Rhuematoid Arthritis

[Grumpy Monster]

Hiya guys
I have been going through an RA flareup for the last few months.
Rhuemy tried me on new drug (3rd line) which was doing me really good.
Less pain and I felt less tired. No side effects that I knew of!
Anyhow, with it affecting the immune system and being quite strong, they need to check your full blood count, every 2 weeks and blood pressure and liver function every 4 weeks.

The day after getting my liver function test done, I got a call from my GP.
The liver tests shows that my liver had reacted adversley to the drug and I have to stop it immediately.
I have to have further periodic liver tests done and I have to go and have a scan of my liver to see the extent of the damage. After only 4 weeks on the medication.

Anyhow, I went back to see my rhuemy about new medication. He examined my left shoulder, as it has been playing up for 5 months now. I cant raise it.
He sent me for Xrays and it turns out that there is a joint at the end of the collar bone that attaches to the shoulder, well mine has been wore away by Osteo Arthrisis and is no longer there. Just 2 bones rubbing together, which is causing the pain and lack of movement. Also my ball socket is slightly out of the joint and raised, which is also adding to the problem.
He is referring my to the Orthopeadic surgeon and hopefully, the can operate and put a plastic joint in instead and relocate the ball in the socket

Oh well, at least now I know what is causing the pain and hope they can do something to sort it out.
At first, my rhuemy just kept on saying 'Its because you are hypermobile that you are getting all these aches and pains" and didnt do anything until 5 months down the line:x
Luv & stuff
JO. XXX

[cuddles]

grumpy
it aint fair hun what you are going through .
i know you will probably say that there are many folk worse off than you ,yep true ,however there are 99% more people better off than you physically etc
i hope they can do something to make things easier for you .
have you ever thought if you didnt have the marfan aches and pains that you would have pushed for this sooner (the shoulder pain ) maybe we get immune in someways to pain ,i know we have got it ,but we have got it 24/7 ,and we try our best to cope with things

hugs
me
xxxxxxxxxxx

[Pixi_stix]

Grumpy I am going to search out a knit, who can knit you a bubble wrap suit. I think having t deal with hypermobility pain is bad enough without adding in arthritis.

I hope they get a move on with their latest RA research and the next line of meds help more than damage.

[Grumpy Monster]

HIya guys
Pixie, I love the idea of a bubble wrap suit. It would be just a light a big fat feather duvet, all warm and snuggly. Only thing is, I wouldnt never come out of the caressing cacoon
Polly sent me an interesting link on advances in RA.
British scientists are working on a method of taking part of the persons tissue/cells. Treating the condition outside of the body and then re-injecting the cells, which have been healed back into the effected joint and they seem pretty sure that it will work. A 'one off' injection into the effected joint and RA smashed to smitherines

The new drug that they started me on was a new breakthrough drug. Latest and most effected drug to combat RA in the last decade and it is pretty expensive too. Cost around £6,000 per year to treat a patient.
O'h well, they can save their money, because I couldnt tolerate it, well my liver couldnt

Yes, Cuddles, there are thousands worse off than me. I can still walk, get out of bed, cook, wash myself and smile.
Anything else is sheer indulgence and shouldnt be encouraged
As you say, we live with pain and discomfort 24/7 anyway, we dont normally notice a little extra being added to the balanace

Luv & stuff
JO. XXX

[cuddles]

Yes, Cuddles, there are thousands worse off than me. I can still walk, get out of bed, cook, wash myself and smile.
Anything else is sheer indulgence and shouldnt be encouraged
Luv & stuff
JO. XXX

yep there are thousands of people worse off than you and me ,and a lot of others here ,but at the same time there are hundreds of thousands ,if not millions of people who are better off than us ,but they make more out of a mild headache ,sprained ankle ,broken finger nails than what we do with all of our aillments .
you are a star ,like everyone here ,never forget that

hugs
me
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Pixi_stix]

Sorry Jo, I ended up popping the bubbles on the suit

I found this on another forum I use accuweather

The fact that weather has an effect on how arthritis is felt by its sufferers is well documented, with surveys showing as many as 93% of arthritis sufferers believing that weather affects their pain level, and 68% believing that weather severely affects their pain level. Patients with arthritis often claim they can predict the weather, based upon their pain level, and a number of studies have been conducted to test this hypothesis. While these studies show that the effects of weather can vary from person to person, many show that arthritis pain is increased by a variety of weather factors, which may swell inflamed arthritic joints, stretching the inflamed joint lining and capsule, thereby increasing the pain of arthritis.

