What is the best medicine for rheumatoid arthritis?  Low side effects please. Nothing seems to work for me.?
146012
I too have P R A  when it is damp or cold it is at its worst motrin helps some but aleve helps more also a heating pad in the area were it hurts the most. also i take shark cartlage, get it at GNC it does help some also avoid over excerting, and a firm bed also with one pillow, I truely hope this info, helps you I woud'nt wish this on my worse enemys, sorry for your pain, please try these things if you want to ask more questions e- mail me at stewsout@yahoo.com
459369
I've been on and off prednisone many times for my rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortantly, those are typical side effects for prednisone. My guess is that you only have to stay on it for a week or so -not long term like I had to - so the side effects will go away as the dosage is gradually tapered off. Call your doctor right away and let them know it's really affecting your quality of life. Do NOT just stop taking it as this could be dangerous. My doctor prescribed a lower dosage and I was much happier--or as happy as I could be on prednisone for months!
651790
George,\n\nI'm so sorry that you feel that way.  I've done a little research, and although most of the treatmetn sites are conventional, you can go through them and get a lot more insight that I can provide here.  I hope someone else can come through and recommend something more to your liking as well.\n\nlink to the PA sites:\n\nhttp://www.google.com/search?hl=&cat=&meta=&num=&ie=utf-8&q=Psoriatic+Arthropathy
634550
Hi, \nYou should go to Safdarjung hospital or AIIMS, when the strike over.\nThese two are the specialist hospital.\nBut as I am medico i can tell that rheumatoid arthritis never cure properly. There is no treatment to cure it.The patient should be on medicines lifelong.\nBut we can minimize the pain and can prevent deformities.\n\nGood Luck for her/him
1056890
Fibromyalgia is a soft tissue rheumatism problen.  It causes severe pain from the top of your head to your feet.  The arthritis foundation is realizing the severety and you can find much good\ninfo on this.  I have had it since 1985 and have suffered but\nI never gave up and tried anything and everything.  At this time I am taking rioboost and last week the Dr. said to go to corvalen.\ncom and use a product with ribose and mallic acid and magnesium.  I have not started this yet but will order it asap.\nI also have MG and arthritis so the money for OTC and prescriptiondrugs holds me back sometimes but I keep going.\nSometimes I have to choose which is the most important.,\nbut the pain of fibro rules most of the time.  I can't take steroids\nbut they will pull you out of pain fast while you research what will be best for you.  Good luck and God bless.
488324
SLE  Systemic Lupus Erythmatoues.  You should be more specific for those who dont know the abbreviation.  I have that.  I will tell you one thing I didnt not seek treatment.  When I have flare ups I take a steroid for ten days and Ultracet for pain.  Ultracet has zero narcotics  but works better than vicodin and darvocet...  I refused the immunesuppressor.  I work in the health field and didnt want to get every virus out there.  I excerise regularly and I drink lots of water.  I think it is all in how you think.  Be positive.  Dont get me wrong when I am having a flare up I feel like an 80 yr old woman.  Good luck with your treatment....
