[Neurontin]

After about 5-6 years of lifting hard weights i.e. exercising I had to stop due to chest pain. I thought it was my heart because I had surgery a few years earlier due to being 240lbs. I almost did'nt make it. So now I go get the x-rays, blood work, etc.....My MD refers me to a Rheumatologist. I did more blood work and he says the blood work shows that you have RA but its in its early stages I believe. I just started feeling the little pains traveling not just in my joints but muscles, joints, and I think nerves. From my toe to my shoulder. Well in any case Im taking mobic. I've been on it 2 weeks and my chest pain is gone but the toe, hands, hips, and shoulders etc....still hurt at times so He increased it. Just grateful and wanted to share that. Or just babble. I havent slept all night so Im at it again..lol, Peter

[Leed]

Hi Peter --- I'm so sorry you have RA. It sure can be an awfully painful disease! I hope yours ends up to be a mild case and doesn't become severe! Hopefully the Mobic will take care of your pain too. While exercising is great for RA, you'll have to be careful what KIND of exercising you do, so you don't put too much stress on the joints. Your doctor should be able to tell you what you should or should not be doing as far as exercising.

The very best to you Peter, and please keep us posted as to how you're doing, okay? God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

[Neurontin]

Thanks for the encouragement. I really need that in my life at this point. I hope you are doing good as well. Peter

[kindachaotic]

Neurontin, Sorry to hear about the new dx, early treatment is key. Glad you got started early with a rheumatologist & med.
Got dx'd RA in 1994, meds have increased with age, I'm 54 now, to prevent bone erosion & feel very fortunate.
Am limited phisically & have had several surgeries but it could still be alot worse. Really miss working in the yard tho, loved my flowerbeds.
Hope you continue to be stable, listen to your body. It speaks if pushed.
Feel free to PM me anytime.

[Neurontin]

Originally Posted by kindachaotic

Neurontin, Sorry to hear about the new dx, early treatment is key. Glad you got started early with a rheumatologist & med.
Got dx'd RA in 1994, meds have increased with age, I'm 54 now, to prevent bone erosion & feel very fortunate.
Am limited phisically & have had several surgeries but it could still be alot worse. Really miss working in the yard tho, loved my flowerbeds.
Hope you continue to be stable, listen to your body. It speaks if pushed.
Feel free to PM me anytime.

Im sorry to hear about your limits but I truly thank you for taking the time to share with me your experience. I do think my pain is bearable at this time but Im glad I listened to my body as you mentioned. Sorry about your gardening and thanks for your support and thanks again Leed...Clean

Arthritis as a whole sucks. I don't have RA, but I've had reactive arthritis since I was little & I'm still untreated. Doctors kept saying it was "growing pains" & brushing it off. RA doesn't only affect your joints, despite what most people believe! It affects nerves, connective tissues, & also organs if you're having a bad enough of an inflammatory spell. My arthritis is essentially Rheumatic in nature, only it doesn't lead to joint deformation.
Best of luck though! And don't take too many NSAIDs over the counter... They can really mess you up. I took Advil/Aleve religiously for years & wound up with ulcers & chest pain.

[Neurontin]

Originally Posted by Shayatanica

Arthritis as a whole sucks. I don't have RA, but I've had reactive arthritis since I was little & I'm still untreated. Doctors kept saying it was "growing pains" & brushing it off. RA doesn't only affect your joints, despite what most people believe! It affects nerves, connective tissues, & also organs if you're having a bad enough of an inflammatory spell. My arthritis is essentially Rheumatic in nature, only it doesn't lead to joint deformation.
Best of luck though! And don't take too many NSAIDs over the counter... They can really mess you up. I took Advil/Aleve religiously for years & wound up with ulcers & chest pain.

Today I was all inflamed. My legs, hands, and feet. It does suck cause Im only 44 years old. I was working out pretty hard and on a good diet for awhile but the past year had to stop and gained 20 pounds. Damn that sucks. I really worked hard at losing weight. Anyway thanks for the comments, Clean

[Neurontin]

Meds have been working on the pain and inflammation....Mobic 15mg

Awesome!

[Neurontin]

Thanks....Today I did some mountian bike riding....

