21 year old with rheumatoid, osteoarthritis. help.

[RhythmSpring]

3 years ago i started getting inflammation in some joints, and since then, it's spread to all 12 large joints, but not fingers, toes or spine. Two months ago I got a hip replacement because the inflammation took out the cartilage in my right hip. It's bad. I take enbrel, systemic enzymes, alfalfa, good fish oil, vitamin D, probiotics, have experimented with many anti-inflammatories, immune system modulators, and, under the suspicion that the condition is chronic lyme disease, many strong antibiotics, ionized water, rife machines, and a 6-month long raw food diet, with no success in keeping the inflammation under control. Cortisone injections and NSAIDS prove helpful in the short term but harmful in the long term.

What's worse, the cartilage is wearing so thin that it is bone-on-bone in my left wrist, beginning the adventure of pain and limitation I went through with my hip, except that they don't do wrist replacements. Not as simple or easy as a hip replacement. As far as I can see, there is very little hope for the dexterity of my wrists. My elbows are on the brink as well.

What's worse, I'm a drummer (both hand- and set) and a pianist. If the future of my music career (which is the one and only path I see for myself, it is my greatest passion) is jeopardized, I will be very

very

very

very

sad.

Help.

 

[Darksidesam]

I think after reading your post (im 19)
ill be quiet about my upper back and right shoulder and wrists needing cracked/popped constantly all day, and the pain with it.

Your case sounds very very severe, im sorry i dont know what to say to you. id be very very sad in your case too, it was getting me down enough as it is.

Does anyone know of any decent Supplements for helping restore the cartilage between joints?


Btw i used to play the keyboard loads but i kind of stopped as the pain in my wrists was excruitiating.

sounds like your over working the joints in your arms particularly. But also something isnt right in your body.

 

[OverDone]

man, you are an extremely strong individual and I'm sorry you have to go through all of that

I wish I had some words to help ease the physical pain but, I have no experience in such pain.

Have you seen what THESE FOLKS have to say about their personal struggles? Perhaps, they can help (or maybe you can help them?)?

Hang strong, man!

 

[Ixchellian]

I was diagnosed as having RA four years ago, and at that point my rheumatoid-factor/sed-rate labs pegged me as having the bones of a 60yr old..... by the time I'm 45.
I'm 32 now.

So far meloxicam keeps the pain & inflammation down, but its not enough. Lyrica helped a lot too, but I'm no longer taking that.

Staying well hydrated is of utmost importance, and doing developmental stretches every day are very important for keeping arthritis at in check.
Oh, and save your money..... leave the glucosamine/chondroitin supplements at the store. They dont work, other than in a placebo sense.

 

[RhythmSpring]

Thanks. I'll take your advice about hydration and supplements. It's awful how many supplements do not work a shred.

 

[panic in paradise]

aye - there with you in ways, i have a spondoathropy - AS, Ostoe, all sorts of auto-immune fun.!


the TNF's have been worse to me then the damn "disease,D/O" - there can be so much self sacrifice, that there is a whole new to gain, so, keep kicking back!


the good days really are that much better after all.
;-D

 

[Missykins]

Have you tried acupuncture? Many people say it really helps with chronic pain.

 

[Ixchellian]

Have you tried acupuncture? Many people say it really helps with chronic pain.

Even a few of my VA docs have recommended acupuncture...... and you could probably mark the passage of a distant comet by that occasion, for as often as the VA buys into a "new" treatment like acupuncture.

I have also have had trigger-point injections; which is basically botox, only targeted at skeletal muscle groups once monthly....... And they do a good job of keeping those affected joint/muscle groups from getting all twisted up, as the body over-compensates for deterioration and pain.

And yup, staying well-hydrated is probably one of the best and easiest ways to keep on top of joint problems. We normally don't drink enough water, anyways. 8)

FWIW.... my great grand-oma told me that just chewing on a stick of raw rhubarb helps with arthritis/TMJ pain..... and she does quite well for being 96.

 

[RhythmSpring]

Yike! Raw rhubarb! Maybe I'll give it one go.

I've done a series of acupuncture sessions twice with two different folks. The first one didn't do anything. The second one, who was this really great Chinese guy, worked, but only for energy levels and mood, and the benefits only lasted a day. No pain or inflammation relief.

Missykins, pain is not my problem. Physical limitation is. I've dealt with so much pain before. I can handle it. It's the prospect of not having the joint flexibility and elasticity to drum, which is my central life passion. I'm not just an average drummer, either. PM me if you want to hear some of my drumming. ))

 

[RhythmSpring]

Ixchellian, re your grandma:

Rhubarb - Arthritis sufferers should be aware that rhubarb contains oxalic acid, which inhibits the body's ability to absorb calcium and iron from other foods. Rhubarb can aggravate arthritis and may even cause an attack if eaten to excess. It can also cause kidney stones in some patients. If you cook rhubarb, do not use an aluminum pan as the acid juice dissolves the aluminum from the surface leaving it in the food for you to eat. Smaller amounts of oxalic acid are found in spinach, sorrel and chocolate.

(But don't tell her)

Source: http://www.50plushealth.co.uk/article.aspx?LevelxID=510&MicrositeID=2

 

[Ixchellian]

^---- yeah, I got that...... and btw its the leaves of rhubarb that are dangerous, not the stalks.

..... And I'm not one to argue with her results.

If anything, maybe it works on some sort of homeopathic level, not that I really believe in that system..... 8)

 

[panic in paradise]

Aum dham dhanur dha'rini'bya'm namah

^
is a Ayurvedic Buddhist Mantra to be said 108 times a day for arthritic disease and autoimmune D/O's - ive been saying it 9 times, 12 times a day. use a Rosary or a string of beads to help you keep count - or beads and stones that are associated with the problematic area by color or how ever - your personal vocal octave key, and/or the sound-key of the Charkra(s) or Sephirah being worked with could be learned of and used too - or not!


i as of last night, finally tried Turmeric, my stomach is bad due in part to A/O gastritis, so ive been reluctant to drink a spoon-full in a glass of milk, but did and it wasnt bad at all, tasted very woodsy/earthy, no lasting after taste or anything.
___________________________________________________

The bottom line that the therapeutic advantages of turmeric and curcumin are almost too numerous to list. An overview published in Advanced Experimental Medical Biology in 2007 states that, "Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and other chronic illnesses."

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