1111080
unfortunately the best pain medication for these types of pain was taken off the market, and nonnarcotic mobic try buying a book from mayo clinic or a holistic health book for rheumatoid atrhitis it should have info about diet also I picked one up for my exboyfriend a couple years ago and it helped him tremendously a little lifestyle change goes a long way
575831
You don't give any information on your case history and the cure that you have been prescribed.\nAt this moment, what I can say in order not to be very long and boring, is that you can find all the information that you want in the NIH site and the FDA site, as well. You can find also the alternative therapies and food supplements, or home remedies, as you are calling them. Browse it.\nQuite often they prescribe aminoacids, as an adjunctive therapy, like glucosamine and chondroitine sulfate for oral use. \nOther natural remedies are the white willow, SAMe(S-adenosylmethionine), niacinamide, some proteolytic enzymes, \navocado, soybean unsaponifiables and dietary factors. \nTake care to the allergies(or even BSE, if the provenience is not certified) that can cause some preparations of bovine provenience.\n\nFor online purchases, get advice first from the FDA site, to protect yourself from any incovenience.\n Just click on the link \nhttp://www.fda.gov/buyonline\n\nIn the University of Alabama,at Birmingham Medical Center,as I know, are using the bee's venom in the cure of diseases. Google it to find out more.\nIn a few words, this story has started with the observation that the old chinese beekepers did not suffer from pain(of any kind, I think) and they have related that with bee's sting and the quantity of bee venom that they were taking during their life, slow by slow.\nPlease, cross this information.\n\nThis is a link for the arthritis program in the University hospital of Cleveland. You can get informed and participate to the program if you wish\nhttp://www.uhhs.com/Clinicalareas.aspx?departmentid=94\nBy the way, where do you live?\n\nThis is a previous question asked here about the nature of the disease. Have a look. You will understand the difference between OSTEOARTHRITIS and REUMATOID ARTHRITIS.\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AsqspJo754Qt04tVLvNq22IjzKIX?qid=1006011403499\n\nI hope that you have been diagnosed by a doctor and these are not symptoms of another disease.\n\nTake care.\n\nKaterina
395972
Methotrexate is a very common treatment for RA that has been used with success for many years.  However, no single drug can cure arthritis.\n\nMethotrexate is actually a chemotherapy drug, but it's used in small doses for RA and acts by suppressing the immune system, which is overactive in an autoimmune disorder.  It's usually used for more aggressive treatment, and is thought by some to slow the damage to the joints from RA.  It's relatively inexpensive, and works for many people.  However, it does cycle through your liver, so you have to get regular bloodtests and you won't be able to drink anymore.  But if they work for you, it is worth it.\n\nI am on methotrexate, but am now reducing my dosage since I didn't have any relief from that combined with other drugs (plaquenil, naprosyn), so my doctor put me on Enbrel - this is a new, expensive injectable drug that works on a specific protein in the immune system (It's a TNF blocker).  Enbrel, along with the other bioligic drugs, are thought to really slow down or stop damage from RA.  I have been on Enbrel for 6 months, and I'm in full remission.  But that's just remission - I could have another flair at anytime, god forbid.\n\nGood luck with the methotrexate - hopefully you will be able to tolerate it and get good results - your doctor obviously thinks you should get aggressive treatment if he wants you to go on methotrexate.  Just be careful about drinking, and follow your doctor's opinion, and hopefully you can get a relief in symptoms or remission, but at this point, there is no way to cure RA at this point.  But let's keep our fingers crossed for the future!!\n\nVisit http://www.arthritis.org for lots of info - there is a discussion board in the RA connect section that has lots of great info and is a great place to talk to others with RA.  Good luck!
368296
Keep moving if you can, even if it is painful.  Some types of therapeutic massage therapy can be helpful because it helps with lymphatic drainage; toxins can build up in your joints, making the arthritis worse.  Also, I would recommend that you drink A LOT of water.  One more thing...I don't know if it's true, but both of my parents have arthritis and swear that it is MUCH better when they don't eat potatoes.  None of these things will "cure" you, but combined, they may help.
211107
Dude, what is up with all us 20 year olds getting arthritis!?!  I am in my 20s and I too have chronic osteoarthritis in my neck, upper back, hands, and knees.  I use marijuana as a pain reliever because it doesn't incapacitate me as much as something like morphine or vicoden, and also because I can grow it at home.  \n\nMarijuana helps with the pain, but it doesn't do anything to address the root problem of the arthritis, although I am not sure there is much out there that can, except for certain types of surgeries and some people say that Pregnazone helps reduce the advancement of arthritis in the body.  Pretty much all of us youngens who have arthritis early just need to get used to the pain...  :0(  I wish i had a better answer.
