Rheumatiod Arthritis help?

Question

Please Help my dad is 47 and he is so much pain it hurts to see my dad hurting his bones are all swollen all his joints he is a field worker a hispanic and his bones are getting deformed he is at the point were he cant work let alone get up in the mornings i dont know much about this Arthritis i am hopeing that there is something that will releave the pain do you know? Also can my dad collect disability we live in Washington State? he has used every over the counter pain releaver nothing works is there anything that will help relieve the pain? please help me with anything it hurts me to see my dad this way and now my sister is getting it

Answer 1

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I've had it for 10 years now. it is not curable but it is treatable. your dad and your sis need to see a rheumatologist soon. Rheumatoid Arthritis is caused my your immune system attacking the joints which causes the swelling. there are several treatments available today that can help them live a near normal life. over the counter pain relievers will not help. it can take a few months to find a medication that helps. as long as its not treated more joint damage is occurring which can not be reversed without joint replacement so the sooner they start the better. When I was first diagnosed I could hardly get out of bed, my hands where almost unusable. I work with my hands so I could not even work then. after a short time off treatment I was able to return to work. flare ups still happen but are treatable with ibuprofen. Just get them started.

Answer 2

Your father needs to see a GP and to be referred to a rheumatologist. That's a doctor who specializes in all of the more than 100 different types of arthritis. The same is true for your sister.

IF your father actually has an inflammatory type of arthritis, then all of the over-the-counter pain meds won't do a thing to help. That's because pain is simply one of the symptoms, and a relatively minor one at that. No, I'm saying that your father's pain is mild. I have multiple types of arthritis and am a chronic pain patient as a result. Chronic pain is not a mild problem. But the pain of inflammatory arthritis is a minor symptom compared to what's actually happening in his body.

Anyone with an inflammatory type of arthritis needs to take specific meds, prescribed by their rheumatologist, to slow the progress of their illness. The progression causes the inflammation, the inflammation causes the damage as the pain. Now do you understand what I said about the pain being a minor symptom?

Unfortunately, I have no idea if your father can collect disability in Washington state, nor in any other state. In fact, I couldn't tell you if he'd be eligible in any given province in Canada, despite the fact that I am on disability in Ontario. But contact your local office of the American Arthritis Foundation for more information.

Answer 3

Imagine for a moment your arthritis completely vanishing right now.

If, in a moment, your pain and stiffness melted away. And your joints all of a sudden functioned like a well-oiled machine.

Like a magic wand was waived, you'd be able to jump up from your chair and run around the room like a kid.

And imagine that you'd never have to suffer as much as a pinch of arthritis stiffness or pain ever again.

I know this sounds impossible right now, but bear with me, because sometimes miracles happen.

It was a gift from a woman on the other side of the world. From the kindness of her heart, she took pity on my suffering and taught me how to completely reverse my arthritis.

Today, I want to do the same for you!

Answer 4

Your dad needs to see a rheumatologist and get on some specific rheumatoid arthritis medicine. Yes he can probably collect disability so go the social security website and get the paper work started. Get him an appointment at a Rheumatologist and get treatment started.

Answer 5

Both your Dad and Sis need to get to a specialist. There are some really effective meds for their condition and they need it NOW!

The longer Rheumatoid arthritis is allowed to go untreated the more permanent damage is done to the joints.

Proper treatment can put the disease into remission and prevent damage and disability.

Answer 6

Arthritis--The Crippling Disease
- Understanding Arthritis
- Hope for Arthritis Sufferers
http://watchtower.org/library/g/2001/12/8/article_01.htm

Arthritis Today: MSM-DMSO
http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/1999_archives/1999_11_12explorations.asp

Answer 7

My Mum has rheumatoid arthritis and she swims 3 times a week, 30 lengths- she is brilliant at 73.

Answer 8

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. That means that the body starts fighting itself. In this case instead of fighting an infection, it thinks the infection is okay and starts fighting the tissue between the joints!

This may stem from not liking oneself or from having destructive thoughts. I don't know if this is true in your dad's case. But, he will benefit from counseling at a church and may find some assistance there.

See if there is someone who will represent him in his search for disability. He won't have the time or energy to try to get it on his own.

There is a product called Glucosamine (it also has Chondroitin or MSM in it) that regular arthritis sufferers find very helpful. It helps build up the lining between the joints. You have to take it every day for a couple of months before it builds up enough and then take it every day from then on. I have arthritis in my back and had to sit still for a couple of days after forgetting to take glucosamine for about 4 days. It really helps me! You can get it at any drugstore or Walmart, but it will take a couple of months. Your sister may want to start taking it too.

Answer 9

Glucosamine is believed to help in the repair of cartilage and prevent further damage to the joint. Shark cartilage also help in reduction of pain. Grape seed extract reduces inflammation. More information on natural remedies for arthritis at http://aches.in/naturalcuresarthritis.html

Answer 10

Try to get him to exercise as much as he can- light exercises. He should take a nice warm bath. After that he should use ice to reduce swelling. That's what my doctor told me to do.