topic Re: Arthritis in Wellness

Arthritis

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:07:13 GMT

I know that I have osteoarthritis.

Many years ago, when I was just 21, I had preop labs for podiatric office surgery. My RA latex result came back so elevated that the podiatrist asked me if I had arthritis or if anyone in my family did; I said no, just osteoarthritis. There is a history of severe osteoarthritis.

Through the years I have never felt as if I had something autoimmune going on regularly; there might have been 2-3 times where I wondered if I might have some type of minor flare, but this always disappeared within 48 hrs.

I’ve never felt like I had RA (whatever that feels like). I do have some slightly bent fingertips but that’s it.

If I asked my doctor to test, and if it came back positive, I’m not sure I’d gain anything. I take NSAIDs now. No one’s going to up me to opioids these days, that’s for darn sure. I seriousy doubt anyone would think I need a biologic, and I wouldn’t want to take one unless I really had to.

So if I pursue finding out whether I have RA, and I find I do have it, is anything likely to change in my everyday life? I would think no. Thinking I won’t bother, but wondered if those with RA are prescribed a third class of drug - more than NSAID, not yet biologic.

I don’t know whether to bother to pursue this or not.

Re: Arthritis

151949 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:17:55 GMT

There are many , many different NSAID available out there. From Aspirin & others availabe OTC to more potent ones only available by Rx. However, though patients tend to feel that because these are sold OTC they are harmless, but that just is not so. They can cause kidney and liver failure, and often do. I have dialysed many patients who were in kidney failure due to taking NSAID drugs.They are not a good solution for over the long run. of course we all know opiods aren't either. The best way to treat arthritis is to stay at your best body weight and to exercise every day, even though your having pain, and have those knee , hip and other joints replaced as needed, so you can stay active.

Re: Arthritis

Desertdi — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 08:16:34 GMT

If you don't have debilitating pain, I wouldn't pursue the subject. At 21, you "may" have had childhood arthritis (possibly caused by rheumatic fever), which generally goes away with adulthood. Mine continued, but my flares have diminished. Exercise and maintaining weight have helped.

Re: Arthritis

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 08:59:22 GMT

wrote:
If you don't have debilitating pain, I wouldn't pursue the subject. At 21, you "may" have had childhood arthritis (possibly caused by rheumatic fever), which generally goes away with adulthood. Mine continued, but my flares have diminished. Exercise and maintaining weight have helped.

Definitely have never had rheumatic fever. Not generally the kind of thing you wouldn’t know you had. No rheumatic heart issues. I was actually healthy as a horse at that age.

I’ve often wondered what else could have given me that high a reading, if I don’t have RA. ETA: Just googled it and I’m still in the dark. Many autoimmune diseases listed as showing high RA latex results, and I have none of them. They say high test results usually indicate RA, lupus or Sjogren’s. Not me. The one autoimmune condition I do have is diabetes, and that is not mentioned in connection with RA latex, plus I wasn’t diagnosed with diabetes for another 40 years.

Oddly enough, weight loss (over the years and currently) has not helped any of my musculoskeletal pain, my blood pressure or my diabetes, or my osteoarthritis. Lucky me!

Re: Arthritis

piperbay — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:39:44 GMT

@Moonchilde I think if you pursued finding out if you had RA, the doctors would probably put you on Methotrexate. That seems like the protocol since they wanted to prescribe that to my two friends who have RA.

I have osteoarthritis and I am also a person who hates to take any prescription unless absolutely necessary. I have gotten relief by taking Tart Cherry extract + Grape Seed extract. Every drug we take comes with a price, meaning it will also have some kind of side effect, so I try to weigh that.

I have also read that Night Shade vegetables like tomates, potatoes and peppers should be avoided because they can cause iirritation with arthritis sufferers.

Re: Arthritis

SilleeMee — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:05:19 GMT

A diagnosis of RA usually means a life-long progressive condition that, without proper treatment and/or medication, can lead to a state of disability if that hasn't happened already. I have been diagnosed with the AI disease, scleroderma, which is another progressive disease that made me disabled. I had to change many things in my life, including diet, so that I could function partly normal...but still far from normal.

Re: Arthritis

Another new name Sue — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:28:51 GMT

If it were me, I would want to know what’s going on with my body.

Re: Arthritis

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 21:07:42 GMT

I have never believed I have RA because I don’t have chronic symptoms that point to it, or active autoimmune issues. But I find it weird that I clearly had a high, OTT reaction in that test to the point the doctor was sure I had or would have it or that my family must have it, or another autoimmune disease, but no. From what I have read it’s possible to have a positive test with no autoimmune disease, but it’s rare.

I can ask my doctor for a test, but I’m thinking nothing much would be done about the findings anyway. These days, if you’re not immobile and/or screaming with pain, you’re just a problem your doctor doesn’t want. I’ll discuss it with him next month & see what he thinks.

Thanks for your input, @SilleeMee and @piperbay.

Re: Arthritis

GingerPeach — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 02:56:10 GMT

@Moonchilde

You may want to look into low-dose naltrexone. It's "low dose" specifically because in higher doses it is used for something completely different.

There are no side effects (except in the very beginning when you may have more vivid dreams).

Be aware that it does not cure anything, but when I first found out I had RA/PA I took this and it helped a lot for 7-8 years.

It is by doctor's prescription, and it is made in a compounding pharmacy. It's not over the counter (at least, not yet).

The way it works is that, taken at bedtime, the low dosage blocks receptors in your brain in the early morning hours, thus causing your brain to increase your endorphin and enkephalin production, which helps regulate your immune response.

