What is wrong with me?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 45,928
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From: Loveland, CO
Originally Posted by Memphis_S2k,Jun 13 2008, 03:57 PM
there are many things that the body needs especially at an older. i am a young guy but i am very familiar with nutrition and fitness being i am a personal trainer and nutritionist.
do you take any supplements?
you need a good multi vitamin to take every day. Also you may want to try Fish Oil extract... you can purchase it at any GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. It really does help to lubricate the joints in the body.
do you take any supplements?
you need a good multi vitamin to take every day. Also you may want to try Fish Oil extract... you can purchase it at any GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. It really does help to lubricate the joints in the body.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 65,409
Likes: 4,694
From: Smalltown
Patty, you'll have to let me know if the shoulder issues are related to arthritis. I wonder if it's more that that particular activity is something you rarely do, so you might have just overdone it. All the reaching and scrubbing motions....
I'm pretty crippled up after I spent a lot of time planting in the yard...Takes a couple of days to feel right too.
I'm pretty crippled up after I spent a lot of time planting in the yard...Takes a couple of days to feel right too.
40 years ago, you were 64! 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 45,174
Likes: 4,094
From: Arlington, VA
Patty - It is good you are seeing a rheumatologist. There are so many variations for RA (if that is the diagnosis) that you need a specialist to tailor a treatment program for you. Let us know what happens. 
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Freehold
My wife developed rheumatoid arthritis around age 40. I developed psoriatic arthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis, around age 55. You might say that I am well acquainted with that disease.
My wife's form was very severe, in the first year she swelled up and became so stiff that I had to cut her food. It was brought under control using gold injections. still, the disease goes on and while she has not lost her mobility, her fatigue level is very high. That is why you don't see her at any of our meets.
For less severe cases the first line of defense are the NSAIDS, non steroid anti inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen and ibuprofen. These relieve symptoms but do not dtop the progress of the disease. They have side effects: they are hard on the stomach and kidneys in the long run. I started out with a relatively low dose of naproxen and finally was taking 1500mg of the naproxen when it started to affect my kidneys. I now only take 500 mg but have more pain and stiffness. I also had to take nexium for my stomach. Then there are the DMARDS, disease modifying drugs. I started out with plaquenil, but two years ago I had to switch to arava because of the plaquenil side effects.
There are tests for RA, but they don't always give you positives even if you have the disease.
Lyme disease also sometimes gives the same symptons as RA.
It is important that you exercise all the joints to keep them mobile. The weather does seem to affect the disease. It also travels around the body, not always the same joints that get stiff. Sometimes the arthritis seems to get less severe, than you get a flare up. I usually get a flare up in spring.
But as you can see atleast in my case, the arthritis has not affected the ability to have fun.
It is important that you get a good rheumatologist who is willing to be agressive in treatment.
My wife's form was very severe, in the first year she swelled up and became so stiff that I had to cut her food. It was brought under control using gold injections. still, the disease goes on and while she has not lost her mobility, her fatigue level is very high. That is why you don't see her at any of our meets.
For less severe cases the first line of defense are the NSAIDS, non steroid anti inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen and ibuprofen. These relieve symptoms but do not dtop the progress of the disease. They have side effects: they are hard on the stomach and kidneys in the long run. I started out with a relatively low dose of naproxen and finally was taking 1500mg of the naproxen when it started to affect my kidneys. I now only take 500 mg but have more pain and stiffness. I also had to take nexium for my stomach. Then there are the DMARDS, disease modifying drugs. I started out with plaquenil, but two years ago I had to switch to arava because of the plaquenil side effects.
There are tests for RA, but they don't always give you positives even if you have the disease.
Lyme disease also sometimes gives the same symptons as RA.
It is important that you exercise all the joints to keep them mobile. The weather does seem to affect the disease. It also travels around the body, not always the same joints that get stiff. Sometimes the arthritis seems to get less severe, than you get a flare up. I usually get a flare up in spring.
But as you can see atleast in my case, the arthritis has not affected the ability to have fun.
It is important that you get a good rheumatologist who is willing to be agressive in treatment.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 45,928
Likes: 5,434
From: Loveland, CO
^Thank you, Herman for your valuable input. I'll print it out for my learning curve information.
I have an appointment in two hours with Dr. Parke King Chang, and I learned that he got his PhD in Pittsburgh. I've printed a photo I took there on May 1st, and am going to take it with me.
I have an appointment in two hours with Dr. Parke King Chang, and I learned that he got his PhD in Pittsburgh. I've printed a photo I took there on May 1st, and am going to take it with me.