Among the types of weather that may increase joint sensitivity and arthritic pain are:

1. Changes in atmospheric pressure, especially falling pressure
2. Changes in temperature, especially lowering temperature
3. High or increasing relative or absolute humidity
4. Relatively low atmospheric pressure
5. Low temperatures
6. Precipitation

Arthritic pain can be especially severe when these conditions are combined, such as during chilly, damp weather when pressure is low and falling.

Now, AccuWeather has developed an index that combines all of the weather factors that may affect arthritis sufferers, and summarizes the most likely severity of weather-related arthritis pain in one easy-to-understand scale, from Low to Extreme. Available exclusively on AccuWeather.com, the AccuWeather Arthritis Index forecasts this level for each of the next several days, so arthritis sufferers can have advanced notice of when they are most likely to have increased pain, allowing them to take appropriate medication and to better plan activities.

I don't need to know about the weather to know if I am going to be in pain, I just have to wake up.

[polly]

Hi Jo

Only just found this post, so sorry you are having a rough time. OMG just 4 weeks for the pills to cause liver damage, scary stuff. Any idea when you will see the surgeon about your shoulder? I hope it's quick and you can get it over and done with.

Polly x

[Grumpy Monster]

Hiya guys
I have just got my appointment through for my liver scan. Next Wednesday. Gosh, they sure pushed that one through in a hurry. Hope that isnt a bad sign for me.
I wish they would be as quick with the appointment to see the surgeon over my shoulder.
Anyway mustnt grumble. I did have a bubblewrap suite coming to me in the post, but someone trampled all over it and popped all the bubbles, playing snap, crackle and pop. I wonder who that was
Mustnt grumble, it will only make me grumpier. Now what could be scarier than a grumpier grumpy monster.

Luv & stuff
JO. XXX

[cuddles]

hey you
keeping everything crossed for you hun ,everything ,and i will be thinking of you !!
you know we are if you need someone for a chat
hugs
me
xxxxxxxxxxx

[Darren]

You have some bad luck Jo - hope you get sorted soon.

[Pixi_stix]

Hiya guys
I have just got my appointment through for my liver scan. Next Wednesday. Gosh, they sure pushed that one through in a hurry. Hope that isnt a bad sign for me.
I wish they would be as quick with the appointment to see the surgeon over my shoulder.
Anyway mustnt grumble. I did have a bubblewrap suite coming to me in the post, but someone trampled all over it and popped all the bubbles, playing snap, crackle and pop. I wonder who that was
Mustnt grumble, it will only make me grumpier. Now what could be scarier than a grumpier grumpy monster.

Luv & stuff
JO. XXX

Sorry Jo, I really couldn't r4esits. I'd offer to replace it with cling film, but you'd only think I'm a bit kinky

I say go ahead and have a good grump, it can make you feel better once you have had a tantrum.

Good luck for Wednesday.

[phyllisa]

Are there any natural forms of pain relief for a dog with arthritis? My 8 year old husky has arthritis in her hips, are there any natural forms of pain relief that might help her? Massage, herbs, etc?

[villiers]

how about giving your dog a fish oil capsule. You could pierce and add the contents to food.
Louise

[mrsmarymcmahon]

hi Phyllisa

I tried my dog with a magnet collar and she improved immediately and her medication was cut my half. Then I tried them and my god I wont bwe withouth them now as they help the pain so much. Not a cure but a great help called Bioflow or echoflow on the net.

Mary x

[lizzieb]

Are there any natural forms of pain relief for a dog with arthritis? My 8 year old husky has arthritis in her hips, are there any natural forms of pain relief that might help her? Massage, herbs, etc?

Hi Phyllisa, and welcome to our site.

You could try hydrotherapy if their is an animal pool near you. You would have to get a letter from your vet before they can let the dog use the pool and it may be quite costly, but I have heard of good results.

Marys tip about the Magnets is a good one and less expensive and so is our Louises (Villiars) tip about the fish oil. You should be able to buy them at a good pet shop or speak to your vet about where to get supplies.

Let us know how you get on.

Take care

lizzie