RA ruining my life

[MamaBanana12]

I don't really want anything other than just I'm young, and been struggling with RA for 2.5 years, and seem to just be getting worse.

This week I've been unable to walk, use my hands, pick up my kids, drive.

I'm just really really broken.

Had a review. I'm starting new meds, treatment escalating, but its just a constant cycle of pain & misery 😭

I had a walking stick delivered today. I am under 30, this isn't right. Anyway, does it get better?

My thumb joints are destroyed and signs of osteo now. Why can't they get it under control. What am I missing??

Get the biological drugs and embrace as much medication as they'll give you. They are like magic, I promise.

I couldn't walk, hold a cup, do a zip etc between the ages 22-24. Once I had the right drugs (and had built back up with rehab, physio etc) I was almost indistinguishable from everyone else, even at things like Parkrun or mountain biking. A small blip when I had children but after 20 years on meds I've never been even close to that ill again. Im also treated straight away if there are any issues.

I have a friend with a much milder form of RA, who does diet and herbs instead of drugs. She looks much older and more unwell than I do.

Also, even without the swelling your fatigue will be crippling you. Minimise as much as you can until you have things under control, let people help and take care of you. x

Thanks, that's what I'm starting.

Been on a few different things, starting biologicals now alongside Methotrexate. I really hope this is what I need to end this misery . It's just awful

I think I’m having my first flare up. Really painful hands. Pouring a cup of tea is sore. Feeling frightened: I’m a widow with a young child and no family support.

No history of it in the family.

Could this be Covid related? I had a brief bout of it in September (then had a vaccine in late October).

Take any and all meds, and don't be afraid to talk to the Drs if you don't get on.

A walking stick is useful, I used to have a lot of falls before I started using mine.

Get a referral for physio, and if you can for aquatherapy.

Have a look at adaptions to your car.

Hot wax - proper medical stuff, is so relieving for hands and acts as physio as you remove it.

My arthritis is Psoriatic so a similar type.

One thing that helped my hands was learning British Sign Language.

I was diagnosed at 26,

Thanks for the advice.

I'm loaded with steroids at the moment so hoping I feel better soon. Starting biologicals Shortly.

I'm going to ring my GP for physio Monday morning. And I'm going through Bupa to get my MRI quicker as on chatting to the radiologist my knee is damaged significantly, so I'm going to speed things up I'm sick of waiting months for an appointment x

@MamaBanana12 just echoing what others have said about embracing the drugs.
it really does get better, I promise. I have been where you are and am now on biologics and they are a game changer. It’s just the time whilst waiting to see which one works etc and getting the right balance that is the tricky part.

I have found that whilst oral steroids are good, the steroid injections do much more for me if it’s worth asking for one of those to tide you over?

heat helps me so soaking my hands in warm water and getting them moving a bit, wax baths, heat pads that you put in the microwave and the disposable ones.

I would also say keep moving, sitting and resting just makes you seize up and feel worse (when I say keep moving I just mean moving your limbs whilst sitting and small walk to the kitchen not a 3 mile treck btw 😉)

wishing you lots of relief soon

Hey there,

RA is an immune reaction causing/caused by inflammation. One way to tackle inflammation is via diet. Modern diet ruins the gut lining, causing leaky bowel, which leads to inflammtion all over the body. Heal the gut, heal the body.

Have you ever watched any videos by Mikhaila Peterson? She is a pretty extreme example, but many doctors are now recommending a keto/carnivore diet to treat illnesses caused by or associated with chronic inflammation. The diet itself cannot harm you, as it is nutritionally complete, and might help.

Good luck.

Thanks for this il take a look. I've just lost 4st doing no carb and high protein so I definitely felt the benefit of that in terms of my inflammation!

X

Thanks for this, a few people have mentioned the wax stuff I will look into this! Yeah I am defo trying to move it's impossible not to with 2 kids 🤣

I'm feeling slightly better today after a few days on steroids and my methotrexate, walking is still not easy and can't manage very far right now.

X

Just another thought, a TENS machine.

I initially borrowed one from physio but I then bought one.

Thanks all, tens machine is something il dig out as I have one from my pregnancies!

My friend, who is a rheumatologist, says that one of the best therapies for RA hands is a hot wax treatment. The warmth of the hot wax penetrates in such a way that the benefit lasts a decent amount of time.

Try a couple of treatments, and if it does help, you can home kits.