Hi, Is there anybody with Rheumatoid Arthritis who has been helped & what meds worked with few side affects?

Question

My Mom has been in pain since Nov (it came on suddenley) she just found out in Jan that she has Rheumatoid Arthritis the meds for ths are scary we have had some bad experiences with meds in the past. Is there anybody who has been helped & what meds did the trick? Thanx Sonny.

Is anyone taking Arava & Prednisonne?

Answer 1

I take 17.5 mgs. of methotrexate weekly, along with 5mgs prednisone and 3200 mgs ibuprofen daily. I also take a multi-vitamin, iron, calcium, folic acid, and vitamin D supplements. These are necessary because of the methotrexate.

The side effects from methotrexate vary, but mine are mild and rarely bothersome. The worst of it is the fatigue. I take a nap every day. The RA also causes fatigue, and with the two combined I am always tired.

Usually, I become nauseated on what I have dubbed "Methotrexate Day." However, I rarely throw up, and when I do it's only once or twice. I sometimes get a sore throat for a day or two after taking it, but it's mild and not too bothersome. I get the occasional mouth sore, but they, along with the sore throat, can be relieved by gargling with a little salt water.

I've noticed only minimal hair loss, and that took place within the first 6 months after beginning treatment. Now, my hair just grows a little more slowly, and I no longer have to shave my legs.

As you can see, the side effects aren't so terrible.

If she is prescribed prednisone, especially in high doses, the worst of the side effects will be weight gain due to water retention. When I was first diagnosed 2 years ago, I was taking 80mgs of prednisone daily to control the inflammation. Now that I am on a significantly lower dosage, I've lost 76 pounds in about 8 months with no effort whatsoever. All of that was due to medication, but it was preferable to being in pain.

I take no pain medications at all. There are days when I feel I need something, but my Rheumatologist doesn't prescribe pain meds so I just grit my teeth and deal with it.

My sister takes Plaquenil for her RA, along with 5 mgs prednisone daily. With the exception of weight gain, she has no side effects at all.

People on methotrexate need monthly blood work to check for liver damage, while people taking Plaquenil require eye exams every six months to track any potential problems.

For more information about rheumatoid arthritis:

http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/RA/default.asp

For more information about methotrexate:

http://arthritis.about.com/od/mtx/Methotrexate_Dosage_Side_Effects_Drug_Interactions_Warnings.htm

For more information about prednisone:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601102.html

For more information about Plaquenil:

http://arthritis.about.com/od/plaquenil/Plaquenil_Dosage_Side_Effects_Drug_Interactions_Warnings.htm

Answer 2

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 3

Every person reacts differently to meds; what may help you will not help me.
Some say ginger in large amount during day (several teaspoons) in tea
Some say glucostamine and the other thing
Some say the one ingredient people use when making jelly
Some say I could go on an on
Some of the best: move and exercise; yoga or prayer time; work

Answer 4

Joint pain due to arthritis and other reasons can be reduced and cured by making small changes in the diet and lifestyle of the affected person. Many of the remedies are inexpensive and do not have side effects like allopathic medicines. Check this out for natural remedies for arthritis http://aches.in/naturalcuresarthritis.ht...

Answer 5

I would start with taking lots of all natural Alfalfa Complex and then work on a program from there depending on her results. It's perfectly safe with no side effects.

There is a particular brand that I recommend.

Hope this is helpful and feel free to contact me with questions.

Answer 6

My mother in law does remicaid treatments. She has had great results. It is a bit time consuming at first. I think it made here a bit sleepy too, but it has helped her pain level. Good luck to your mom.