Do any of you have RA?

 Rheumatoid arthritis?  Today I went back to the doctor and with both of my knees swollen he thinks I probably have RA, so he ran the tests but it will be a few days before I get my results back.  I looked it up on line and now I am scared ****less (sorry for the language, but I am)

Please tell me it's not that bad and since we can not take NSAIDS is there other meds that will take care of it?  I am going to be able to stay as a teacher?

Any info would be appreciated!  

Take a deep breath ..i have RA and been dealing with it for 4 years now ...just because we cant take nsaids doesnt mean the end of the world...I take metherterexate for my RA and i just had RNY surgery i had to come off of my meds 12 weeks prior..so i have to wait another 6-8b more weeks and they have injectable meds ...so which is great...The only reason my dr told me no nsaids is that ur new pouch is too sensetive to it..will cause ulcers...so he told me injectable are perfect..

All i can say is that the more weight comes off the better i am...i will deal with one hurdle at a time ..lol..Good luck ...

Pam

How did you find out you had it?  What joint did it start in?  Do you always feel it or does it come and go?  How long did you feel pain before they figured out what it really was?  DId you think it was an injury at first?  What kinds of things do you do to help deal with the swelling when it happens?  Like, right now, both knees are swollen and it is hard to walk.  Should I rest them for a couple of days?  Will that help?

Sorry to drown you in all these questions but you are the only person I know right now who has this and I don't even know if I really do have it, but since I have swelling in both joints at the same time with not trauma to pin it to, they think it might be RA.  It can't or OA since I am young.  Right?


I am trying to breath, but it's hard!  I cried when I got home and looked it up!  OMG!  Joint deformation!  WTF!

I was diagnosed with RA about 15 years ago. I was also a teacher. I would love to tell you that everything worked out in my story, but it didn't. Teaching got to be too much for me physically. The pain and fatigue took a toll, even with Enbrel.

As far as NSAIDS, I don't take them anyway, so having RNY wasn't a problem. I LOVED Celebrex, but with my heart issues (caused by RA--I have systolic dysfunction from the tissue becoming hard & non-pliable) I can't take it anymore. I take a narcotic pain reliever on a daily basis.

I hope that the tests come back negative for RA and that it is something like OA and you can treat it or have knee replacements, depending on the severity. Good luck!

Feel free to message me if you have any questions about RA or any of it's little tag along friends like Sjogren's Syndrome (dry eyes, mouth) or psoriasis.

I have severe RA with secondary sjogren's syndrome. I'm also a teacher. I'm on injectible methotrexate and Orencia infusions. RA is not the end of the world, but it is tough. 

I was diagnosed about 5 years ago and it started in all my joints. I went to the dr because I was feeling like crap and all my joints hurt. She thought probably fibro (which the dr also thinks I have) but no.

The quicker you get diagnosed and on meds the better. I would ice those knees and take it easy on them.

PM me if you'd like to talk. I hope things work out for you and it's not RA, but if it is it will be okay. Really. : )

I woke up one morning and i couldnt work or even write my name..hurting so bad ..so i went to the er...they did every test know to man and yep came back RA i was like oh no my mother has that they were like its genetic ..I was like it came on so quick no signs though just one morning woke up and poof..they told me that happens...

So ive been getting treatment now for like 3-4 years...Its tough especially in hands and feet...u need them I hate winter ..i love summer..the warm helps me ...cold cripples me...so i dont take nsaids so im not worried..

All i can say if its caught and treated early ull be much better than to ignore it...BTW did they check u for gout? in attacks the knees...toes..usually 1 joint at a time but i  do have a friend that both joints have gout in them..so not too common...

The meds they have out there to treat it can be injectables ..not oral...i start back my metherteraxate in a few weeks...seeing im fresh outta surgery they want to wait....

Hope this help..cheer up..

Pam

 I was officially diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2008 but my Rheumatologist feels I was mis-diagnosed back in 1978. It affects all my joints. I was also diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in my knees and hips. I never took NSAID's so this is not an issue with me. I do inject Cimzia and take Methotrexate and Placquenil orally. I also take Folic Acid, Fish Oil, and Ginger. Since every extra pound is like 4 pounds on your knees, I have relieved myself of 780 pounds of wear and tear on my knees. When I was at my highest weight, I was in severe pain and could hardly move. Now that I have lost 195 pounds I feel awesome and my range of movement has improved greatly.