I'm considering taking it again. I stopped after I'd been on methotrexate for a while, and the LDN seemed to not work as well, butI am sick of the periodic blood draws you need for methotrexate. I stopped taking methotrexate at Christmas and other than a bit of extra stiffness, I don't feel anything unbearable. No follow-up testing is needed for LDN.

It's also rather inexpensive.

There's a whole website at lowdosenaltrexone.org

Edited to add that my rheumatologist told me more and more of her patients are asking for LDN. I was her first patient to ask for it.

Re: Arthritis

Moonchilde — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 05:57:09 GMT

@GingerPeach, thank you. After doing a google, I don’t think it’s something I would want to take, but you never know. I’ll keep it in mind.

Re: Arthritis

GingerPeach — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 02:35:16 GMT

Totally up to you, always.

No fewer than three rheumatologists recommended it.

(I realize the website I posted looks hokey, @Moonchilde. Don't just go by how that site looks.)

Re: Arthritis

Moonchilde — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 02:54:29 GMT

wrote:
Totally up to you, always.
No fewer than three rheumatologists recommended it.
(I realize the website I posted looks hokey, @Moonchilde. Don't just go by how that site looks.)

@GingerPeach, frankly, I enjoy my cocktails too much to totally give up all alcohol in order to take it; that’s why I wouldn’t be interested.

Now waiting for the “well then, you must be an alcoholic!!!” posts (not from you, I know).

Re: Arthritis

GingerPeach — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 03:02:11 GMT

@Moonchilde

I completely forgot about that love of yours!

So sorry, and I call myself your friend. (Hanging head in well, not exactly shame, but close.)

When I started methotrexate, one of the warnings is also not to drink (which I actually don't do other than once a year or so), so that wasn't a thing I even thought about.

If that ever changes for you, let me know since I'm always on the lookout for remedies without side effects. I just think doctors are much too cavalier about prescriptions that do have side effects - some more serious than others. (Like those commercials for drugs for which "cancer may happen" as a side effect over time.)

Re: Arthritis

GingerPeach — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 05:08:36 GMT

@Moonchilde

I had to re-read the data re the low dose naltrexone and there are no contraindications to drinking alcohol. I just never thought about it for myself since I don't drink and thought you'd found something.

It occurred to me just a few minutes ago that you may have confused it with the higher doses of the drug that are used for completely different purposes.

I also wanted to point out that it is important to research "low dose naltrexone" and not simply "naltrexone."

Anyway, totally up to you re moving forward. I didn't want to let the evening go by without mentioning that.

Re: Arthritis

twinkies — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 16:17:28 GMT

f you are on methotrexate then you should take milk thistle to protect your liver , It will protect your liver and help keep your blood sugars regulated and lower cholesterol . Make sure you have your bone density checked and keep regular dental appts because methotrexate affects both.Milk thistle will keep your liver enzymes from going up .

cath from ma

Re: Arthritis

LilacTree — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:55:55 GMT

@Moonchilde

At the age of 14, I came down with rheumatic fever, scarlet fever and mononucleosis all at the same time, brought on by an untreated strep infection. I spent several weeks (seemed like months) in a hospital dedicated to TB patients. I was allowed no visitors except my parents once a week who had to sit in the doorway with masks on. This happened with the onset of puberty. I was seriously ill, but no one knew what it would lead to in the future. I survived, obviously, but was never really strong again.

My next bout with autoimmune disease (also not known as such at the time) was hypothyroidism at the onset of menopause. No one mentioned that was an autoimmune disease at the time (if they knew).

I was okay after being prescribed Synthroid, which worked, and which I still take. My menopause lasted five years. During the time RA officially hit at age 66, I had back problems, was diagnosed with osteoporosis, and odd rashes and swellings, but was still mostly okay and able to work.

I retired at 66 and the RA hit six months later, first in my wrists and quickly to my hands. I went to a rheumatologist who diagnosed the RA and said I had seven years to live. I went to several others who lost interest in me when I refused the biologics. I asked one of them about my tests (RA Factor, C reactive protein, anti-CCP and sed rate) and he said they were all "off the charts," and that he thought I may have had low level RA for many years.

I now have four diagnosed autoimmune diseases and just overcame a P. aeruginosa bacterial UTI infection at the end of December, which is third under only MRSA and one other bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. I am lucky, and very glad my intuition told me not to take biologics because the first most serious side effect of biologics is infection.

I believe my mother had it, but don't know for sure, as she died of lung cancer at age 49. I believe my beloved sister had it also, she tested positive, but had very minor symptoms. She also died of colon/lung metastatic cancer almost seven years ago at age 72.

If you have bent finger tips, that is osteoarthritis. However, you can have both OA and RA, which affects the mid-finger joints and knuckles and leads to disfigurement, which I have in my right hand. It has also hit my toes and ankles, and most of my internal organs.

I take a low dose of prednisone (8 mgs) and rarely take a pain killer other than a dose of Aleve when the pain is really bad. I know that osteoarthritis hurts just as much as RA, but fortunately, it does not affect one's internal organs . . . so I hope OA is all you have.

All of this does run in families.

Re: Arthritis

GingerPeach — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 18:35:03 GMT

wrote:
f you are on methotrexate then you should take milk thistle to protect your liver , It will protect your liver and help keep your blood sugars regulated and lower cholesterol . Make sure you have your bone density checked and keep regular dental appts because methotrexate affects both.Milk thistle will keep your liver enzymes from going up .

cath from ma

Thank you, @twinkies I do take milk thistle - have been for years. I am aware of all the supplements needed. And I have seen the difference this supplement makes.

None of which my rheumatologist told me. Doctors are frustrating.