenda
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Lancashire
Posted: 08-13-07 07:52am
Hi Stobey, the difference between aspirin
and methotrexate is that methotrexate is a
chemotherapy drugs that kills off parts of
the immune system. A gentleman died
recently, because he failed to have his
blood tested whilst on methotrexate,
because he was scared of needles. Maybe we
do things differently in U.K. Gwenda
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stormy78
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Louisville, KY United States
Posted: 04-16-08 08:43am
I'm currently on Plaquenil but just
recently got strep throat, so I've stopped
it until this infection clears.
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