[shipping]

I have tried dozens of NSAIDS, both OTC and prescrption, and they either don't work or they give me bad side effects. I want to postpone DMARDS until I just have to get on them. And no one is willing to give me narcotics. My pain is severe but the worst thing is that it is so constant. Constant chronic pain causes depression, anxiety, and, in my case, it causes me to eat lots of carbs for a mood lift. Then this is bad because I am diabetic; I can't eat carbs and I can't take steroids because of diabetes. I am typing now with the one hand I can flex and feeling very sorry for myself. Yes, I know children are starving in Ethiopia. Yes, I know we are not supposed to feel self pity. Ef that. My feet and legs hurt also because of neuropathy from diabetes. Yes, blame me; say, if you had controlled your blood sugar you wouldn't have neuropathy. Well, I was in school for years with no health insurance available and the student clinic said, "You're beyond our scope." Refused to treat me. I was diabetic for 18 years before I married an insurance policy. I'm also going blind. Sure, sure; fat people get diabetes and deserve it, well guess what I am not fat. I inherited diabetes from my dad and RA from my mom, and diabetics can't take steroids; if I do my blood glucose will go up too high for my meter to read it. If you have a useful suggestion, please respond. If you have sympathy, please respond. But don't respond to say I shouldn't feel sorry for myself or I should exercise. I hurt too much to go to a gym. The bones in my hand will have to be replaced and my legs will be amputated.

(((Shipping))) I know how chronic pain wears one down. I'm sorry you have to deal with both RA and the neuropathy. That's too much for anyone.
I wish I had some suggestions, but all I can offer is a safe hug.

[shipping]

Thanks for the big safe hug, Calista+12. I really need hugs. I'm sorry to be so negative but my dad was a diabetic amputee and my mom has steel rods in her toes as bone replacements. I love my job and don't want to have to quit it and go on disability. And when I am not hurting so much I can sort of handle my mental stuff. But not now. And I hurt so much I wish I could cut my fingers off and leave them on the doorstep of pain management. My right hand is gradually improving and my left hand is gradually getting worse; it is swollen up around my joints. Hopeless.

[rainbow8]

I'm very sorry that you're in such pain, shipping! I wish I had a suggestion for you. Have you ever gone to a pain clinic? I have no idea if they can help but it's all I can think of.

I can give you hugs, though.

[shipping]

Yes, I had been trying all day to get into a pain clinic; one has to apply and be accepted here. No immediate relief. But I managed to see my pcp who came through for me today. It's a much better day. Thank you for reading.

[Neurontin]

Thanks Shipping for sharing your experience. Whatever you feel its okay to feel it...I was taught to hide my feelings and still struggle with that. Im on a low dosage of those NSAIDS. Im not feeling those side effects you mentioned and hopefully it will stay that way. My Vision has been changing and I may also be diabetic. Thank God I do have insurance. It didn't cover the strips but does cover most of my meds and they gave me a free monitor to check my blood. So now Im seeing an Eye Dr., my MD, Therapist, Psych, & RA Doc. Damn Im only 44 years old. I think Im also inheriting these from my mom and dad. Hang in there and whatever you feel share it, because they're your feelings and no one can deny you that. Feeling self pity I don't think its that. If it is so what. More power to you. Pain Im learning that it hurts. I hope you well and find something that works for you. Thank you for your honesty. We all deserve to feel good and live in peace which is a hard thing to find in this mad world. Ive been sweeling in my feet and hands. I try to stay active but end up swollen. Hopefully the meds will slow down the RA. Peace , Love, and be good to yourself, Peter

[DespondentDaisy]

I'm glad that you were able to get it diagnosed in te early stages, it may help you tremendously down the road.

[shipping]

Thanks so much, Peter and R and D and C and everyone! Now that my pcp helped me I am much better. Yes, chronic pain sucks the life out of a person and creates severe fatigue. This makes it hard to cope with anything. I am coping so much better right now. After pcp gave me good drugs, I felt better enough that I could take the prednisone and control blood sugar by eating only protein. So much better today. Thanks for all the good wishes and great support, especially Peter who said I could feel sorry for myself. Love you guys!