[leejoseph]

Hi I was told I had R.A. in the E.R. about 7 years ago when half my body swelled out of the blue.Then I started seeing a family DR about 4 years ago and told him about the er visit and RA showing up in my bloodwork.So he said he would check it out and he done blood work and said i didnt have it.So i kept seeing him for the last 4 years and i kept telling him i was tired and hurting all the time.He would give me a few painkillers sometimes or some muscle relaxers but never mentioned RA.So over this 4 year period ive got to hurting more and more.I have a few slipped disc so i thought maybe that was the problem.But in the last year or so ive got to were my hips and legs are so heavy and ache so bad sometime its hard to get up and walk.But then my Dr leaves his practice and his RN takes over with my same medical records.So i tell her about all my pain and fatige and tiredness.She ask if ive had blood work in a while. I told her yes but my Dr always said it comes back good nothing wrong.So she started looking at my last test and she mentioned it shows im positive for RA,Then i told her i had asked the dr about it and he said i was fine.Then she looked at some older ones and they all showed i was positive for RA for the last 4 years.Well anyway does anyone have this in there hips and can it get worse.Are they meds just for RA.And has my Dr damaged me by letting this go on so long and not treating it.Im just so surprized my Dr done me this way.Any body have any suggestions of what i can do for it.And if im damaged from no treatment should my dr be responsible since i had told him about my er visit and he didnt look at my test results and just lied to me since i had asked him about me having RA? And hoe bad can RA get im already having days that i cant hardly walk?

[pegasus]

Hello leejoseph,

I have RA. I found this article helpful http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arth...is-8-top-myths

Yes there are medications for it, I am on Meloxicam (anti-inflammatory) and Zapain (codeine phosphate/paracetamol 30mg/500mg.)

I found this helpful too, 'Living a full life with Rheumatoid Arthritis.' Absolutely fab! http://www.howto.co.uk/wellbeing/rhe...oid_arthritis/

If the above medications don't help then it's on to chemo type drugs which I don't like the sound of so I'm staying away from those if I can.

Hugs

[Gus1234U]

i'm very sorry to hear of your doctor's incompetence, Leejoseph,,, that is why they have medical malpractice insurance,,, one must believe that early treatment is preventative~! get a good lawyer and another better doctor, and remember that movement is one thing that does help, even if it hurts (so i've been told).

you might start now looking into chronic pain management techniques, too, to minimize your dependence on drugs, and prolong your mobility. best wishes,
Gus

[leejoseph]

How do you know how serious your RA is.My dr hasnt explained much about it she sending me for more recent bloodwork first.My first onset was unexpected about 6 or 7 years ago.I started hurting then in a few days my knees swells to were i couldnt even bend them,and i had big lumps swell on my behind,and my knuckles swelled to were i couldnt bend them.Then it went away after about 3 weeks.Since then my legs and hips have slowly over the years got to were they feel weighted down and hard to bend and even hard to walk.Some days i barely can walk from pain in my hips.Im not sure how serious that is ?

[pegasus]

The blood tests that they do are not an absolute indication that it is RA so I think the Docs go by how you are and how you present. The articles I posted above tell you more about it. I think you need to ask your Doc to refer you to a Rheumatologist. I haven't seen one yet but then this is early days for me. Go back to your Doc and see if you can get a referral to a Rheumatologist. I have been told by my Doc that diet and exercise are important, I know if I sit down for too long I seize up and can't move! I hope you can get some relief and answers.

[Perna]

Arthritis is nothing that can be "cured" it can only be treated, will probably get progressively worse over time. I don't think your doctor made you worse, you just didn't get any relief from your pain. West Virginia has a higher-than-average (worst in US) number of people with arthritis: The Burden of Arthritis in West Virginia

I would look for a rheumatologist and see them, make sure of your diagnosis and get the best treatment you can:
West Virginia Rheumatologists - City Directory

[leejoseph]

Well I didnt mean he actaully made me worse.Just seems if he had been treating it maybe I wouldnt be getting so much worse.When i first asked him about it I would just have flare ups,now im having pain all the time.Some days I cant even hardly walk because of my hip and leg pain.Maybe if i had been on meds for it for the last 6 or 7 years it wouldnt have got this bad.