Went to Dr. today, doing a blood test for Rhumatoid Arthritis-does

[onecent]

anyone know anything about this disease? The more I look into this disease on the net, the more fearful I am becoming.

I was surprised to hear my TMJ was a symptom=== or can be. Anyone know where I can get some net support for this disease? Hoping the tests come back negative, but I am very suspicious

It's like my fingers are growing right before my eyes, jaw ache, teeth hurt, nodules are evident in my arms...

I know little about this disease, anyone here have anything they might know to help me?

Thanks in advance..
I love this website!!!

Penny

[REP]

1. I Have an Inflammatory Arthritis

It's not RA, but in the same family (ankylosing spondylitis). A positive rheumatoid factor does not necessarily mean RA (and an elevated ESR definitely does not mean RA - it's just a nonspecific test for inflammation in the body. Mine's always around 54 and I do not have RA or lupus).

To find rheumatoid arthritis-specific groups, Google is your friend! I'm sure there's a bunch.

As for treatments, etc - that's best discussed with your doctor once you have a diagnosis. Good luck!

[onecent]

2. Thank you for your post, My doctor has told me if the tests come

back showing I have this he will be sending me to a rheumatoid specialist. I'm going to hang out in google for awhile.

Hope you are doing okay also.

[gademocrat7]

3. I was diagnosed with RA 3 years ago.

A good rhumatologist can help you with medications that can slow the joint destruction and joint effusion. They can also help with pain relief. I am happy to say that with aggressive treatments of Methetrexate and Arava, I am in remission. I no longer take the methetrexate. My Arava dose has been cut back to 10mg. a day instead of 20. The Arthritis Foundations has good pointers for living with RA.
Let me know if I can help you.

[Warpy]

4. Like all chronic illnesses, if you take care of it, it's a nuisance

It is chronic and progressive, but a combination of drugs can generally keep it under control for many years. It is no longer the fast trip to a wheelchair and nursing home it was 75 years ago.

People are generally controlled on a combination of anti inflammatory medicines and drugs targeted toward cooling off the immune system. Some lucky people can just take NSAIDS like ibuprofen or naproxen and do quite well. Others need a whole pharmacy to send them into remissions. Some of the drugs have annoying side effects, though, and that's where the nuisance part comes in.

The diagnosis doesn't signal the end of your useful life, though. Just be prepared to pay attention to what's happening to your body and be vigilant about following whatever drug regimen you end up on.

There are message boards and support groups all over the net. If you live in a city, contact the Arthritis Foundation for real world support groups. Some of the online groups are at http://www.arthritis.org and http://www.healthtalk.com/rheumatoidarthritis/index.cfm One I used to post on a long time ago is at http://arthritis.about.com/mpboards.htm. It's a protected forum, you do have to register to use it. A Google of "rheumatoid arthritis bulletin boards" will also be helpful.

Above all, keep positive thoughts until a diagnosis is nailed down and you know just what it is you have. It's not just rheumatoid arthritis, there's a whole alphabet soup of related diseases out there, and you may find out you don't have any of them.

Good luck!

[FloridaPat]

5. 100% organic vegetarian diet should do the trick.

[Warpy]

6. No it doesn't.

I've done that for years.

This is an ILLNESS and it has to be taken care of.

Failing to do that by falling for quackery is a quick trip to total disability.