Rheumotoid Arthritis support thread.

glucosamine/ chondroiten works very well for my wife and me. I climb so many ladders and stairs, plus do jobs requiring heavy arm use that if I quit taking it, they get sore and stay sore, until I get some more to take.

Rats, only 3 days of no pain and I'm back to having a vice around my foot. I'll have to see what happens tomorrow after my methotrexate inj.

I am a 53 yr old female just diagnosed tonight with Rheumotoid Arthritis. My sed rate was 38. I ache all over and have very little energy. Oddly enough I am having difficulties sleeping. My MD referred me to a rheumotoidologist. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you
positiveadvice@aol.com

Hello, Catherine. Welcome to a2k.

A bunch of folks here share having rheumatoid arthritis, and they may post when they check into the site.
I know a little bit about it from my old laboratory days, but not as a clinician, and my comments aren't all that useful, any knowledge I have being old, unless I can figure out where to direct you.

The doctor you are talking about is a rheumatologist, and the subject is rheumatology. You will get fed up with those words - but the people I used to know in that field of medicine were good people.

Hi Catherine,

I'm about to turn 43 and was diagnosed last fall. I went to see a podiatrist because I was becoming a regular runner and was having some foot problems. In addition to that I was experiencing swelling in a few fingers and some serious pain in my thumb. A hand specialist told me it wasn't carpal tunnel, ordered some labs and referred me to a rheumatologist.

The only lab that was abnormal was a slightly elevated anti-CCP(whatever that is) my RA factor still shows normal.

I see my Rheumy on Monday. Hope you're feeling better today!