454099
Make sure to follow all of your doctor's directions for medication, etc.  It is a serious disease that causes continuing damage to your joints, which can only be prevented with prescription medication.\n\nThat aside, eating healthy and exercising is the next best thing - work with your doctor to find an exercise program you are comfortable with.  Water aerobics or swimming are great, and even just walking can make a big difference.\n\nVitamin supplements are unproven and generally don't have much effect.  There is very little evidence to support if any of these actually work.  But if you do want to try any of these, do it on top of your regular meds under the guidance of you doctor- don't take anything without consulting him first! They have lots more experience with this disease, and some supplements may actually react with some medications.\n\nNow you also need to deal with this mentally - the best way is to look to your family members for support.  But you can also go to http://www.arthritis.org and visit the RA connect section - they have a message board where you can get lots of emotional support from people who have gone through it too.\n\nGood luck with your treatment!
726209
I have RA and my knees hurt the worst. I also stand all day, and finally I have come up with a method that works for me. First, I wear high quality knee braces while I am working. They seem to give me support which helps. When I get home, I place a small dab of Tiger Balm on my knees and alternate heat and ice. I went to Walgreens and purchased the sock-type heating "tube". It is called Bed Buddy, or something like that. It was only 9.99. It is white and has 2 blue handles- the people at Walgreens should be able to help you find it. I know with my RA, I couldn't make one on my own. Also, this has soothing aromas like eucalyptus.\n\nI start out with the heat, then move on the the ice pack. Really, i use a frozen bag of English peas because they can mold to my knee. Its kinds intense at first, but after the first minute, it goes away. I usually do this process for 20 minutes per knee. It really does help me, and I hope it helps you.
100542
Some of the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are:\n\n    * Joint swelling. Especially in the small joints of the hands and feet.\n    * Joint tenderness, stiffness, and pain. Especially in the morning.\n\nIf you have these symptoms, contact your doctor. With proper treatment, rheumatoid arthritis can be controlled and you will probably only experience limited pain.
1120280
Well, I go through this also. I have arthritis in my hands and my spine. I have taken apap w/codeine, tramadol, morphine, Demerol, hydrocodone, NSAIDS and now I am on methadone and naproxen. Either one of the medications you listed above have side effects and negative effects if you use them for a long period of time. It is not because of the codeine or tramadol either, it is because of the acetaminophen(apap). Apap can cause liver damage if used over time. As far as pain relief either are about equal. Tramadol is synthetic morphine and actually the feeling and effects closely resemble taking oxycodone(percocet). You will probably build up a tolerance more quickly to codeine, though, and you will find yourself needing more and more and more to get the pain relief you once got on a lower dose. With the tramadol you can either take Ultram, without the apap, or Ultracet, with the apap. If you are concerned with liver damage try the Ultram. It is touch and go and trial and error when trying to find meds to treat chronic pain syndrome. It has taken years to get where I am now. I always found that taking an NSAID(non-steroid anti-inflammatory) in conjunction with pain meds worked best for me in treating my arthritis. Some good NSAIDS you can ask about are Voltaran(diclofenac) and Naproxen. Good luck.
1074886
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.  I haven't checked online for support groups.. but the RA has been dormant for about 2 years.  Took methotrexate for 4 yrs and am still taking various NSAIDS and anti-depressants for the pain of FMS.
40035
It depends on what kind you have (there are over 100 types).  If you have osteo, anti-inflammatories usually work well to relieve the pain, and you need to keep active to keep your joints fluid.  Walking is great exercise, but water aerobics are also great - the warm water soothes the joints, and there are specialized arthritis classes available in most areas that focus on range of motion and loosening the joints.  check out http://www.arthritis.org for locations, and lots of other great tips for living with arthritis.\n\nIf you have rheumatoid, you need to take the prescription meds your doctor prescribes.  I have had a lot of luck with Enbrel.  Anti-inflammatories and many other meds can provide relief as well.  It's also very important to exercise and eat healthy with RA, since it is an autoimmune disease, and the best thing for a bad immune system is staying healthy!!  The same type of exercise are great.\n\nAlong with just the general need to exercise, losing weight (if you are over weight) will decrease the stress on the joints.  Water exercised are great especially if you are overweight because there is far less pressure on all the joints that way.  Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise schedule.\n\nBe sure to visit the arthritis.org site for lots of great tips and info on living with arthritis.