I have just recently been diagnosed with arthritis (RA) and am in pain
about 80% of the time. My shoulders, knees, hands, and especially
back hurt. What is the pain level of some other arthritis sufferers
out there? Does it ever stop?

In the early stages, yes there are treatments that can stop the pain and
inflamation--but long term--not unless they come up with something new.
Chronic inflamation causes damage, and that adds a layer of pain. But there
are lots of things out there to try for your RA, get a good Rheumy and help
him with finding a treatment that will work for you, to help with pain and
slow down the progression of this disease. Remaining as active as you can
is important for keeping your mobility, water-exercise is one of the best
things you can do, it keeps muscle strength up while cushoning impact. My
dad has been living with severe RA for over 40 years and has "tried it all",
and as I said--there are a lot of alternatives, have an open mind, sometimes
something will work for you that hasn't worked for the next guy. Autoimmune
disorders are being researched more than ever before--with luck there will
be a breakthrough that will change all of our lives for the better! Cindy T
"Aranxta" <aranxta@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:957ee1da.0404041759.47e220c@posting.google.co m...

"Aranxta" <aranxta@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:957ee1da.0404041759.47e220c@posting.google.co m...
Hi, It helps to read news:alt.support.arthritis because there are lots
of people there that have what you have. I have what you have.
To answer you question,,,, No, it does not stop. It can be
controlled. You do not have to live in pain each day. The only way that
is true is for you and your Rhuematologist to find which disease modifying
medicine works best for you and you have to accept the fact that you are
going to have to fight this disease from now on and you can win. You
can live a good life and work and have a family if that is what you want.
Its really up to you in the fact that you must accept that you have a
disease that can not be cured at this time (maybe tomorrow) and have to take
the medicine you and your RD work out works best for you. The good thing
is that today you have choices.
I am 65 and have had this from about the time I was 38 and under a RDs
care from when I was 45. No operations, I can do most things with very
little pain but I take a DMARD,,,, Remicade now but I have taken most of the
disease modifying medicines and am now retired.
You may not believe it now because you have swollen joints and live with
pain from the time you wake up until you go to sleep but its up to you and
your RD and you have to want to fight this.

Harv

Thanks,

I appreciate everyone's response. I do want to fight it and have
started taking *very* good care of my body otherwise. I quit smoking
and eat very healthfully. Now maybe I can find a medicine that will
help me!

A.

"Harvey R. Stone" <hrstone@swbell..net> wrote in message news:<mtfcc.5371$0h3.2200@newssvr24.news.prodigy.c om>...