Arthritis meds

Oh Lord I had 36 affected joints! No wonder I move like Tin Man on The Wizard of Oz! ???

OP - are you sure you are to allowed to take turmeric? There is
Uk Group - Turmeric Users Group on FB. They follow the ''Golden Paste'' treatment which I take. It is organic Turmeric powder, 1 cup; 1/4 cup organic coconut oil, teasp. organic freshly ground pepper and a cup or more of water . Simmer very gently for 5 -7 mins. Store in fridge or freezer. Take small amounts at first. It really works with the pain.

You have to be careful with turmeric if you are on other meds. My oncologist does not recommend it as they have not studied it’s effects with other drugs. Always consult your doctor first.

I have been on Naproxen for about 4 weeks now but feel bl...y awful, sickness, headaches, dizziness and tiredness. So I have now gone over to CBD oil tablets, its a high does capsule, 27 mg, in stead of the 5 or 10 but it works for me. Trouble they are expensive but I just want my life back. I will look at the tablets in H&B and compare to what I am paying now and see if some of the other ones will work better.

Also fun of a cold and sore throat, rotten night.

Will stop taking turmeric until spoken to Rheumatologist. Barmeyoldbat, ‘‘twas the Naproxen that gave me a duodenal ulcer. I know how you feel , it’s like a thief comes and just steals your life as you knew it clean away _ very depressing.

Well, yet more fun. Developed a lung infection so , after 5, yes 5 hours waiting at our urgent care centre am now on antibiotics and temporarily off the Sulfasalazine. Never a dull day !,???

Be careful with turmeric if you are taking any blood thinners, as it also acts as a blood thinner. I'd check with your gp first

Nanna58 -you sound to be in a similar place that I was when I was approved for what's called 'the gold standard treatment for inflammatory arthritis". Like you, I developed chest infections after colds, also cold sores and other 'minor' health issues that meant I was too ill to take the biologics. Lots of rest, which is hard this time of year.
To be honest, I wouldn't bother with turmeric at this stage. I have friends who swear by it for osteo arthritis in themselves and their dogs or horses. Inflammatory arthritis is a different and much more serious disease. Many people give well meaning advice about diet or turmeric for example but psoriatic arthritis, like RA is potentially life changing at can be life threatening. Dennis Potter, one of my heroes had psoriatic arthritis as a result of his psoriasis, His play I think The Detective covers the devastating impact on Potter.

On a more positive note, I'm 5 or 6 years on enbrel, one of the older biologics. I was so well on Humira one of the new ones, until a year in, when I reacted badly - so enbrel was prescribed. It's been used for a long time, so side effects etc well known

Look after yourself and be guided by your Rheumatologist. They understand the disease.

I started off with methotrexate, but that interfered with my white blood cell count, so they changed me to Sulfasalazine. It didn't even touch the problem so I then went onto weekly Enbrel injections - which was my wonder drug for about seven years. Then that stopped being effective, so I was then changed onto Retuximab infusions.

That was my new wonder drug. Infusions two weeks apart, administered six monthly. And I was literally symptom free.

I have been on that for quite a few years now, and have responded so well to it, that they now don't administer it as a matter of course, but wait until symptoms appear and then top it up. I had my last infusion about 20 months ago, and only now am I starting to feel pain in my wrists and thumb joints. I'm just waiting for a date for the next set of infusions.

I think it's a case of "fiddling around" with drugs and doses to find what suits you individually. It can be helpful, and interesting, to find out about other people's experiences, but of course, your rheumatology team are best placed to make suggestions for your treatment.

I hope they managed to stabilise your arthritis soon. I had forgotten the searing pain of it, having been symptom free for so long

Waves at Hurdy Gurdy -we've been through a similar path and are currently in a place where disease modifiers are giving us our lives back.

I don't want inflammatory and osteo arthritis, osteoporosis to define me. It would be wonderful though, if people actually informed themselves a little about the devastating and life changing impact these diseases have. WE are so fortunate to live now, 50 years ago we'd have been significantly disabled.

I don't want inflammatory and osteo arthritis, osteoporosis to define me.

Iam64, I could have written that statement!
Yesterday I was asked if I was willing to come and talk at an RA hospital, support group, to show patients that having RA doesn't mean you have to give up on life because of your condition.
I actually had to decline for now, as I just don't have the time!

Marydoll -
my consultant invites patients to her sessions with trainee doctors. They are tasked with identifying which/if any form of arthritis we have.
I'm increasingly convinced about the power of positive thinking. Though - medication helps so much to feel positive

DH was on rituximab for a couple of years then he was changed to baracitinib which is a daily tablet, he was on 4mg daily but has just been lowered to 2mg daily. He also takes methotrexate, at his last consult following blood tests he was told he's in remission from his RA. He says he feels better than he has for a very long time.

I would recommend you consult the specialist. Indeed, all the situations and problems with health only seem identical and similar. In fact, everything is very individual, and you need to know exactly which drugs are right for you, what are your contraindications and risks. When I had problems with health in a pandemic, I found a helpful site www.prescriptiondoctor.com . It is a very convenient service that helps with such questions as yours. You have just to fill simple medical questionnaire thair partner doctor reviews and issues a prescription. Then, in the shortest time, you get delivery of the drugs you need directly from the pharmacy.

I have had RA for 20 plus years and have found on a Facebook group RA members who lije this group give out advise opinions and just a great feeling of not being alone with whatever your problem is.

Llam64, I was interested to hear you have inflammatory arthritis as I believe this is my problem as I also have 5 other auto immune conditions. Early June I am seeing the rheumatologist for the first time and as I am unable to any anti iinflammatory medicine by mouth I am just hoping they will put me on the injection.s I have read good reports about them and you have in my mind confirmed it.