Date: 24.02.2013
From: BaBaMarky
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Subject: New to arthritis - many questions
I am 45, diagnosed with undifferentiated arthritis about 6 months ago.
Swelling in joints that came with overuse. I am usually very active on the weekends doing outside chores / tasks. After a day of chopping wood I felt it in my wrists and finger joints. Digging holes with a shovel meant my feet and ankles were sore the next day.
All of this started about 2 months after becoming sober, just thought I would add this in case it means anything. Rheumatologist started me on Plaquenil.
It did wonders, almost 85% relief.
Now, the symptoms seem to be coming back.
I sit at a desk all day for work, and underuse now seems to be just as pain-inducing as overuse. Is this a usual progression and am I looking at taking a stronger medicine in the near future?
The Plaquenil is mild enough that I have no side effects. Also, are there any holistic "ideas" that anyone has tried and had success with?? (Diet change, sniffing glue, anything out of the ordinary?)
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Date: 24.02.2013
From: Bsk
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Subject: Re: New to arthritis - many questions
Hi BabaMarky, Welcome to the forum. A lot of your questions will be answered on other threads but it is quite common to progress to other meds. None of the 'alternative' ideas have worked for me but others have different ideas. Will respond a bit more tomorrow as am quite tired!
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Date: 25.02.2013
From: Colin W
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Subject: Re: New to arthritis - many questions
hi , welcome to the forum , if Plaquenil helped , you should go back to your GP / consultant & get your drugs reviewed and maybe change or add another which is normal none of the alternative meds helped me & dont think it will help you , as for the arthritis it seems to evolve & thats why you need stronger drugs
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Date: 25.02.2013
From: Sean
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Subject: Re: New to arthritis - many questions
Hi BaBaMarky Cannot guarantee a drug free life but there has been a lot success in proven practice done for diet change that is not shared widely in the NHS. If you google "Gail Darlington 70%" - there a link titled www.fhf.org.uk/files (Associated Parlimentary Food and Health) - this is a 2011 meeting where top researchers (top allergist Jonathan Brostoff and Rheumotoligist Dr. Gail Darlington) have tried to lobby to change NHS practice. I guess looking at the conversations being had in the minutes that it wont change in a hurry! Everyone is different and everyone can have intolerances to individual things that CAN cause arthritis symptoms - it is just not easy to establish what these intolerences are. We are each a puzzle (like an extra difficult Sudoku) - no doctor is going spend weeks on each us trying to solve this slightly different puzzle. As bsk says - there are other threads where this has been discussed (at length!) - lots of discussion /info and opinion for and against here in the thread from a few weeks back - http://www.arthritisforum.org.uk/cgi-bin/showthread.pl?threadid=3243&offset=25 Removing certain foods strictly / systematically / forever worked for me (and many others) and I am sure that my hip joints would have crumbled (like my fathers did) without my diet change and stronger drugs might have damaged my gut and made the sort of option that I took less likely to succeed. It may or may not work for you. http://www.arthritisforum.org.uk/stories/storysean.html Best wishes
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Date: 25.02.2013
From: marlene
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Subject: Re: New to arthritis - many questions
Hi BaBaMarky, sorry you are finding things hard again as the others have said you need to go back to your gp. You don't have to be in pain. It is hard to find te happy medium as to what makes us hurt. Have you tried massages or the Hydro=Pool.
Hot water bottles are soothing. As for changing diet didn't help me nor did paying out for all th potions on sale. I would say stick with what your rhumy team or Gp prescribe.
Keep your chin up and take care.
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Date: 26.02.2013
From: BabaMarky
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Subject: Re: New to arthritis - many questions
also I have joint problems where one area will be sore and stiff (for instance my left hand / finger joints), then the next day it will be in my right foot. Is it normal for the swelling and pain to move around the body?
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Date: 26.02.2013
From: Colin W
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Subject: Re: New to arthritis - many questions
yes , it does vary & but implies that its not under control & needs stronger drugs like Methotrexate which is the normal drug for RA & PA when are you going back to see the Rheumatologist & are they doing regular blood test & check the inflamatory marks ( CRP & ESR ) , it may take some time to get a diagnosis but the treatment is the same
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Date: 26.02.2013
From: Linda
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Subject: Re: New to arthritis - many questions
BabaMarky. With some types of arthritis like RA, it is normal for it to move around the body. The pain and swelling can also be symetrical. Diet can help, if you can find which foods affect you. I take supplements such as fish oils and magnesium. I have had Lupus/RA for roughly twelve years and i am still taking hydroxychloroquine plus 5mg of prednisolone.
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