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Date: 11.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Young with RA

I am 19 years old and I have RA in both knees, both elbows, my eye and maybe my neck.
Would like to no if there is anyone else who is like me, either young with RA or just have arthritis in the same joints.
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Date: 11.03.2011
From: Trace

Subject: Re: Young with RA

Hi Natasha,

Rubbish isnt it, I'm not young now lol, 43, but i got my RA when i was just 9 years old, and I too have it in my neck, both knees, and now my elbows, i manage my condition with sulphasalazine. Good Luck with yours x
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Date: 11.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Re: Young with RA

Re Trace -
I am also on that medication, along with others as well.
I've had RA since I was 6 but managed to get rid of it but got it again when I was 15.
How did you find out whether you had in it your neck?
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Date: 11.03.2011
From: Trace

Subject: Re: Young with RA

Hi for me it started in my neck, at 9 didnt get diagnosed til 10, had a ct scan and numerous x rays, finally got the diagnosis. Then it came in my knees. I take sulphas' and brufen retard. My neck is stiff and i can't turn it very far. Developed cysts behind my knees too. I manage ok, try not to let it get me down, but i ache all over today as i was the patient for first aid today and was rolled around everywhere into recovery position as i couldnt do the procedures because i cant stay on my knees for too long. Docs told my mom i'd grow out of it! Lol, still waiting I'm 43 now haha x
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Date: 11.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Re: Young with RA

oh i see. i think i need to get my neck checked cos mine is sometimes stiff and i cant turn it far either. my knees just fill with fluid and make it hard to walk but im on hydroxychloroquine, folic acid, prednisolone, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. tis annoying. i am thinking about going back to homeopathy to see if that helps rid it quicker.
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Date: 13.03.2011
From: kylee

Subject: Re: Young with RA

hi natash my arthritis started at the age of 10 but my doctors just kept saying it was growing pains i ws finaly diagnosed at 19 every joint in my body is affected my toes ankles knees hips elbow wrists fingers neck jaw and eyes thankfuly they dnt all hurt at the same time i tend to have flares in multiple joints at one time usual 1 side of my body is affected then when that clears my other side flares it is awful having this diease i also have a 3 yr old daughter and every day is just so hard
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Date: 13.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Re: Young with RA

oh no. that is terrible. i did have it when i was 6 but managed to get rid of it and when i was 15 it came back again. i had alot going on when i was 15 so im not sure what the cause was for it.
i find heat helps when im feeling stiff and laying in bed helps.
hope your having a less stiff day :)
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Date: 13.03.2011
From: x kerry x

Subject: Re: Young with RA

hi natasha, im 25 with pa, was diagnosed december just gone. Im similar to kylee, i get various joints flare up at the same time and all my joints are affected, even my jaw! My hands and wrists are bad every day, but my ankles, toes and all my bigger joints tend to vary in pain daily. Im pregnant at the moment and although ive been told it goes into remission when pregnant, mine seems to have got worse, my hips, pelvis and knees have been agony because of the extra pressure on them. Its awful feeling like an old lady physicaly when mentally youre only young isnt it! The tiredness cripples me...and people dont seem to understand that bit, they know im in pain and cant do alot of things i used to, but they dont get that arthritis affects so many different aspects of your life. Hope you start to feel a bit better soon, and dont forget youre not alone with this, there are more people out there than you would imagine that suffer with this disease and are happy to talk with you about it xx
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Date: 13.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Re: Young with RA

it does sound very painful. i've luckily got mine under control now after 4 years. and yes it is awful feeling like an old lady. there are some days when i just want to stay in bed cos i can't move or that im really stiff. there has been a few days where i am bed bound cos i can't move. i find those days horrible cos it puts me in a horrible mood.
hope your pregnancy is going well. are you scared if your children will suffer from arthritis in the future? thats what im scared of if and when i want kids.
hope all is well :)
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Date: 14.03.2011
From: x kerry x

