Rheumatism

[bannork]

I met an old friend today whom I had not seen for about a year, a mother of 5 children, she's always been hearty and healthy. In her mid- forties I was shocked by her condition, swollen joints in her fingers, arms and legs, she complained of constant pain over the last year, she was walking like an old person. She has been going to a clinic since the pain began, the doctor is the owner and is a bone specialist. He's told her bluntly there's no cure,only pills to alleviate the pain. In his own words ,' if you don't believe me check the internet'.

Her kids are already calling her grandma.

I wonder if there's any treatment anyone knows of for rheumatism, apart from just pills to relieve the pain.

bannork.

[Dragonman]

I met an old friend today whom I had not seen for about a year, a mother of 5 children, she's always been hearty and healthy. In her mid- forties I was shocked by her condition, swollen joints in her fingers, arms and legs, she complained of constant pain over the last year, she was walking like an old person. She has been going to a clinic since the pain began, the doctor is the owner and is a bone specialist. He's told her bluntly there's no cure,only pills to alleviate the pain. In his own words ,' if you don't believe me check the internet'.

Her kids are already calling her grandma.

I wonder if there's any treatment anyone knows of for rheumatism, apart from just pills to relieve the pain.

bannork.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I presume she has had a blood test to substantiate it is indeed rheumatoid arthritis? There are many suggestions for treatments which may work. They do for some people, bot not for the majority. My friend has had RA since he was 30 and has tried everything to no avail. He lives with it. NSaids can only be taken over short periods and from my experience do not work very well as well as upsetting my stomach. There are currently experimental treatments, but it will be some years before these are readily available without side effects.

[Sheryl]

I met an old friend today whom I had not seen for about a year, a mother of 5 children, she's always been hearty and healthy. In her mid- forties I was shocked by her condition, swollen joints in her fingers, arms and legs, she complained of constant pain over the last year, she was walking like an old person. She has been going to a clinic since the pain began, the doctor is the owner and is a bone specialist. He's told her bluntly there's no cure,only pills to alleviate the pain. In his own words ,' if you don't believe me check the internet'.

Her kids are already calling her grandma.

I wonder if there's any treatment anyone knows of for rheumatism, apart from just pills to relieve the pain.

bannork.

I presume she has had a blood test to substantiate it is indeed rheumatoid arthritis? There are many suggestions for treatments which may work. They do for some people, bot not for the majority. My friend has had RA since he was 30 and has tried everything to no avail. He lives with it. NSaids can only be taken over short periods and from my experience do not work very well as well as upsetting my stomach. There are currently experimental treatments, but it will be some years before these are readily available without side effects.

There is more than one condition that can cause the symptoms you describe. I have encountered wrong diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Thiland even from specialists in Bangkok. She should go to Bumrungrad and see one of the speicalists in rheumatology there (they have 6 -- the most of any hospital which is why I suggest them), bringing with her copies of any test results and names of medications she is on. The first thing that has to be done is to get a clear diagnosis.

If she does have RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) it is true that there is no permanent cure but there are a large numbr of drugs that can be used to control symptoms, including some very new biologic agents. Bumrungrad would have these. It is ssnetial that in addition to anti-inflammatories she also take a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). She can certainly be made much more com fortable and functional than you describe, alkthough she ewill need medical supervision and medication for the rest of her life -- if she really has RA.

Among th things that can mimic RA is serum-sickness like syndrome (SSLS) which is actually an allrgic response made much worse if treatd like RA. Tjis happened to a friend of mine courtesy of one of Siriraj Hospital's top rheumatologists who did not bother with a full diagnostic workupo because he was so sure based on clinical signs that it was RA. It wasn't. Good luck to your friend.

[girlx]

my aunt was disnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, until a long time later they actually discovered it was hep c. worth checking into.

[awtrez]

I recommend TCM (Traditional Chinese Medecine) , just find a Chinese doctor with a good reputation.