does anyone know anything about rheumatoid arthritis?

Question

my husband has it, he takes celebrex,arava, predisone. and nothing seems to help. he is in pain all the time, I can't get him to go back to the doctor, doctor are so epenisive. he has no insurance only medicare. he has been on disabilty for two years. I am drained mentally and physically.

Answer 1

He needs to go see a rheumatologist, which is a doctor that deals with diseases of the joints. Then he can get the proper medications to help manage the disease and the pain.

Answer 2

First off, if your husband smokes I would recommend that he quit. Smokers are about four times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, and it's likely that it also leads to more serious forms of the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means your husband's body is attacking its own tissue because has confused it. Usually this can be traced back to bacteria or viruses. But as Wikipedia notes, "physical and emotional effects, stress and inproper diet could play role in the disease."

The best advice I can give is that your husband should get regular exercise, eat well, stop smoking if he does, and (if possible) try some "Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs" (DMARDs). They're the only drugs that have been shown to actually halt the progression of RA in at least some cases.

If you'd like more information about the nuts-and-bolts of RA, I'd recommend wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatoid_arthritis

Best of luck with this.
MJ

Answer 3

my father had ankylosing spondilitis which is a form of rheumatism and he was disabled. He was on extremely strong painkillers (the suppository type). I don't remember the name of the meds. Expensive too. He drove my mother and myself crazy as well...esp. when he had painful episodes which happened out of the blue. I can really relate to what you're experiencing there as a relative of an afflicted person.
Unfortunately rheumatoid illnesses are very painful and there's no doubt in my mind that the person suffering isn't having an easy time with it.
Maybe you should take a couple of days off and go away to a day spa or something just to get yourself back together. I know that the meds are getting more and more expensive and the insurance companies are paying less and less. It's awful what's happening in this country in that respect, but what can you do. I think that investing in you for a day or two will be worth it, so you can keep your strength up.
Best.

Answer 4

I can't claim this to be medical insight, so let's just call it nutritional. I know a woman who's been taking the exact same medications. She's very young, and has been suffering with degenerative rheumatoid arthritis for a few years now.

She was bad enough that she literally couldn't get out of bed on her own, hold a pen in her hand to sign her name, etc. However, about six months ago she began supplementing her diet with an unprocessed cacao dark chocolate product which is enhanced with Acai.

I don't know if it's the Omega 3s, 6s, and 9s of the Acai, or the enhanced circulatory benefits of dark chocolate, but this woman is moving about, working, visiting people, and living again. I ate breakfast with her two days ago after she helped a common friend pack one day, travel 200 miles the next, and move into a new home in my area.

What's crazy is that she keeps her medication available "just in case," but hasn't taken a dose for three months now. She looks great, wears her wedding ring, and doesn't fear that the drugs that were given to fight the arthritis are destroying her long-term health in other areas ..... It's pretty amazing.

If you want more info I can get it for you. Just email me. Good luck.

Answer 5

Well there are many anti-inflamitory and pain killer treatments taken by people with rheumotoid arthritis but there is no cure - the cartilidge or soft flexible fluid which allows the joints to move comfortably becomes worn away and it is extremely painful as movement becomes harder and harder and bone rubs against bone - my aunt has it in one knee and actually needs a knee replacement - I am developing it in my hands - all i can say is that he needs to obviously restrict movement, he needs to see a doctor and he most importantly he needs to keep warm in the cold - arthritis is a killer (not literally) in the cold - the cold is cruel, and unforgiving to arthritis and causes extreme pain, worse than the usual - I know the disease is dibilitating and that sufferers require a lot of care - but God does not place on us a burden greater than we can bare - You love your husband and must find strength in sickness and in health - Different treatments work for different people - you must see a doctor - no credible doctor would turn away a person suffering from severe RA - you can get help, you just need to muster up a little bit of energy and talk to someone who would know ways around the costs and the best methods of treatment - again, i am talking about a doctor - It seems you have not been properly informed by specialists as you should have and there is no need to suffer in silence - Arthritis can be controlled and a doctor should be able to help you - He is most likely using crude treatments or ones that are simply 'incompatible' with him or his form of arthritis - each patient is unique and so a doctor needs to see to their individual needs.

Answer 6

If he has not seen a Rheumatologist that specializes in treating patients with RA, then even though it is costly he needs to go. There are different treatments that have some success for RA patients and not everyone responds to the same treatment. I've heard that some patients do well with Tamoxifen or Methotrexate and I've also heard of a very expensive treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange through a protein A column has had some success. You will both benefit from him being healthier and happier so don't give up or let him give up. Also see if there is a university hospital or affiliated program in your area where you can get treatment because they welcome medicare clients.

Answer 7

There are more effective medicines for this. Different things work for different people. Celebrex is just glorified naproxen, aspirin might work just as well. There is nothing anyone else can do. He must go to the doctor and ask to try a different pain med. It is exhausting, some people have to go through 10 visits before they get something that works for them.

If he refuses give him no sympathy and tell him you don't want to hear any more about it until he goes to the doctor. Or give him the broken record technique, each times he whines just sweetly say, you should go to the doctor, and nothing more. It's time for tough love.

Answer 8

I know what you are talking about, I have chronic osteo and rheumatiod arthritis. Prednisone is probably helping him the most pain wise, but it is the worst, it makes me really "mean".

I have found a product that I have been taking for about 6months, and the results have been amazing!!! I no longer take prednisone or celebrex, all I am taking is tramadol(low dose) to help me with the really bad days.
If you would like to know about it contact me @[e-mail].

Rhematoid arthritis and the drugs that are prescribed for it, make people "not themselves" so I know what you mean by physically and mentally drained, I put my husband through hell, just try to hang in there and not take things to personally, take some time for yourself if you can, I KNOW you deserve it.
Good luck.

Answer 9

My mother suffers from RA. She has had good success with managing her condition through use of some medication that is dispensed via I.V. She goes in for treatments about every 5-6 weeks. And yes, her medicare helps pay for it.
I know that it seems like a huge drain on the family budget, but try to convince your husband to see a Rheumatologist. A specialist in RA will have alternative treatments that a G.P. would never have any reason to think of. G.P.s only manage pain (to the best of their ability). Rheumatologists help to manage the disease...and that makes a big difference in the quality of one's life.

Answer 10

There really isn't much you can do for the pain besides taking illegal drugs or the ones prescribed to you. I'd advise to try smoking some really really dank weed, like a body high drug and it will ease your mind off of the pain. Just don't rely on it, cause the world has that illegal, even though alchohol is much worse, it pays tax so americans love it

Answer 11

My Sister suffers from RA and is in a lot of pain most of the time. She is on constant pain meds, and they don't work that well. Remicade Infusion does not work for everyone, but if it works for you it is great. It is covered by insurances. The prednisone has bad side effects, but seems to be the only drug that relieves the pain.