Subject: Re: Young with RA

yeah that does worry me, ive got hypermobility syndrome too which is heredatory, id hate my baby to suffer like i do. At the minute my main worry is how im guna cope when baby is here, like you, i have days where im bed bound or im so tired i just cant stand up. I worry im not going to be able to hold my baby, change its nappy, make bottles up and everything else that comes with being a mammy. Its just like everything with arthritis though, you just have to adjust and do things the best way for you. I was about to start methotrexate to try and get my arthritis under control but the day before i was guna start it i found out i was pregnant so obviously couldnt take it. Im having to deal with the pain with no medication at the moment, cant even take ibuprofen when pregnant and paracetemol does nothing. When i speak to my rhumy about it he just keep telling me it goes into remission when pregnant so i dont need to worry about it, but its getting worse, not better! Glad you have found the drugs that work for you, i hope you manage to keep it under control, its such a de-abilitating disease to be lumbered with at any age, least of all when your so young and should be at your most active! Do you work or go to college? I find it hard finding a job i can do without being in pain, ive been a dancer all my life but had to quit my job due to the arthritis. Never mind...im sure being a mammy will keep me busy xx
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Date: 14.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Re: Young with RA

oh no that isnt good. is there anyone that could help you out? i've found that certain food and drinks dont help my arthritis, do i dont have them any more because i no that they put me in pain. i used to do athletics but i had to quit when i was 17 because i was injured everything 2-3 months. i work but its only a part- time job because im going to university in september. i find having a really hot bath helped with relaxing my body if im having a stiff day, maybe that will help you as well.
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Date: 14.03.2011
From: Dalton

Subject: Re: Young with RA

Hi Kerry, havent been on here for a while. I was diagnosed with RA just a few months after I had my daughter (shes only 2 now) and it is quite hard opening bottles and changing nappies etc but you end up managing because you have to. Hopefully you can start some medication as soon as you've had the baby - I had to have steroid injections at first until the sulphasalazine and methotrexate kicked in. Its hard enough as it having a newborn without this crappy RA aswell but dont worry Im sure you'll manage. I still have a lot of flare ups and my hands and knees are so so painful at the moment and its really draining having small children with this condition. I wish you lots of luck and best wishes when the baby arrives - its amazing when you have got your own little baby (hard work aswell though lol!) but definitely worth it. It makes life worthwhile. Lots of Love
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Date: 14.03.2011
From: x kerry x

Subject: Re: Young with RA

thanks dalton...im sure ill cope, im just guna have to do thing differently to other mummys. In a way im lucky this is my first time, because its all guna be new to me anyway, no matter how i do it. Ive got my fiancee and lots of friends and family supporting me, but even with all the best intentions in the world, most people dont fully understand how hard it is. Im looking forward to having my baby and really hope being so busy looking after it will take my mind off the pain a bit. Hopefully once babas here they can sort my meds out and try to control this stupid disease.
Natasha...heat is my saviour! Even before pregnancy, when i was taking pain killers, heat was the only thing that really helped. Id be lost without my hot water bottle and heat pads! As soon as i step into the cold my joints just seaze up and its agony for me! X
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Date: 15.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Re: Young with RA

the cold doesn't seem to affect my arthritis, which i find strange because people ask does it but it doesn't. it could be because my joints are covered. my hands do become a bit stiff but they are not affect, yet.
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Date: 16.03.2011
From: Lucy

Subject: Re: Young with RA

Hey Natasha, it does suck having arthritis. Mine started when I was 11 months old, I'm now 32 and still surviving but its hard. Its good they have you on a drug regime that is working for you so fingers crossed you can keep it under control. I was in remission from age of about 9-13 but it then came back worse. You have to take things one day at a time and try and keep positive. Good luck and use the forum to moan it'll make you feel better!
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Date: 16.03.2011
From: Natasha

Subject: Re: Young with RA

Hi Lucy. I've just got back from the hospital and the doctor confirmed that i am now in remission, which is good but I know i've still got a long way to go.
And sorry to hear that you had it at such a young age. I thought getting mine at 6 was bad enough! Hope all is well.
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