Anyone out there know about Rheumatoid Atrhritis??
By Wordjunkie
@Wordjunkie (435)
Canada
October 4, 2010 10:44am CST
I have been recently diagnosed with Rhuematoid arthitis. It is mostly in my legs, my feet, ankles ,knees, and hips but it also is in my elbows. I am currently not on any steroids. All they have me taking is over the counter drugs for inflammation and pain.
I am experiencing pain from these joints (worst is in the small bones of my feet and my ankles) mostly on a daily basis. I am seldom without some degree of pain. I have no bone deformities as yet but I am having a real difficulty time getting work done around the house. Most cleaning is not too bad but mopping and cleaning tub and other heavier work is hard. When I do these activities I ache for hours. I am also having a hard time doing the things I love to do, walking, swimming, biking, exercising and ice skating, I do any of these activities and I am in agony for hours. 
I am tired all the time. My specialists says that she thinks I am exhausted from not getting a good sleep because of the pain and wants be to take a mild sleeping pill. Problem is a hate it, it makes me feel hungover in the morning, which I really do not like as I am the primary caregiver for my two children at home and my seriosly ill husband and I need to be alert.
Will it always be like this? Will I be able to do the things I love again, like ice skating? Is there anything you know of, like a home remedy that actally works? Or will it get better with time, or worse? I fear it will get worse. Can you end up disabled from this?
I am tired all the time. My specialists says that she thinks I am exhausted from not getting a good sleep because of the pain and wants be to take a mild sleeping pill. Problem is a hate it, it makes me feel hungover in the morning, which I really do not like as I am the primary caregiver for my two children at home and my seriosly ill husband and I need to be alert.
Will it always be like this? Will I be able to do the things I love again, like ice skating? Is there anything you know of, like a home remedy that actally works? Or will it get better with time, or worse? I fear it will get worse. Can you end up disabled from this?3 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
4 Oct 10
Arthritis conditions vary from person to person. With your usual activities I am afraid to say they may be compromised a bit. However, it is recommended to slow down a bit, although continuing some form of it would be healthy actually.
Do not let it defeat you, you defy and beat it. Follow all of your doctors plans and rules, research the area a bit for advice. and of course when you body forewarns certain signals of ailing you take it easy but do not give up.
Take care dear friend and hope you feel a bit better more days than not.
1 person likes this
@Wordjunkie (435)
• Canada
4 Oct 10
Thank you, hardworkinggurl. I find it hardest when the cold and damp weather returns. Today is the first sunny day that we have had in over a week. The weather has gotten cooler again of course and I find that cold triggers it, that why I haven't been swimming. I hate this, I love this time of year, its great for walking and hiking, I could live without the biking. I bought a really good pair of ice skates at the end of the winter last year, so I could get them at a good price and I better be able to use them when the skating rinks open. Maybe if I work into to it slow, gradually increase my ice time, it will not bother me as much. I could try that too with the walking. 
I hate pools, I don't like all the added chemicals not to mention that fact that in a community pool, we have people doing what they are not suppose to do in it, lol. But even the water in the summer is cool enough to trigger the arthritis, so if I go to the beach its mostly to bake in the sun, which doesn't appeal to me either, except for the warmth. So the swimming is probably out too unless I can get to a swimming hole in the country where the water's warmer, but I can live without the swimming, which is too bad because it would probably be less stressful to my joints.
I don't give up easy though, this is yet just another thing I will have to push myself for. 
I hate pools, I don't like all the added chemicals not to mention that fact that in a community pool, we have people doing what they are not suppose to do in it, lol. But even the water in the summer is cool enough to trigger the arthritis, so if I go to the beach its mostly to bake in the sun, which doesn't appeal to me either, except for the warmth. So the swimming is probably out too unless I can get to a swimming hole in the country where the water's warmer, but I can live without the swimming, which is too bad because it would probably be less stressful to my joints.
I don't give up easy though, this is yet just another thing I will have to push myself for. 
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
8 Nov 10
i so know the feeling. your best defence is to do your homework. believe it or not, the library can offer a great amount of books and information about whats going on.
there are pills that wont leave you with that feeling. i take a sleeping pill for fibromyalgia.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Oct 10
I started sleeping in a sleeping bag after I read about it in an arthritis magazine. It helped. Tylenol pm also helped ( take it 1 to 2 hours before I want to go to sleep and I wake up better). Dehumidifier in my bedroom on damp days also helped. Tiger balm or a more natural version of ben gay, also help. Hot shower before going to bed and taking my bedtime clothes out of the dryer before going to bed. Being warm and dry make a difference.
You and your Dr. need to work on a plan that works for you. It's trial and error. Prescription sleeping pills are often way too strong. I only need tylenol pm on my worst nights. Maybe 10 in the entire year.
Hopefully the RA haulting medication will work for you. Get an arthritis Dr. is worth their weight in gold if you don't already have one.
