The state of RA pain Management
Pain management in RA is a main topic of concern. NSAIDs are approved with caution. Voltarin ointment is liked as is Gabapentin. Opioids are frowned on as is prednisone.
All posts tagged: Prednisone
Prednisone and Medrol are Glucocorticoids.
Glucocorticoids are naturally produced by the body. For those with RA the body does not produce enough during inflammation. Synthetics, such as, Medrol and prednisone are prescribed.
Lockdown Update
We are still locked down. We go to Costco and to Smiths. We travel out with our masks and our hand sanitizers. Those we meet are friendly and have smiling eyes behind their masks. If a person depended on reading lips to understand another, they are currently out of luck. Who would have guessed? Certainly not last September. Life changes so quickly. My garden is winding down. The squirrels are fat and happy after eating my tomatoes. The roadrunner couple I saw having sex in my back yard now have healthy teenagers who are as aggressive about eating birds as their parents. Our quail population is booming. They love quail blocks and nest along side the squirrels on a little used side of my property. I make bread every couple of days. I have many recipes for rye bread, but rye flour is now unattainable. Not enough planted by the farmers for the current demand. I also make a lot of oatmeal bread. Lucky for me. I make my own buns for bratwurst. I also …
Elderly Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis
Many see rheumatoid arthritis as a disease affecting someone around 30-45 years old. Another variation is developing RA as a senior where the disease is severe making up for those missed earlier years.
My RA and CA and me
If it weren’t for the third cancer hanging over my head, I would be a very happy soul. As it is I am just a happy soul. My roses are blooming. This is their big month and they are not disappointing. Gardening and puttering through the various chores of my household reminds me of my housewife days. Good days. I aspire to the Hobbit life. Mellow and satisfying. Life in my home. I attend warm water pool classes at the Presbyterian Healthcare facility on Eubank. It is a long drive, but the classes are worth it. A comprehensive and aerobic workout that is manageable in the pool but not on land. Yesterday, I suddenly had a severe pain in my pelvic area that ran down the inside of my leg. Something new. Scared me. I thought about getting out but decided to lower my exercise level and see if it would pass. It did. I am no stranger to pain, back pain, joint pain and now this. Johnny Cash’s Peace in the Valley is sounding …
Vitamin D deficiency and RA
Vitamin D deficiency is common in those with RA, Type I Diabetes and MS.
EORA or YORA another RA category
Imagine my surprise when I learned about the initials YORA and EORA. YORA is an acronym for Younger Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis as is EORA for Elderly Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis. I came to a new understanding of where I am in the scheme of things. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can strike at any age from babies to the elderly. The elderly’s association with RA can be of long standing disease or it can be a new development. People who develop RA after age 60 are considered EORA. That is me. There are some notable differences with elderly onset RA. Initial symptoms may include large joints. With younger RA onset small joints of the hands and the feet are usually first signs of joint involvement. The shoulder joint may be a presenting joint in older onset. My shoulder was involved initially as was the joints in my hands, wrists, feet, elbows. Initially I was in severe pain. Older adults may have more generalized symptoms. My grip was weak. I lost weight. I couldn’t sleep because of the severity …
RA, Biologic Medication and the numbers
The biologics are wonder drugs for some, but not for all.
RA Journal 10-17-16
I took the last pill in the medrol pack this morning. I am back to sleeping again. I feel better. My feet as well as my hands remain a problem. Swelling. Stiff. Pain. But manageable. After being a recluse for a week, I made it out to Kohl’s to use my 30% coupon yesterday. Fall clothes and a few Xmas presents. Panera’s for squash soup and salad. Michaels for a Lion’s Brand wool that is not easy to find. It is cranberry, bulky and beautiful. Home to rest. Today is another sunny day in ABQ. Still a warming fire is pleasant. Life is good. The medrol pack has saved me again. I was very ill and was getting discouraged. I don’t know how long this improvement will last but I will enjoy it while I have it. It feels like a stay of execution. I came to the conclusion a while back that my RA is progressive and that there is no cure. There is only symptom relief. For some, the biologics hold the promise of damage control. That promise at best is for 50% of …
RA Journal 10-13-16
It is 5 am. Coffee perking. Cozy flames from the fireplace. Antoine, my 10 year old Maine Coon cat, fed. No sleep at all, not even a little dosing. So I finally decided to get up and start my day. I have RA. It is a bummer. Presently, I am on prednisone for a flare. I like the medrol packs which plus my regular prednisone help me feel better. But it is day four and the sleeplessness side effect has kicked in. It might last another day. I will eventually sleep. Most with the diagnosis of RA have a progressive form of the disease. I can say I have been in a constant flare for almost 4 years. That means my body has been continually inflamed for almost 4 years. Definitely not good for my body. Sometimes are worse than other times. None of it is good. Mine started in my feet. My toes, my feet, my ankles are reaching the point where I am worried about mobility. My knuckles can be bad as several of my fingers can. My right shoulder is worse than my left but the left is …
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